FIRST appearance always matters regardless of whether extant flaws can be completely excused, like the signs on some shops in a popular shopping mall in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The simple messages, written in very bad English, were noticed by Netizens recently and went viral on social media. Of course, foreign visitors will dismiss it as natural to a country where English is not the first language no matter how widely the colloquial version may be used. In Malaysia, these are often referred to derisorily as “Manglish” or “Chinglish” depending entirely on who is mangling it; the former would be the Malay instance and the latter the Chinese variety. Indians, generally, tend to have a better command of the language.
But, here, English is taught in schools as a second language, although not to the level of proficiency desired because where once it was a medium of instruction, today it is taught as a stand-alone subject deprived of general application, especially at the primary school level. Then there is a problem of teacher shortage in that those teaching the language are not accomplished. The inevitable outcome is that school leavers — the earlier they drop out, the bigger the handicap — do not have a good command of what is the country’s second language. Hence, the offending shop sign “GO TO BREAK”, which should have been something like “on a break and will be back shortly”, not forgetting the need to sound courteous. This latter is another problem. Courtesy is not second nature to Malaysians.
However, in malls where foreigners are wont to visit as in the popular mall, which is also a tourist attraction, there is a need to project an image of competency and professionalism. That the management does not concern itself with matters such as these, preferring to dismiss it as trivial, is a reflection of its own shortcoming. Obviously, those running the building do not value their own image and the “tidak apa” or “aiyah, never mind lah” attitude still pervades even while they are dressed sharp to look their part. They are more mimicking a role than performing a function befitting their position in the organisation. The solution though is simple: the building’s management must provide outlets with these standard messages in correct English to be displayed when applicable and can, therefore, make its use obligatory.
Of course, where the clientele is generally local, then the language shop signs are written in should be left to the business owner’s decision. These are businesspeople driven by the profit motive and marketing strategies are instrumental to success. If bigotry prevents them from embracing any and all customers, then that is their prerogative. That it is an absurd attitude to have when running a business is no concern of the stranger. In a free country, cutting off your nose to spite your face is quite permissible when done without coercion. However, given the importance of tourism to the country, venues servicing tourists and foreign residents must use correct English, sensitive to its nuances. Instances of embarrassing signs are plentiful.