I APPRECIATE Sage’s comments and criticisms, “Nothing wrong with ME (MOE, Jan 12), on some of the points in my article, “Mangling the language” (MOE, Jan 5).

These are, however, the typical criticisms I get when I try, in all sincerity and honesty, to correct people on the use of grammar, spelling and pronunciation. I find that this is something many Malaysians cannot accept.

I research all my work to make sure that the facts and information that I present are accurate, and make the necessary corrections if required. At times, I consult well-qualified friends who have been teaching students at all levels. I also sometimes consult friends who are English professors at overseas universities.

I am fully aware that there are many different forms of English used all over the world. In one international forum I attended last year, this matter was discussed. It was interesting to know that many words from various African dialects are used in Kenyan English, Nigerian English and South African English, just as Malay words and those from local dialects are used in Malaysian English. Likewise, with other countries and the English used there.

At another talk – on “branding”, conducted by Landors Associates UK – the speaker, a well-spoken British woman, was asked many questions during the Q&A session, and it was embarrassing to see that, other than a couple of people including me, the speaker could not understand the English spoken by the participants (mostly Malaysians). The organiser had to get someone to “translate” Malaysian English to English English!

In Sage’s insinuation about the pronunciation of the words “head” and “said”, I definitely do not think that they should sound like /heit/ and /seid/ which are actually Malaysian English pronunciation of the words. Besides the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, which I always use, and the one that Sage quotes from, there are many other good online dictionaries that also provide pronunciations of words as well as the “how-the-word-sounds” feature. I pronounce those words as given by the dictionary and not the way Sage suggests.

I am afraid that Sage is wrong about Singapore when she says, “Singapore, by the way, embraced Singapore English with open arms and is proud to acknowledge it”. Its Ministry of Education regularly conducts campaigns on the use of proper English. The country’s Speak Good English Movement, for example, regularly posts Get It Right sticky notes on the correct pronunciation of words at various public places. The accompanying picture is from the notice board at the popular Geylang Serai Food Centre.

I feel it is not asking too much to get people, especially fellow Malaysians, to speak and write good and proper English. Of course, I am not suggesting that Malaysians speak English like native speakers of the language. Though I try to write and speak English well, I still don’t. – Hussaini Abdul Karim

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