Language and Identity

No people. This is not a lesson on sociolinguistic. But maybe in some way, it is related to it. Even if it really does, trust me, sociolinguistic is fun. Yes, Nadia and Nashrah. 

There was one young writer who once said that we should write in our own language as to reflect our identity. I disagree. I honestly feel that the language that we write in is of a trivial matter compared to the content of our writing. What we write shows the better side of us. In some ways it reflects our depth of knowledge. Language is just a medium to deliver our thoughts and feelings. Just because one writes in English does not make one less Malay. Writing in English does not have anything to do with turning one’s back on their root.

Some people sadly, have the tendency to condemn the English language just because it is the language of our former coloniser which means the usage of it is equivalent to betraying our own people or the colonialisation of our viewpoint. Maybe there are SOME people who are easily affected by the culture of the language as the case of the latter. But if you are one of those people who support the assumption that EVERYONE will be affected by the language that they use, you are saying that the Arabs are representative of Muslims all over the world because we all know that Qur’an is written in Arabic and we use Arabic daily in, if not conversations, reciting the Qur’an, solat and du’a. And let me clearly stress that how the Arabs think and behave does NOT necessarily portray the Islamic teachings (the need to stress that one out is because apparently some people forget that not all Muslims are Arabs).

So, writing in English does not indicate the westernisation of one’s point of view. My priority has always been my Muslim identity. That and only that. All this talk about being true Malay and fighting for ethnic or cultural identity of which the way I see it is constructed insignificantly and subject to constant changes and improvisation, is meaningless to me. I am not saying that I don’t care about my ethnic culture. It’s just that cultural practices are not stable. They are constantly challenged and changed according to the wants, needs, likes and dislikes of the people. Why should we live our life in accordance with an inconsistent system? How are we to have stability in life if we let our life be ruled over by preferences and bias and be swayed by the ebb and flow of humans’ sentiments? That is the reason why I want to be identified as a Muslim above all. Because Islam gives me stability. Stability makes people feel safe. Safe people are happy people.

*spice*






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