Dizet=Desert en Malaysie

Friday January 14, 2005

‘Dizet’ better than ‘desert’

I'm just quite curious as to why the word desert was sanctioned by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in the first place. The spelling dizet, as suggested by Dr Lim Chin Lam (Jan 12) certainly makes more sense and is perfectly logical as that is “Malaysianised”.

I must say that the adoption of English words since I was in school has been getting out of hand. The latest is bajet (budget). I laughed myself silly when it replaced good old belanjawan last year. It appears that Bahasa Malaysia is not receiving due respect nowadays. Why Anglicise the word if there’s a perfectly workable one already in use?

Adopt English words only if there is no Malay equivalent, please! I really can’t bear to see this happening to our beloved Bahasa Malaysia (or Bahasa Melayu).

What is the language referred to as these days, anyway? And what is the difference? Can anyone clarify? – Diana, Kuala Lumpur