The best thing about knowing more than one language is that you can choose from the different ones for selected expressions. I treasure the conversations I have with people from different language backgrounds - those who are on the same page with me about not preserving the purity of languages. Rojak is definitely the best!
I thought I would share some of my favourites over time - no rational choices or reasons why they are the best - its all in the way one says it, the non-verbal gestures, the tone etc.
For example, when you tell someone they've been taken advantage of, or that this characteristic of theirs is why they always get the shit end of the stick, the Tamil phrase is best: illichu vaai (not the best spelling, but it will do).
E.g:
"Vel Paari said Indians will vote the Barisan for sure, they are grateful to the MIC."
"He think we all illichu vaai-s is it? *%^$#@^"
Or Sei Lor in Cantonese = die lah, for almost any context when you're in trouble, hard pressed for time etc.
E.g:
"Eh, if Pakatan Rakyat win the elections, sure riot one.."
"Sei lor! better go stock rice fast fast!"
Or Cis! Bedebah! from Malay - which is basically SOB.
"Ibrahim Ali is standing for elections in Bukit Bintang."
"Cis bedebah! He dare one come to the Chinese area!"
Or maay pen rai in Thai - which means it doesn't matter.
E.g:
"YB, maaf tak sempat nak pergi kat Kuantan buang undi. Tapi seperti saya janji, dah pergi Pekan, Raub dan Temerloh. On the way, tayar pancit.
"Maay pen rai! Orang tua kamu dah pergi semua tempat dah. Nah, ambik RM150. Bagus!"
This is my intelligent and intellectual discourse when trying to make sense of the current political situation in Malaysia. I have given up conversations about when the elections are to be called or to understand any of the political decisions of the Barisan Nasional. It is great that my friends in the likes of Wong Chin Huat tirelessly try to educate and inform us of all that is necessary. Kee Thuan Chye today placed his bets on the dissolution on March 26. I'm not booking my flights yet though.
But I have only one word at this point. I draw inspiration from the Malay language.
Menyampah.
Fists clutched. Spit. The anger is unquell-able.
It can be translated as hateful or disgusting. For the occasion, I'll say its a combination of the two.
"Aku menyampah lah kat Najib tu."
"Ish, aku menyampah si BN, pi mampus-lah."
"Dr. M ni mencarut-lah...menyampahnya!"
"Najib nak panggil Psy! Ae..lah...menyampah betul!"
"Menyampah-lah diorang tak nak announce election. Penakut!"
That's Malaysian politics for now. Its been reduced to waste. I menyampah that I feel so stupid because I can't really argue or explain what is happening. The BN and the Prime Minister think we are all illichu vaai-s, bedebah! I want us to rock the boat so much they will say Sei-lor. Chaos? Maay pen rai.... asalkan orang tak menyampah kita.
Itu sahajalah setakat ini. Sekian, terima kasih.
I thought I would share some of my favourites over time - no rational choices or reasons why they are the best - its all in the way one says it, the non-verbal gestures, the tone etc.
For example, when you tell someone they've been taken advantage of, or that this characteristic of theirs is why they always get the shit end of the stick, the Tamil phrase is best: illichu vaai (not the best spelling, but it will do).
E.g:
"Vel Paari said Indians will vote the Barisan for sure, they are grateful to the MIC."
"He think we all illichu vaai-s is it? *%^$#@^"
Or Sei Lor in Cantonese = die lah, for almost any context when you're in trouble, hard pressed for time etc.
E.g:
"Eh, if Pakatan Rakyat win the elections, sure riot one.."
"Sei lor! better go stock rice fast fast!"
Or Cis! Bedebah! from Malay - which is basically SOB.
"Ibrahim Ali is standing for elections in Bukit Bintang."
"Cis bedebah! He dare one come to the Chinese area!"
Or maay pen rai in Thai - which means it doesn't matter.
E.g:
"YB, maaf tak sempat nak pergi kat Kuantan buang undi. Tapi seperti saya janji, dah pergi Pekan, Raub dan Temerloh. On the way, tayar pancit.
"Maay pen rai! Orang tua kamu dah pergi semua tempat dah. Nah, ambik RM150. Bagus!"
This is my intelligent and intellectual discourse when trying to make sense of the current political situation in Malaysia. I have given up conversations about when the elections are to be called or to understand any of the political decisions of the Barisan Nasional. It is great that my friends in the likes of Wong Chin Huat tirelessly try to educate and inform us of all that is necessary. Kee Thuan Chye today placed his bets on the dissolution on March 26. I'm not booking my flights yet though.
But I have only one word at this point. I draw inspiration from the Malay language.
Menyampah.
Fists clutched. Spit. The anger is unquell-able.
It can be translated as hateful or disgusting. For the occasion, I'll say its a combination of the two.
"Aku menyampah lah kat Najib tu."
"Ish, aku menyampah si BN, pi mampus-lah."
"Dr. M ni mencarut-lah...menyampahnya!"
"Najib nak panggil Psy! Ae..lah...menyampah betul!"
"Menyampah-lah diorang tak nak announce election. Penakut!"
That's Malaysian politics for now. Its been reduced to waste. I menyampah that I feel so stupid because I can't really argue or explain what is happening. The BN and the Prime Minister think we are all illichu vaai-s, bedebah! I want us to rock the boat so much they will say Sei-lor. Chaos? Maay pen rai.... asalkan orang tak menyampah kita.
Itu sahajalah setakat ini. Sekian, terima kasih.
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