华语(=/+/-)华人?

I was blog surfing and came across a very thougth provoking peice of reflection on the sad state of Chinese language and the Chinese in Singapore. I really like the points raised, but i feel that I can't quite agree with the generally anguished tone of the (hee Chinese-studies major) student. I think the title of my post is exactly like the current situation in Singapore. For chinese(both the langauge and the ethnic grp) that is.

Yes, we can all see pretty clearly that most young Singaporean Chinese have a problem with speaking, writing, using Chinese. Yes, younger generations have a self-esteem problem regarding their mother tongue. Yes. And the fact taht they are proud of not knowing Chinese is sad and quite twisted. Maybe we should have a national psycho-analysis campaign to find out what is wrong with Singaporean Chinese's psyches. Have we been so terribly traumatized by colonialism and Japanese occupation? The governing choices made by LKY? [Bring in the experts]

But one thing I can not agree with is how the inability to speak chinese well is in fact , or equates to a "How Chinese we are"--culturally, ethnically. This problem is unique to Singaporeans. (ok not unique to, many people around the world have identity crisis) but as a whole, I don;t think there are as many confused people (existing together as a group)as in Singapore. The ministers promoting Chinese have gotten it wrong. Along with almost all of us Singaporean Chinese. the campaign titled (华人讲华语) equates the 2 together. And just looking around, we know that is not true in every sense. The biggest problem is not that we cannot speak/write Chinese well. The problem is we have a serious identity crisis. So much that we have to find prroofs for our Chinese-ness. For one, many Singporeans define being able to speak Chinese well, understanding Chinese as being one evidential proof that " Yes we are Chinese enough."

The fact that the writer is a Chinese-studies major may have coloured his view of Chinese language of the role of that language. I myslef as a history student have a drastically different view on the role of language and the place it stands in relation to societies, cultures, grps of people. No doubt, Chinese language as with all language is an aspect of a culture. It holds that culture together, to so extent it may even be the basis of a culture. But language is also a pragmatic tool of communication. And sometimes, (in today's world) it's practical role have overtaken its cultural role. (and that is something that is happening around the world, not just in Singapore). Language in today's world is more a tool for communication than an embodiment of cultural essence. (they are not mutually exclusive, but one is more emphasized currently). Many Indians, Malays, 'angmohs" speak Chinese. that does not mean that they understand Chinese culture or even feel vaguely Chinese. My Aunt and Uncle grew up in the U.S they can't even understand much Cantonese, let alone write any Chinese, but they are undeniably Chinese, they are American and they are Chinese. (in their own minds). So where is the problem with us?

Why do Singaporeans ask themselves if they are Chinese enough? I really can't seem to find the answer to this one. People in China speak Chinese, but not all of them understand the cultural evolution of their language, not all of them have read 红楼梦, so why should this bother us so much that we don't have a cultural understanding of chinese history? I feel that much of the reason lies with the weak historical foundation singapore society has. Singapore has no history, other than superficial fairy tale of Sung nila Utama, cheesy Raffles landing in 1819. The over-killed japanese invasion in Channel 8 dramas. We have nothing to ground us, and we do not even know what being Singporean is? The more difficult question of what being a chinese means is equally confused.

I feel that the situation will not get better, because all along we have been asking the wrong questions and we will keep asking it. Being Chinese is a state of mind. (it is more than just being able to speak Chinese, understand Chinese culture)If that is the criteria for being Chinese, then a lot of foreign Chinese studies experts have become Chinese in their academic studies. I think we are really complicating a very simple matter-- it is as simple as just thinking that you are a Chinese. Questions are good, but sometimes some things have no answers and the more we ask, the more confused we get. Perhaps, people who have no problems with their ethnic identities are simply people who don't ask questions. As we all tertiary students have learnt "culture, ethnic identity" is very much an illusion. If ever Singaporean Chinese want to be convinced that we are Chinese, we need to stop look for the equation, because there really is none to be found. (at least not one that is universal, nor one that is correct).