Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Foreign language and culture

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Foreign language and culture

There are some words or expressions in foreign languages that have a deep meaning or philosophy. I wish to introduce some of these expressions to you. I hope that you can contribute other expressions:

Schadenfreude (German): pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others
Savoir-faire (French): the ability to say or do the right or graceful thing.

There are many examples from the Chinese, Japanese language and other languages. These words convey special meaning that shapes the behavior and culture of a people.

We have our own Singapore examples, such as "kaisu" and "kiasi".

8 comments:

C H Yak said...: One of my favourite in Chinese is 信用。First word is "letter", second is "use".

If you use your letters "discreetly" and "effectively" and "correctly", you will create mutual trust.

But in Singapore, it is often taken as a tool of complaints rather than good feedback.; May 30, 2010 2:31 PM
Anonymous said...: What I really find peculiarly Singaporean is how "talented" Singaporeans are paid high salaries for stating the obvious.

Numerous examples are found in the Straits Times everyday.

For example:
Sunday Times, 30 May.
Page 8 (home section)
"Shun arrogance, CJ urges young lawyers"
- the gems include
"Shun arrogance, embrace life-long learning, get involved in pro-bono work"
- "If a lawyer thinks he has absolutely not enough to learn, then that is the beginning of his downfall"
- "Pro-bono does not mean helping yourself, but others"

Also on the same page;
"Just one lone petrol station in Punggol"
- An expert offered this earth shattering insight
- "it's best to locate these petrol stations a safe distance from residential and crowded areas."

These guys get paid high salaries for those gems. While bloggers like Tan Kin Lian gets nothing.

So where is the meritocracy?; May 30, 2010 6:58 PM
C H Yak said...: In Nov 2008, I wrote to TODAYS Letters Page to comment on what our PM's said about Obama's call for political change and the PM's view that Singapore should have a one-party system with change only coming within the ruling party.

My article attracted the attention of a Japanese interpretator and he commented in his blog...and concluded by saying Singapore is a “kintaro-ame” nation.

Link :-

http://invinoveritasddj.blogspot.com/2008/11/3-week-interpretation-work-is-coming-to.html

Do you know what does “kintaro-ame” nation means?

Read it and see a picture here :-

http://www2c.airnet.ne.jp/toyo/carte/c3.html

It means :-

"Just like a Kintaro-ame"

means

"no personality, therefore not attractive"; May 30, 2010 8:29 PM
Anonymous said...: """"One of my favourite in Chinese is 信用。First word is "letter", second is "use".""""

信, in my view, should means "beleive" or "Confidence" here.; May 31, 2010 1:15 PM
C H Yak said...: Hi Anon 1.15pm

I agree it has the part meaning of "to believe" - a verb. It also has the other meanings : letter / true / sign / evidence (something in hardcopy)... a noun...which you use in form or 用.

Hence, I feel it is closer to meaning as in "Letter of Credit" or IOU in old days ... same as for credit card ( 信用 + card ) today.

Not just "confidence" but credit-worthiness and trust. So if you use 信 as for "believe" in God...then using the second word would be wrong and meaningless.; May 31, 2010 2:28 PM
Anonymous said...: "Kaisu" and "kiasi", examples indicated by Mr Tan, are exactly some of the main cultures of Singapore.

A culture is normally formed through many decades or even centuries in daily life of people. The government's behaviour and policies played a very important role in the formation of a culture.

It is really sad that Singapore after having gained independence for about half a century has the main culture of "Kaisu" and "kiasi". Where and what went wrong?

Have our children and students been taught to be sincere, faithful and honest through the study of humanities during their schooling time, apart from equipping them with the required knowledges and skill for their future careers in workplace?

Has Government set a good example to uphold fairness and justice that should never be just "inspiration", and allowed its helpless people cheated and misled to buy toxic structured products by banks or financial institutions ?

If what government do are for "money, money, money....", the people will follow and inevitably the shaping of the culture of "Kaisu" and "kiasi"

Perhaps, there may still be people thinking that "Kaisu" and "kiasi" is something good to accept!; May 31, 2010 3:23 PM
C H Yak said...: I wonder if "kiasu" or "kia-si" is a trait which evolved due to implementation of NS? It certainly was part of the NS culture when I served NSF.

Ironically, NS is supposed to also to impart leadership and responsibility. If indeed it is true, this trait had arisen due to "negative" culture as a whole.

The cure is therefore to promote a "positive" culture...and we must have a more "open and organic" society...not just overwhelming rules and regulations and red-tape...which is also linked to our "political" culture and climate.; May 31, 2010 3:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Kia-Su-ism and Kia-Si-ism are the results of 50 years of PAP rule. Actually 25 years (1 generation) enough already --- by 1985 most singaporeans were kiasu and kiasi.

The policies forced upon the people by PAP created a You Die Your Business environment, and where You Die Better Than I Die, because no one not even the govt is going to help you or your family.

Everything is all about cold blooded self reliance, no welfare, help yourself, don't expect help from govt or other people. It is survival of the jungle, and fits exactly into LKY's philosophy of human animal evolution and eugenics -- let those deemed elite & capable rise to the top and shower them with rewards and honours. Let those that cannot make it be purged from the system, ostracised and if possible prevent them from creating another similar generation of their children.; June 01, 2010 1:23 AM