Interchanging Names
Over here, there is a use of fruits to name-call people who appear to prefer the western way of life rather than their own ethnic traditions.
'Bananas' are used to describe people of Chinese origins (yellow on the outside, white on the inside) and 'Mangosteen' to describe people of Indian origins (dark on the outside, white on the inside).
Personally, I think people adopt ways of other societies because they find it preferable to what their own had ( which may be a right or wrong decision) and over time, if many of them do the same, then that behavior later becomes an accepted practice of that society.
If people have been called the name of fruits, I have also witnessed fruits being called a people name.
I was at the supermarket the other day when a 'Mangosteen' woman passed by, pushing her trolley. She then called out to the mom, a more traditional older woman who was pushing another trolley.
"Here mom, here is the Yusuf Taiyoob. Let's get the Yusuf Taiyoob"
No, the supermarket was not selling men of Arabic origins!
It was a brand of imported dates which are particularly delicious!
Names have been used to describe people of foreign origins too.
'John' or 'Mat Salleh' are used to describe a man of Caucasian origins.
'Mat Indon' is used to describe a man of Indonesian origins.
'Apek' is for those with Chinese origins while 'Mamak' for those with Indian origins.
'Mat' is a common Malay name, a sort of shortened version of 'Muhammad' and is often used in most descriptions. The female name used is 'Minah'
Names like 'Mat Rempit' (for males) and 'Minah Rempit' are used to describe the kids who race their bikes on the streets.
'Mat Kilang' is for the guys who work in the factories. 'Minah Kilang' being the female version.
Names are considered very important in the Malay society where new parents will search the books for Muslim names with good meanings for their babies.
However, the common practice is to call the child a shortened, simpler version of the names for everyday use. Maybe, without realizing it, they also change the meanings of the names in the process?
'Bananas' are used to describe people of Chinese origins (yellow on the outside, white on the inside) and 'Mangosteen' to describe people of Indian origins (dark on the outside, white on the inside).
Personally, I think people adopt ways of other societies because they find it preferable to what their own had ( which may be a right or wrong decision) and over time, if many of them do the same, then that behavior later becomes an accepted practice of that society.
If people have been called the name of fruits, I have also witnessed fruits being called a people name.
I was at the supermarket the other day when a 'Mangosteen' woman passed by, pushing her trolley. She then called out to the mom, a more traditional older woman who was pushing another trolley.
"Here mom, here is the Yusuf Taiyoob. Let's get the Yusuf Taiyoob"
No, the supermarket was not selling men of Arabic origins!
It was a brand of imported dates which are particularly delicious!
Names have been used to describe people of foreign origins too.
'John' or 'Mat Salleh' are used to describe a man of Caucasian origins.
'Mat Indon' is used to describe a man of Indonesian origins.
'Apek' is for those with Chinese origins while 'Mamak' for those with Indian origins.
'Mat' is a common Malay name, a sort of shortened version of 'Muhammad' and is often used in most descriptions. The female name used is 'Minah'
Names like 'Mat Rempit' (for males) and 'Minah Rempit' are used to describe the kids who race their bikes on the streets.
'Mat Kilang' is for the guys who work in the factories. 'Minah Kilang' being the female version.
Names are considered very important in the Malay society where new parents will search the books for Muslim names with good meanings for their babies.
However, the common practice is to call the child a shortened, simpler version of the names for everyday use. Maybe, without realizing it, they also change the meanings of the names in the process?
posted by akumangkok at
5:59 AM
1 Comments:
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