LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Identities Reflected in the Discourses of Male speakers -
A Malaysian Chinese Perspective

Kuang Ching Hei, Ph.D. & Maya Khemlani David, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper discusses the spoken discourses of five male speakers whose ages ranged from 6 years to 56 years of age. Using Discourse Analysis the study hopes to unravel the identities of the male speakers as identified in their spoken discourses whether among themselves, with friends, close relatives or with their parents. The findings disclose that the younger male speakers use very direct modes of speaking which illustrates that today's young people are less aware of what politeness or attending to face is about. This can cause misunderstanding across generations. On the other hand, the older speaker's attempts to conform to the younger speakers' ways may not meet with success.

Introduction

A difference in opinion or a miscommunication in understanding can create conflicts and problems. While national or international conflicts are the result of the leaders not being able to see eye to eye over specific issues, it is also true that conflicts arise due to what is sensed as the struggle for power. People want power and their quest for power is seen in their use of language. While language helps in conveying messages, it must be understood that the interpretation of a message is performed through the 'ears' of the hearer who would interpret the message through his own cultural experiences. Communication is effective if interlocutors are able to understand the intended message. However, should one party fail to decipher the message appropriately or as intended by the other party, the entire communication process would be ineffective particularly when it creates misunderstanding. Conflicts, no matter how small, can lead to problems ranging from depression, abuse, violence to that of death.

Aim of the Study

This paper aims to illustrate that the participants involved in this particular study are not only of two different generations who differ in their values but also in the way they perceive themselves. This study focuses on the younger generation of Malaysian Chinese males who do not appear to conform to their parents' values which advocate respect and deference to the elders. Instead, they display more distinctive features of individuality. At the same time the older generation appears to be reaching out to meet the younger generation halfway as this study demonstrates.

Background of Study

This study focuses on 5 male participants. They are all Male Chinese who reside in the urban area of the Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia. Their ages range from the oldest, WK, being 56 who is in the legal profession, SH ( 22) who is a university student, PH (16) who is a secondary Chinese school student, LH (7) and M (6) who are both in their first year of school. They are related as (WK) is the father and whilst the others are his sons and (M) is his nephew.

Methodology

Participants were observed as they were engrossed in their interactions. Spontaneous data was then recorded into a journal. Utterances are transcribed with normal roman alphabets. Where there are pauses and repetitions these are indicated. Non-English utterances are provided with translations in parentheses ( ).

Identity

The term identity generally means "one's distinctiveness" but identity can be individual or communal or national. In other words, one may look at it as belonging to an individual person because of his peculiarities or one may associate those peculiarities with his culture and community, or the region where he comes from as well as his country. Stereotyped descriptions have been derived due to this association. However, while stereotyping is one general way of labelling an individual's identity, there are other ways a person's identity may evolve.

Identities can be constructed through a number of ways. For instance, a person's identity may be associated with his physical looks, his choice of clothes, his behaviour, his speech styles, his habits, his professional status as well as other factors. A person's identity is often revealed and perceived by others based on his spoken discourses. A person's spoken data encompasses not only the language he uses to communicate with others but also the variety of language or dialect he uses, the particular choice of words, the peculiar accents, the kind of voices, the pace of talk, and also the kind of non-verbals employed. Studies have shown that Italians use more body gestures while Japanese appreciate moments of silence in between talk.

In the context of this paper, 'identity' is a term used to describe a speaker's personality based on talk. Thus identity refers to whether or not the speaker is direct, and so perceived to be rude, sarcastic and impolite. On the other hand it may also refer to whether or not the speaker is indirect, thus perceived to be polite and respectful.

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