Indonesian (was Re: yl112's Meep, LOL...)

In a message dated 29.09.2001 04:42:32 AM, hsteoh@QUICKFUR.YI.ORG writes:

>Not that it's a bad thing per se, but it does make the language lose some
>of its unique flavor and sound a little too Indo-European :-P
>
    Yes, but it's a matter of economic survival... function over aesthetics.
Too bad people hafta consider that in their language(s) nowadays.
    I admire cultures that seem to be able to adapt but still maintain some
cultural autonomy. I recall a very funny story - told by a Tlingit (sp?)
Native American to a Canadian anthropologist - about how this native
remembers how the White Man came to his village. Pretty amusin' viewpoint on
how his village refused to take the White Man's ways seriously & how most of
the hilarious disturbances in village-life seemed to be surrounding language,
religion and food.
    Seems that cultures that have a healthy sense of humour fare a bit better
when in contact with other cultures. & on a linguistic note, it seems that
some pidgins and creoles have humourous slang built-in, esp'ly urban
vernaculars.

    czHANg