Why our National Anthem is in Malay?

[Darryn]

Great question to ask, it shows lots of things.

 

1. I never knew there was a distinction between national language and official language - something learned today!

2. The importance of studying history. NOT the facts, but rather the motivations, even from my rudimentary knowledge of Singapore's history and without knowing that Malay was our national language, my guess was that the Anthem being in Malay was due to Singapore being part of Malaya. That a teacher couldn't make this sort of guess is kinda sorta a little disappointing really.

3. There's no particular reason why you couldn't add verses to the anthem. Taking New Zealand's national anthem, penned in the 1870s it was "officially" adopted as the "National Hymm" in 1940. There was also a Maori version written in the late 1800's. It was common for many years to sing the first two verses (the "full" anthem is five verses) of the English version at national events. Now the common practise is to sing the first verse in English and the second verse in Maori - although there are a lot of variations on this

[Nolicense]

i think the pledge is already in 4 langauges

[GaryLim]

 

singapore is surronded by malay speaking country. in the even of war, when their commander shouted command in malay, our army can undestand :).

[Lanceraz]

marching order also in malay. Is threre a need to change ?

[Rickster]

I like your idea . It will be good that conversational Malay be taught at least in Primary school. Of course, some concerned parents will tell you their kids already have problem coping with their 2nd language or mother togue courses.

 

Actually conversational Malay is not that difficult .

 

Regards,

 

I think romanised malay is easier to learn than mandarin

[Dj_spike]

singapore is surronded by malay speaking country. in the even of war, when their commander shouted command in malay, our army can undestand :).

 

U reply to me for wat? u got go army or not? Where got outfield say command in malay one? Only marching commands are in malay. Unless u go march to enemy lah.

[Elriond]

Even the Singapore's crest (do you call it a crest?), the 2 tiger is to symbolize that Singapore is formerly from Malaysia....

 

just a minor correction... "official" name is coat of arms... and it's a lion & a tiger... not 2 tigers...

[Unfair]

The only think i can understand from our National Anthem is 'Onward Singapore'... Due to translation during NDP show.

During Sec School times, i joined the NCC and we had a mini Malay commands lesson.

But during NDP army parade, half the time i do not understand the commanding officer's shouts.

 

Basically, i take pride in our anthem, but if anyone asks me what it is saying... i would redirect them to WIKI....

 

 

[Hamburger]

The only think i can understand from our National Anthem is 'Onward Singapore'... Due to translation during NDP show.

During Sec School times, i joined the NCC and we had a mini Malay commands lesson.

But during NDP army parade, half the time i do not understand the commanding officer's shouts.

 

Basically, i take pride in our anthem, but if anyone asks me what it is saying... i would redirect them to WIKI....

wah bro, powder leh.....i onli noe mali kita

[inlinesix]

I don't think this will work well. Now so many students already cannot cope with 2 languages in school and at the end both languages are not up to standard.

 

During my school time, we learnt 3 languages, where Malay is the 3rd language. Schools were divided into English stream and Chinese stream. Students were eighter very strong (both written and spoken) in English or Mandarin but not both. There were very few students can master the 3rd language. I have forgotten most of the Malay words after leaving school for so long.

The only reason u have forgotten ur Malay is that there is no 1 to speak to. It will not work because there is no effort to push it through especially from the parents. On the other hand, our neighbour has a conducive for all 3 language. Go to govt office & mamak store, u will need malay. Go to work, u will need English. Go home, u could speak in Chinese or dialect.

 

It all boils down whether our society is conducive enough for all 3 languages.

[Ruzhyo]

I think the question is why the Malay idol cannot sing our national anthem correctly?

 

Now gonna perform during APEC.........not shame our country enough IMHO

[inlinesix]

I think the question is why the Malay idol cannot sing our national anthem correctly?

 

Now gonna perform during APEC.........not shame our country enough IMHO

Does it mean that all British can sing God Save the Queen properly??

 

Come on lah! Give him a break.

[Alfisti168]

I like your idea . It will be good that conversational Malay be taught at least in Primary school. Of course, some concerned parents will tell you their kids already have problem coping with their 2nd language or mother togue courses.

 

Actually conversational Malay is not that difficult .

 

Regards,

Conversational Hokkien even easier. Teachers should teach that too [laugh]

 

Coz hokkien words got a lot of applications.

 

e.g. When you irritated, you say LAN JIAO lah.

When you confused, you say SI MI LAN JIAO

when you refer to PANIS, you say LAN JIAO also

when you refer to banana, you also say LAN JIAO

Edited October 23, 2009 by Alfisti168

[Scenic98]

i think there's already some effort to the kids to learn spoken Malay, albeit half hearted. My kid got a consent form from her school to allow her to take Malay as some extra course after school. Not compulsory though. Didn't take that offer as schedule clash with her outside classes.

[Darryn]

Does it mean that all British can sing God Save the Queen properly??

 

Come on lah! Give him a break.

 

Not all British, but all British that are professional singers that get hired in advance to sing national anthem at event would have it done perfect. It was kinda disgracful that he made such an error and as he rightly admitted he should be ashamed of himself

[1fast1]

we will only be throwing away our legacy as a Malay country, from the days of Temasek, Sang Nila Utama and Parameshwara.

 

Ironically enough, two of those three things you mentioned (along with Singapore's very name) have Indian origins. Well, even Malaysia had a huge Indian/Sanskrit influence, which persists even today. Ditto Indonesia.

Edited October 23, 2009 by Turboflat4

[Nolicense]

Not all British, but all British that are professional singers that get hired in advance to sing national anthem at event would have it done perfect. It was kinda disgracful that he made such an error and as he rightly admitted he should be ashamed of himself

 

i guess if he is paid for his services, he should be professional.

[Nolicense]

i think there's already some effort to the kids to learn spoken Malay, albeit half hearted. My kid got a consent form from her school to allow her to take Malay as some extra course after school. Not compulsory though. Didn't take that offer as schedule clash with her outside classes.

 

half hearted is no heart. not examinable or graded, i'll not bother with it.

too many extracurricular subjects also distracts from the core subjects.

 

if they want to teach malay, it should be in the school schedule. and the standard should be low and slow, like perhaps by O levels, the student is proficient at a PSLE standard is good enough.