December 31, 2005
Going Bananas
This is the third name change for this year alone. Honestly speaking, I’m quite envious at Nigel and Shah for coming up with creative names for their blogs. After scrapping my uber generic name “My POV”, it’s “Banana Talk” time. Yet another generic name.
If you are Malaysian Chinese, you’d probably know the origin of the term “banana”. There are many definitions for bananas and the most common one is not-Chinese educated, meaning banana’s don’t know how to read write Chinese. However, I feel that the ability to read write Chinese is not accurate. Delinquent from Chinese medium school fail their Chinese, heck, they fail everything. Can’t stereotype them in there.
How I’d categorize a banana? First you have to be born Chinese. Then your paradigm, outlook, worldview, principles are less oriental and more influenced by western values. Generally Malaysian, in some extreme case, arrogance and a sense of western superiority is added into the mix. However I’d like to argue on that point as well. Since arrogance is just a “state or quality of being arrogant; overbearing pride,” (dictionary.com) is still too board to be used in the said classification (read: stereotype). Firstly, NOT every one is arrogant. Secondly if you do come across an arrogant banana, that’s because he/she is upholding to his principals. Likewise, if I find a Chinese discriminating banana’s for being Chinese illiterate, I’d say the Chinese fellow is arrogant and think inferiorly of bananas.
I cannot deny that the China Effect is growing. Being a major influence on the global market, it’s about time that more technologically developed country grab this opportunity to make quick bucks of their expanding consumer market. Is this a set back for bananas? Currently, not yet. Some Mainland Chinese companies are quite accommodating by providing translator but in the long run, Chinese language is still important.
January 1st, 2006 at 6:07 pm
a new year, a new blog. not sure what to call it yet.
speaking of the chinese language, there’s the newly opened ‘The Mandarin Centre’ in Taman Tun. The teachers are from Beijing. Not sure if they can speak any english, though. hehe.
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:41 am
Thanks for the tip. might look into that center if i have the time and money to burn.