LETTERS: IT amazed me when I first set foot in Malaysia in 2017.
People were not just ethnically different, they spoke different languages too. While some speak other languages and some don't, they all live harmoniously. This phenomenon quickly turned into admiration.
The country's history may not be smooth sailing between the different ethnicities, but overall, it has enjoyed harmony for most of its history.
Malaysia's ethnic and cultural diversity has contributed to its vibrant and dynamic society.
I come from Yemen, a monolingual country. It's monolingual because we are also a monocultural country. Everyone speaks Arabic. In fact, our neighbours speak the same language too.
Thus, we exhibit a high degree of homogeneity as we share the same language, the same culture, the same identity, the same race and (almost) the same religion.
In Malaysia, people navigate through daily life seamlessly, weaving threads of language proficiency into the fabric of their culture and identity.
This proficiency allows them to communicate easily and effectively, breaking down linguistic barriers and promoting intercultural dialogue.
Such a colourful linguistic landscape is absent in my country and is replaced by complete homogeneity.
As a result, people find it challenging to communicate with others who speak other languages. Moreover, they usually miss out on job opportunities that require language proficiency.
In some cases, they may feel left out, as they struggle to participate in conversations or activities conducted in languages they don't understand.
Since they depend on others' translations, they usually lack a deep understanding of and access to different cultures. That is why Malaysians are lucky. They don't have to face the challenges that monocultural individuals face, especially when abroad.
Multilingualism allows them to access information from various sources and communicate with a broader range of people, both locally and globally.
Malaysians are privileged to live in a society where multilingualism is not a challenge but a source of pride and strength.
Switching effortlessly between languages enables them to transmit their rich heritage beyond their national borders and access a wider range of literature, music, films and other forms of artistic expression.
Dear Malaysians, keep on learning new languages because you are adept at them.
In this globalised world, language and culture are closely intertwined, and the world is becoming more and more interconnected via technology.
DR HANAA NAJI SALEH SAMAHA
Lecturer, Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times