Literary Traditions: English in Malaysia and Singapore (Column 2)

Quayum, Mohammad Abdul (2014) Literary Traditions: English in Malaysia and Singapore (Column 2). The Daily Star.

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Abstract

In Malaysia, circumstances changed for writers in English at a precipitous rate as they were soon pushed to the margins of national culture. In 1966, Han Suyin optimistically defined Malaysian literature as “those writings (drama, novel, short story, play and verse), which by emotion, identification, description, social context and involvement relate to Malaysia… whether written in Malay, Chinese, Tamil or English.” But such an inclusive vision of Malaysian literature proved too ambitious as many nationalists became increasingly vocal in their demand that the Malay language should be the only means of expression of Malaysia's national culture. While writers in English argued that a more appropriate path for building the nation was to work towards a Malaysian identity that would reflect the country's multi-ethnic background, writers in bahasa believed that the future citizenry should be moulded on Malaya's traditional culture and heritage, meaning Malay language and Malay culture.....

Item Type:	Article (Newspaper)
Additional Information:	4725/38095
Uncontrolled Keywords:	English in Malaysia
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PE English P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0441 Literary History
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User:	Professor Mohammad A. Quayum
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2014 15:48
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2018 16:16
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/38095

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