books
Book review – Common English Mistakes in Malaysia and Singapore
It’s been said time and time again by educators, parents and politicians alike that English in Malaysia and Singapore is on the decline.
Deny it as much as you want, but you need only look at the nearest advertisement stuck to some lamp post or the side of a wall to realise that we’re a deeply confused nation.
Fewer and fewer people seem to care whether they are using proper English, as long they are understood. We may be apathetic about errors in our English, but the international community might not be so accommodating.
And so Alex Parry attempts to set both Malaysians and Singaporeans on the path of proper grammar and correct spelling in his debut venture, Common English Mistakes in Malaysia and Singapore and How to Rectify Them.
The title may be a mouthful, but the book itself is relatively simple to use and very well organised.
Filled with real-life examples of mistakes found in Malaysian and Singaporean advertisements and signboards, each chapter focuses on one aspect of grammar, from prepositions to spelling, thoroughly explaining each aspect.
Rather than just identifying the errors, Parry goes a step further by attempting to explain the possible reasons for their occurrences. But make no mistake—this book is not meant for casual reading.
While it does not serve as full reference book on grammar, it can be used as a complementary teaching and/or learning resource. In fact, the books make it very clear how exactly it should be used right from the start.
The examples presented are interesting and often humorous to read. I laughed out loud when I read "Orthodontic Treatment: Now We Do!" which should have been "Now Available".
But this is one of the more obvious errors that we make. In the phrase "Need Help to Resale or Rent your Current Property?" Parry points out that the correct form would be "reselling" and "renting", something that many, including myself, would not have noticed at all.
Or how about the most common phrase of all, "Buy 1, Free 1"? Used as a verb in this phrase, the word "free" has pretty funny implications. The point is we’re so used to seeing and hearing these phrases that we barely recognise them as errors.
It’s obvious how much effort the author has placed in this work. There are tonnes of images, even additional ones at the end of each chapter, so readers can apply what they have learned.
The drawback to this book, however, is that some of the images are not particularly sharp. Nevertheless, they are perfectly readable and will not impede the use of this book in any way.
And while the explanations can get quite prosaic at times, the book meets its basic function: to help readers recognise and avoid making errors that seem to plague our nation’s English.
Alex Parry has certainly found a novel way to improve our grammar instead of the usual exercises most teachers and educators would use.
After reading this book, you will find yourself scrutinising every sign, leaflet and poster you come across, and probably turning into a grammar nazi along the way! – July 14, 2015.
* Alex Parry will share more about his book during BookFest@Malaysia 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Hall 5, July 16, 2015, 1pm.
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