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I was devotedly concerned about what i have seen regarding the abuse of language as subtitles for a dvd movie from Thailand and decided to send an email to Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka.The following is the script :
Dear Sir,
Please allow me to offer my comments and opinion about the usage of Bahasa Melayu as subtitles in DVDs.I am referring to DVD as this disc format is more likely to be in use by the audio visual movie and entertainment industry of today.
Although i regarded myself as someone who is more profound in using the English language as a medium of everyday communications among friends,colleagues and business associates,i cannot accept the fact that my mother tongue is being abusively and atrociously blundered when i watch a foreign DVD movie with Bahasa Melayu subtitles. While shopping at the Alpha Angle Complex in Wangsa Maju recently, i chance upon an LCD TV demo display at a department store's electrical section playing a Thai horror movie. The movie shown was a little different from what i was expecting, and then realised that it was Thai and hence understood the presence of the Bahasa Melayu subtitles at the bottom of the screen.
What is so horrifying about the story is not its genre but more of the contents and message of the Bahasa Melayu subtitles that is being conveyed and translated. The whole mesage is deliberately senseless, incomprehensible,downright disgusting and grammatically indigestible.
I think the government, through its machinnery like the Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka ( DBP) must take the initiative to correct the situation when the language jurisdiction falls into the hands of unwarranted commercial maltreaters. No doubt that even the latest English language DVD films have bad English subtitles but more often than not,the Bahasa Melayu version is even worse of.
We should not wait for any sort of rudimentary acts or regulatory body to be implemented or introduced, but DBP must take the initiative to cooperate with the the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Pengguna(act like a counsumers'complaint bureau) in denouncing this sacrilegious language butchering.
We should also declare that it is illegal and a criminal offence to not only buy pirated dvd products but also because it contain distorted subtitles which are not according to proper standards of interpretation. This is where the DBP can be asked to contribute to provide subtitles services just like what the TV media is engaging for its programmes.
You can imagine how a hearing impaired individual would react if he does not hear the audio but just by being dependent on reading the subtitles in order to enjoy the story. This means we are not doing justice to this group of people too. Pirates do not have a sense of empathy for anybody except themselves and we must not let them overpower us through their illicit means and ends.
It will be a big shame and gross insult if these measures are not taken into effect seriously by the government. I am for sure do not support the fact that Bahasa Melayu be called Bahasa Malaysia. If Bahasa Malaysia is totally embraced by all Malaysians, why is it that only a handful of citizens take an interest into the well being and sovereignty of its stature ?
Finally i would like to propose that all foreign language (including English) DVDs that do not have DBP language approval endorsements for subtitles are not sold commercially to the public. DVD piracy is not only about illegal duplicating,laws must also be enforced to ensure normal DVDS meet the overall strict and regular package contents which also include worthy and responsible subtitles presentation, in any language for that matter.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
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