A Slang For Me

There are few times I say to myself, "how much I want to speak this slang or that slang". It's not because of the eliteness of the slang, it is because it excites me. Language is an unique form of communication which expands every minute and second. Language also can forge many understanding between many cultures and also it can create wars between many cultures.

Therefore, I am feeling the urge to master few languages albeit to me, it is such an impossible dream. I once took an Arabic lesson back in high school but I failed that class miserably. Oh well, I piled the blame on its ustaz, not myself, for not teaching us properly. Besides, he was busy catching students playing truancy in school or 'fly' at night (oh yeah, talking about defence mechanism here).

My visit to UK in winter of 2002 was somewhat revealing to me as a sudden euphoric feeling rushed into my heart when I heard people talking to each other in British accent. Even more when I visited Scotland and tried to ask for a simple instruction from a lady at cashier register, the Scottish accent simply facinates me. It reminds me to Sean Connery's accent - very noble, very professionally sound and very sexy. And perhaps sturdy.

Unlike the American accent which I have right now with me, I dont think many people would appreciate that. As far as I concern, most young people think having an American accent will put you in style, or rather in exclusive position to bargain for something. Unfortunately, that is not the case with me. Especially after the September 11 catastrophic event. Americans are terrified in every way they can. I noticed the lads in Baloch realized that I wasnt from around there due to my slang. They quickly labeled me as Yankee, coming off from streets of New York city. Oh dear, although they sounded really nice when they greeted and talked to me, I still could sense a cynical tone in their voice. Talking about American culture resentment here.

By the way, through many years I've been staying in the States and once a while I will get my ass off from here to M'sia, I am beginning to see a culture of American accent worshipping. Or has it been there for more than I know? I don't exactly know. But in KL, if you are conversing in American jives, there's a whole lot of people will look up to you as in you're one special sapien, especially among teenagers. And I bet it's one way to impress the hotties out there too. Quite irony is it when one tries to emulate the American slang but he or she doesn't want to copy the good habit of americans - volunteerism, reading habit, courtesy and what not. I am not hailing them as saints but at least, admit it, they are somewhat better than us in some good positive ways. Unfortunately we are too busy looking for the negatives. Alas, this is not the time to have some prejudice and stereotypes in my mind.

Anyway, all I want to say is, I wish to master the British accent and if it is possible, I also would like to nail the Scottish accent. Then I can easily say, "I am Bond, James Bond" with no guilt at all..hehehehe. The American accent insofar, hasn't much rewarded me. Instead, it invites some virulent responses from people around me thinking that I am one snobbish and stuck-up guy. Oh boy, that's the last thing I want to get from people.

So, I guess I need to brush up my Queen's english more than my cowboy's slang, right? (what a lousy ending is this??!!)