Re: Singapore also suppress Hakka

[teoh@cs.utk.edu]

>From liu@rodin.wustl.edu Tue Dec  3 21:19:49 1996
From: liu@rodin.wustl.edu (Liu Ann Pheng)
To: teoh@cs.utk.edu

[moderator:Please cc a copy to fhakka@asiawind.com Thanks !]

>From: Jen-Yih Chu  <ALBERT-C@wpogate.slu.edu>
>Subject:  Singapore also suppress Hakka

>From reading the letters of Kuang-liong and An-Pheng, indeed
>Singapore government looks down Hakka and other southern
>languages.
This is not true. Singapore Goverment does not look down on any
dialect group. Please don't make this conclusion because U misunderstood
our letters. If they look down on Hakka people, will they encourage
this gathering to be held in Singapore? Singapore goverment still
encourage Hakka people to preserve their culture. The only thing
they do not encourage is: speaking Hakka in public meeting. You
can speak Hakka in your office or at home. They don't care. Singapore
goverment is not preventing people to learn Hakka. Remember: there
are too many dialect groups in Singapore. They think that it will be
better if people use Chinese instead of dialect in public meeting.
This does not IMPLY that they look down on Hakka people.
 
>  The description of education policy by An-Pheng is
>not much different from Taiwan probably 10 years ago.  Languages
>originally existed in Taiwan such Hoklo and Hakka were banned in
>school, TV and public places.  Not until Taiwan became more
>demoncrat, the right to use mother tongue prevailed.  In USA, TV
>programs in different languages are allowed. I believe this is
>the difference between demoncracy and authoritarianrism.
Please don't forget that Singapore society is very different from Taiwan.
We have 25% of non-chinese.

To promote Hakka language in Singapore, the parents need to talk to
their children in Hakka more often at home. The children can learn
Chinese and English at school. It is sad to see Hakka language becomes
a lost art in Singapore. Parents should teach their children Hakka
language at home.
I am 31 years old and I am studying in US. But I still try to learn Hakka by
listening to CD and tapes. Thanks to the help of Mr. Lim KonLiong in Taiwan.
When I was young, my dad was so busy with his business. I did not have a chance
to learn Hakka from him. My mom is not a Hakka. However, I don't think I
am too old to learn to speak Hakka. I promise U that I will learn
hakka from my dad when I am back in Singapore. 

Regards,
Liu Ann Pheng