Tag Archives: History

The Polish delight

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Yesterday I wrote about Polish being the second most spoken language in England and Wales, according to the 2011 census.

I sensed the rise of the Polish language just over 2 years ago. In our local library, the self-service machine offered 4 language options, namely, English, Chinese, Russian and Polish.

Today I went to Winchester library to check if the language options have changed. No. It’s the same language options. This picture shows what I saw in the Polish version about account, borrowing and renewal and making payment.

Polish at your fingertips.

Polish at your fingertips.

There are 2 issues here. First, why offering the Russian option? How many Russian speakers have you ever met in Hampshire, or in England? Without any statistic, I’m sure the Russian population in Hampshire is minimal.

Second, why offering the Polish language option? Have you met any Polish who can’t speak or write English well?

Based on my encounters with people from different ethnic groups, the majority of the people who can’t (or can’t be bothered to, or who are culturally discouraged to) learn English are from South China, especially women. Sadly, a lot of people (especially women) whose dominant language is in Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali or Gujarati (which I called the Big 4) can’t function in English in this country. If the library is to offer any practical support to the needy groups, I feel that the languages needed would be the Big 4.

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I think it’s time I (and you) learnt some Polish

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This chart I created shows you the main spoken languages in England and Wales.

English (and Welsh), Polish and Punjabi

English (and Welsh), Polish and Punjabi

According to the 2011 census, English (and Welsh) — 92% — is still the dominant language in England and Wales, followed by Polish (1%).

The top 10 reported languages were English, followed by Polish, Panjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Arabic, French, Chinese (excluding Mandarin and Cantonese, which were the 27th and 40th most commonly-used languages) and Portuguese. According to the census, Chinese (excluding Mandarin and Cantonese) ranked number 9.

See the data from the Office for National Statistics,

Language distribution in England and Wales, 2011 (Source: Office for National Statistics)

Language distribution in England and Wales, 2011 (Source: Office for National Statistics)

As a linguist, I’m curious of this data regarding the Chinese language. What does Chinese (excluding Mandarin and Cantonese) really cover? Shanghainese, Min and Taiwanese, Hakka, Fuzhou……? How were various Chinese languages (regional languages or dialects) defined? Most modern Chinese speak Mandarin, and their functional language will be Mandarin (though they may are born speaking regional language/dialect.) Which option would the Chinese people have chosen? Mandarin or their regional languages/dialects? I reason that the percentage of the population who speaks Mandarin would be higher, if you included those who also speak their regional language/dialects.

To learn Polish, please pop over to the BBC for some quick tips. Good luck!

Click the image below to learn Polish.

Surviving Polish

Polish or dummies

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Test yourself on the new British Immigration exam

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My ‘sensational’ post Am I British enough? published on Jan 1 this year is the most read post on my blog. I lamented that I needed to pass the Life in the UK immigration test if I were to apply for British citizenship.

Am I British enough?

Click to read my post: Am I British enough?

The Telegraph reported today that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, “has torn up the 2007 edition’s section on New Labour, swept away guides to immigrants’ rights and put a new focus on what it means to be British.” The new test from March will focus on British values, culture and history, as well as the success of Olympic heroes at London 2012.

I know you are fascinated and you can’t wait to do the test. I’ve copied the 10 questions from Can you pass the British immigration exam? from The Telegraph over here, so that you can have a go.

Remember: Applicants for British citizenship will be expected to answer 75% of 24 questions correctly. Do not cheat.

Q.1
Which landmark is a prehistoric monument which still stands in the English county of Wiltshire?
  •  Stonehenge
  •  Hadrian’s Wall
  •  Offa’s Dyke
  •  Fountains Abbey
Q.2
What is the name of the admiral who died in a sea battle in 1805 and has a monument in Trafalgar Square, London?
  •  Cook
  •  Drake
  •  Nelson
  •  Raleigh
Q.3
In 1801, a new version of the official flag of the United Kingdom was created. What is it often called?
  •  The British Standard
  •  The Royal Banner
  •  The St George Cross
  •  The Union Jack
Q.4
Who is the patron saint of Scotland?
  •  St Andrew
  •  St David
  •  St George
  •  St Patrick
Q.5
What flower is traditionally worn by people on Remembrance Day?
  •  Poppy
  •  Lily
  •  Daffodil
  •  Iris
Q.6
Which of these sporting events was hosted in London in 2012?
  •  The Commonwealth Games
  •  The Cricket World Cup
  •  The European Football Championship
  •  The Paralympic Games
Q.7
At her jubilee in 2012, how many years as queen did Queen Elizabeth II celebrate?
  •  25
  •  40
  •  50
  •  60
Q.8
The second largest party in the House of Commons is known by what name?
  •  The senate
  •  The Opposition
  •  The Lords
  •  The other side
Q.9
From what age can you be asked to serve on a jury?
  •  16
  •  18
  •  21
  •  25
Q.10
What is the title given to the person who chairs the debates in the House of Commons?
  •  The chairman
  •  The Speaker
  •  The leader of the House
  •  The prime minister

Quiz Completed. See answers below:

HAN Suyin, image from The Hindu

Where was HAN Suyin in Malaya in the 1950s?

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What do you think enhance a city? What element would exude fragrance and charm? For me, it’s the presence of art, the spirit of a writer who once lived there.

If you were to visit me in England, I would take you to the nearest city Winchester, England’s historic city, adorned with magnificent architectures. It’s where you’ll find the little house where Jane Austen had lived before she died. We would walk along the water meadows, abundant in wild flowers and butterflies.

Before I came to England, in Johor Bahru, the city where I was born in Malaysia (previously Malaya), a lesser known story was developing. HAN Suyin, the Eurasian writer noted for A Many Splendoured Thing in 1952, lived there for about 10 years. This novel was later made into an award winning film, starring Jennifer Jones and William Holden, in 1955, and HAN Suyin instantly became a household name. The novel was based on her love affair in Hong Kong with the war journalist for The Times in London, an Australian named Ian Morrison, who died later reporting in the Korean war.

A Many-Splendoured Thing, by HAN Suyin 韩素音 （image from Amazon)

A Many-Splendoured Thing, by HAN Suyin 韩素音 （image from Amazon)

HAN Suyin 韩素音 was a medical doctor. She was born Elisabeth Chow Kuanghu (Zhou Guang-Hu 周光瑚) in 1917 in Henan, China, to Zhou Yuan Dong and Marguerite Denis, her Flemish-Belgian mother. When she arrived in Johor Bahru, Malaya, in around 1952 with her second husband, Leon F Comber, she practiced in the General Hospital, where I was born less than 20 years later. Later, She ran her own clinic called Chow Dispensary, which was later relocated to Jalan Ibrahim (meaning Ibrahim Road) above Universal Pharmacy. In the 70s, long after the writer had left, the few shops and houses there were destroyed by fire. Now, the place which carried the memories of her has been turned into a car park.

HAN Suyin, image from The Hindu

HAN Suyin, image from The Hindu

I remembered this road in Johor Bahru well, of course,  Continue reading →

My Malaysian passport states that I'm banned from visiting Israel.

Am I British enough?

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I’ve been slightly troubled lately about a personal issue. After some considerations, I’ve decided to share it with you here.

At the dawn of new year, I’ve begun to seriously wonder if I should become a British citizen, after living in England for nearly 16 years.

Many people who have known me are surprised that I’m still not British. I’m a proud Malaysian and I was born and bred there, until I went abroad to study at the university. I’ve now spent many more years abroad than in Malaysia. To many, to gain a western passport is a glory, an achievement in itself. I’ve never thought that way, however. I stubbornly feel that your passport is the statement of your identity, representing your root, your past, and, your dreams. It’s never crossed my mind that I need to ‘upgrade’ myself to become British.

I’m also a proud resident here in the UK. I have a respectable job as an academic, I pay tax, I drink English tea and I can describe the English rain using different words, such as spitting, drizzle, chucking it down, pelting down, bucketing down, spot of rain, soft rain, hard rain, shower, deluge …….

More than just rain

More than just rain

I’ve tried to be logical in my analysis. Are there any obvious advantages of becoming a British citizen for me? As a Commonwealth citizen, I have the right to vote at the UK general elections. Without being a British citizen, I have already voted a few times in both general and local elections.

In early 2011, I was surprised to be called by Her Majesty to perform the jury service. In spring 2011, I performed my 2-week duty in a distinguished Crown Court as a juror. I remember vividly I spent a whole week gazing adoringly at the young, dashing attorney who spoke posh upper-class English. Even his wig looked cute. And his client won of course. It was a tremendous honour and I would say my jury service was definitely the highlight of my life in this country. I wouldn’t mind being called again.

I was called to be a juror in a Crown Court in 2011

I was called to be a juror in a Crown Court in 2011.

Without being a British citizen, I can vote, become a jury, have equal rights at work. Why change? Continue reading →

Fiddler on the Roof: a treasure

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Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof

I was surprised to see Fiddler on the Roof was shown on Channel 5 this afternoon (Thursday). This is my favourite musical and I dedicated the whole afternoon indulging in its joy, sorrow and self-deprecating humour. I cried, of course. How could you not? The emotions are so powerful. Watching the ending when the villagers and Tevya’s family leave Anatevka, it was utterly heart-breaking.

I first heard of the musical just over 20 years ago at university, as the young and charming Chinese professor in philosophy recommended it. I’ve watched the musical many times since, but the question of ‘what is tradition’ stays fresh ever.

How do you keep up with change? How deep is your love to your child? Is your love unconditional? What do you do when there’s a clash to your belief? When do you let go?

I’m so glad that I have watched such a poignant, thought provoking musical before the year ends. I grew up in a traditional hierarchical society and I have experienced clashing values and suppression. Now I’m living in the west and I’m acutely aware of cultural differences. This remarkable musical speaks to me, refreshes my mind and challenges me emotionally that no other musicals ever did.

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Lest We Forget

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David Cameron has recently announced that there’ll be a “truly national commemoration” to mark the Centenary of the First World War.

The UK prime minister, David Cameron, lays out plans for marking 100 years since the First World War. National commemorations will include the centenary of the first day of conflict on 4 August 2014, the battles of the Somme, Jutland, Gallipoli and Passchendaele, and will conclude on Armistice Day in 2018.

In response to this news, I’ve dug out my War and Peace Royal Mail Mint Stamp collection to share with you.

Lest We Forget – Passchendaele, 1917
The Crimean War: 1854-1856
150 years of the Victoria Cross
Britain Alone
Britain Alone: Dunkirk (26 May – 4 June 1940)
Trafalgar
Lest We Forget: Armistice 1918-2008
Lest We Forget: Somme: 1916-2006
Armistice: Latin Arma, meaning Arms; Stitium, meaning Stoppage.
Lest We Forget

Writer Rudyard Kipling (played by David Haig) recites the poem he wrote for his son Jack (played by Daniel Radcliffe) after Jack was killed in the war.

“Have you news of my boy Jack?

Poem: ‘My Boy Jack‘  Continue reading →

Delightful British Mint Stamps: Literature

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Here are some of my Royal Mail Mint Stamps in literature:

Harry Potter (front)
Harry Potter (back)
Royal Shakespeare Company 50 Years (front)
Roald Dahl (with Quentin Blake) (back)
Charles Dickens (front)
Charles Dickens (back)
Animal Tales
Mythical Creatures
Jane Eyre
Comics
Robert Burns
Charles Dickens (inside pack)
More on Charles Dickens
Royal Shakespeare Company
Winnie the Pooh large image
Winnie the Pooh (front)
Roald Dahl with Quentin Blake (front)
Roald Dahl’s The BFG

Continue reading →

Delightful British Mint Stamps: Entertainment

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I blogged about my collection of British mint stamps yesterday. It’s like putting the first Malteser into Tilly’s your mouth. One Malteser is never enough. You desire is insatiable. Now I’ll let you have the first pack of my Maltesers.

As it’s the weekend, I’ve picked the Entertainment selection of my Royal Mail Mint Stamps to share with you. I hope they cheer you up.

Classic Album Covers
Magic!
Magical Realms
Musicals
Thunderbirds
Ian Fleming’s James Bond
The Beatles (front)
The Beatles (back)
Classic ITV
Classic Carry on and Hammer films
The Beatles: Inside
The Beatles: more stories
The Beatles: Rock ‘n’ Roll

Continue reading →