Fearing the death of a dialect


Like most Penangites who are proud of their heritage, the writer is troubled that Hokkien isn’t spoken as much as it used to be. 

IF there’s one clear feature that separates Penangites from the rest of the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, it is the distinct northern-accented Hokkien.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Family & Community , Hokkien , Penang , Mandarin

Next In Columnists

Punctured pride, prompt patrols
Tourism players must rethink their approach
The Erosion of Restraint in the Taiwan Strait
Challenge of the ‘kamikaze’ kancil
Villa are back, Liverpool are broken – the Premier League endgame is near!
Mob rule: When justice is upended
Has PMX stepped on a melting iceberg?
China’s Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) in a realist world: Asean's pragmatic choice
Malaysian athletics crying out for change – are we brave enough to do it?�
ABC of hepatitis and implications on sexual health

Others Also Read