Comments on: The language question, pt.2 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/ ... the online home of a librarian in Perth, Western Australia Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:03:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Belongum http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2154 Belongum Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:57:31 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2154 I agree CW... it's very hard to maintain a sense of connection, sometimes it seems too damn difficult! But if we don't - through any means possible - we stand to lose a great deal... <br/><br/>Wow - talking about this has renewed my own need ot reconnect some more CW - it's been running around in my head, and I've been stumbling around trying to figure out how to do this effectively - I'll just have ot find someone somewhere I can tap into... not as far away as you though it seems - but close... ;-) I agree CW… it’s very hard to maintain a sense of connection, sometimes it seems too damn difficult! But if we don’t - through any means possible - we stand to lose a great deal…

Wow - talking about this has renewed my own need ot reconnect some more CW - it’s been running around in my head, and I’ve been stumbling around trying to figure out how to do this effectively - I’ll just have ot find someone somewhere I can tap into… not as far away as you though it seems - but close… ;-)

]]> By: CW http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2153 CW Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:10:18 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2153 Good luck with teaching Matthew, Isaak! I remember how difficult I found it when I was a child...<br/><br/>Oh, belongum, I couldn't agree more when you say that "your own culture NEEDS to be connected to you firsthand, as it's a symbiotic relationship at best". If you don't feel any connection to it, well, that's it. It's often very difficult to maintain a sense of connection, though. I was thinking of my dad's desire for his grandchild to address us by the correct terms, even though he doesn't even know what they are - and wondering how we're going to work them out... Maybe a trip to Malaysia is in order, but only trouble is all the family elders are, well, very elderly... Good luck with teaching Matthew, Isaak! I remember how difficult I found it when I was a child…

Oh, belongum, I couldn’t agree more when you say that “your own culture NEEDS to be connected to you firsthand, as it’s a symbiotic relationship at best”. If you don’t feel any connection to it, well, that’s it. It’s often very difficult to maintain a sense of connection, though. I was thinking of my dad’s desire for his grandchild to address us by the correct terms, even though he doesn’t even know what they are - and wondering how we’re going to work them out… Maybe a trip to Malaysia is in order, but only trouble is all the family elders are, well, very elderly…

]]> By: Belongum http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2152 Belongum Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:15:43 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2152 I am only now just wondering about these same issues myself CW... as I now have a 14 month old son, it's important he get's his terminolgy right - so he correctly identifies that persons place in our family. This is critical if only to help him come to understand his own sense of place in our family, and hence - build and grow his sense of belonging and identity.<br/><br/>My mobs language is something I've never really had full access too, as my mother was never allowed to speak her language when she was taken away and kept in Catholic care. Now Geography plays it's games with us. It's very hard for us to have fluent conversations in Bardi when I live in someone else's 'country'. <br/><br/>I want my son to hear his language spoken in a natural setting - not a contrived one. But my options aren't all that good. Postion and place in our families is identified to others by the way you address each other. Aunty and Uncle, Nanna and Grandad are simply not enough. There are many layers in our family - much like yours - and to apply Ngadea (Bardi for 'whitefella' if you like: pronounced - Gudd e-ah) standards just isn't specific enough.<br/><br/>I have a Ngadea partner, so I have ot se to it my boy learns how important this knowledge is for BOTH sides of his family. He's lucky - his mum's family is tiny compared to mine.<br/><br/>I think some connection is important as it's like we talked about earlier - these young fellas will carry our culture with them later in life. This is much easier to do if you belong to your culture, rather then live a life outside of it. I think your own culture NEEDS to be connected to you firsthand, as it's a symbiotic relationship at best. How you foster this is ultimately your choice of course, but Culture is a survivor... it can live on with only the bare bones if it has too.<br/><br/>Cheers ;-) I am only now just wondering about these same issues myself CW… as I now have a 14 month old son, it’s important he get’s his terminolgy right - so he correctly identifies that persons place in our family. This is critical if only to help him come to understand his own sense of place in our family, and hence - build and grow his sense of belonging and identity.

My mobs language is something I’ve never really had full access too, as my mother was never allowed to speak her language when she was taken away and kept in Catholic care. Now Geography plays it’s games with us. It’s very hard for us to have fluent conversations in Bardi when I live in someone else’s ‘country’.

I want my son to hear his language spoken in a natural setting - not a contrived one. But my options aren’t all that good. Postion and place in our families is identified to others by the way you address each other. Aunty and Uncle, Nanna and Grandad are simply not enough. There are many layers in our family - much like yours - and to apply Ngadea (Bardi for ‘whitefella’ if you like: pronounced - Gudd e-ah) standards just isn’t specific enough.

I have a Ngadea partner, so I have ot se to it my boy learns how important this knowledge is for BOTH sides of his family. He’s lucky - his mum’s family is tiny compared to mine.

I think some connection is important as it’s like we talked about earlier - these young fellas will carry our culture with them later in life. This is much easier to do if you belong to your culture, rather then live a life outside of it. I think your own culture NEEDS to be connected to you firsthand, as it’s a symbiotic relationship at best. How you foster this is ultimately your choice of course, but Culture is a survivor… it can live on with only the bare bones if it has too.

Cheers ;-)

]]> By: Isaak Kwok http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2151 Isaak Kwok Tue, 27 Feb 2007 03:09:46 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/02/26/the-language-question-pt2/#comment-2151 Hi,<br/>We have the exact same issue as you have with regards to how Matthew addresses his elders. I've got a feeling he'll just end up calling everyone Auntie and Uncle. :P But I do hope he'll pick up some Cantonese along the way. Then he'll at least have some roots to his Chinese heritage. Hi,
We have the exact same issue as you have with regards to how Matthew addresses his elders. I’ve got a feeling he’ll just end up calling everyone Auntie and Uncle. :P But I do hope he’ll pick up some Cantonese along the way. Then he’ll at least have some roots to his Chinese heritage.

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