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Stuff that matters
“In the situations I have witnessed, there is no divine intervention. All we have is each other. We create our own problems, and it us up to us to solve them.”
James Nachtwey, anti-war documentary photographer (1999: 469)
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(updated: February 8, 2008)
Publications
Forthcoming
David, M. K., Ngeow, Y. M, Yoong, D. (fc). Gender Stereotypes in Malaysian Parliamentary Sittings: Stereotypes and Their Implications.
Yoong, D. (2008). Mixing Them Together: Interdiscursive Elements in Contemporary Animes and Mangas. La Trobe Linguistics Working Paper.
Yoong, D. (2008). Framing Poverty in Indonesia. Journal of Poverty.
Yoong, D. (2008). Standard English and Singlish: The Clash of Language Values in Contemporary Singapore. [pending]
2007
David, M. K. and Yoong, D. (2007). Elderspeak: Deprivation of Linguistic Human Rights?. In M. K. David (ed.) Language and Human Rights. Serdang: Universiti Putra Press.
David, M. K. and Yoong, D. (2007). Code-Switching in Eldercare. In S. I. Harnisch (ed.) In Memorium Rudolfo Jacobson.
Yoong, D. (2007). Rapport Building between an Uncle and Niece in a Malaysian Chinese Family. In David, M. K. (ed.). Politeness in Malaysian Family Talk. (In press).
2006
David, M. K., Jariah Mohd Jan, Kow, Y. C. and Yoong, S. C. (2006). Function and Role of Laughter in Malaysian Women’s and Men’s Talk. Multilingua 25. ISSN 0167-8507
Yoong, D. (2006). Accommodating to the Elderly in a Malaysian Geriatric Day-Care Centre: A Discourse Analysis. Unpublished Master Dissertation. Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya.
Yoong, D. (2006). Boycotting an International Tourism Company: A Critical Discourse Perspectives. In M. K. David, H. Burhanudeen, A. N. Abdullah (eds.). The Power of Language and the Media (146-161). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Yoong, D. and David, M. K. (2006). Talking to Older Malaysians: A Case Study. Multilingua 25, 165-182. ISSN 0167-8507
Paper Presentations
2006
David, M. K. and Yoong, D. (2006). Applying Knowledge of Psycholinguistics in Language Teaching. Paper presented at the Universiti Sains Malaysia International Language Learning Conference (November 23-25, 2006: Batu Feringgi, Penang).
David, M. K. and Yoong, D. (2006). Constructive Communication in Marriage and the Family. Paper presented at the Marriage Philosophy Seminar (29-30 Mac 2006), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Vol.2 Paper 39 (12p.)
Yoong, D. (2007). Framing Poverty in Indonesia. Paper presented at the Discourse of Poverty Conference (July 19, 2007) at the Faculty of Sociology, La Trobe University, Australia.
In progress
Yoong, D. (in progress). Orders and Disorders of Discourse in the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time. Unpublished PhD Thesis. La Trobe University, Australia.
Academic activities
An abstract reviewer for the Eleventh Conference of the Foundation for Endangered Languages: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, "Working Together for Endangered Languages: Research Challenges and Social Impacts." University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 26-28 October 2007
BUT! I won't reveal what it is until the time is right. :) Here's a clue... it's a sub-culture that was synonymous to the lower socioeconomic class American Blacks.
I believe many people are going to be surprised with this new hobby of mine. But quite frankly, I think it has its aesthetic traits.
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Irrelevant post: I thought about my own 'predicaments' last night, and how I came to be the person I am today (vis-a-vis an asshole). And that's the truth. I'm an asshole. I used to rant, bitch and backstab other people (including close friends), without feeling sorry, and I can be a total jackass who finds it hard to forgive those who have done me wrong, no matter how trivial the issue is, or close they may be. Above all, I find it hard to forgive myself.
I admit: I find it hard to deal with people sometimes. It's easier for me to work with ideas than with my fellow human beings.
And really. I sincerely want to be a better person and to feel alive again.
:/ I have much to learn about humility.
So yeah. I'm sorry for being an asshole and I'm sorry if anyone got burnt along the way.
For the past week, I indulged myself in film watching and here's a quickie review of some new and old films:
#1. Rewatching the first three Indiana Jones films from the 1980s made me realise how cheesy the films all are.
#2. Groundhog Day is my all time favourite. I especially like the theme very much: The transformation of a hedonistic man into a man of virtue. Kinda Buddhism in a way (think: karma and finally nirvana).
#3. The Kingdom was pretty draggy UNTIL the last bit. Pretty intense action scenes.
#4. The Bourne Ultimatum was so uber cool. Must rewatch the first two films! XD
#5. Be Kind Rewind was quite alright. Jack Black was somewhat annoying. But it's a fun film.
#6. The Interpreter was unbelievable. The plot was simply too far fetched, complicated and non-credible. BUT... Nicole Kidman is hot. That saved the film.
#7. Kung Fu Panda was jaw-dropping... i.e. ridiculous. WTF. I still can't believe the panda managed to acquire mastery of Kung Fu in such a brief time.
#8. Harold and Kumar is a highly recommended watch. Damn frickin' hilarious... some might find it offensive though.
I've got another 3 films to watch. *cracking neck*
He nodded and pursed his lips before saying, "You're doing pretty damn good. For someone who has written about five and a half chapters in one and the half years, you're ahead of the game. I know of third year students still struggling with their first chapter."
He spent about an hour pointing out and correcting some of the current misconceptions in my thesis, and introduced me to some terms (e.g. "filibuster") and theories (e.g. "relevance theory").
Thereafter, he leaned back and started talking about stuff, philosophy, religion, politics, linguistics, the accidents of life (think: butterfly effect), etc. It was mostly a monologue-lecture style discussion, but one which can really keep you in your seat literally, for hours.
And you know, today I realised that my supervisor really has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. And when he talks, he doesn't talk shit (like a lot of people whom I know).
I seriously want to be like him... a damn well read, respectful down-to-earth guy.
Anyway, before we ended our discussion, he said, "well... we have to keep ourselves busy... because life really has no meaning." XD
... a significant breakthrough in my dissertation. I finally found a way to quantify and qualify a troublesome piece of data. Still, it is a massive ordeal that is time consuming. If all goes well, I'll be done with my PhD thesis by September 2008.
And if it all goes well, I'll fly back on the same month and won't be bothered with my convocation here in Australia. After all, I've graduated 2 times already and I know what it's like. :)
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I've had long thoughts about what I want to do upon returning to Malaysia. No way in hell would I want to undertake a post-Doctoral program. Enough with thesis writing. In fact, I just wrote to my supervisor, "I dread being a 'professional student'."
I intend to do more serious work at UM (research, lecturing, administration) and I intend to conduct documentary fieldwork within the areas of the social sciences. In addition to linguistics (especially discourse and critical discourse analysis), I'm going to devote myself seriously to visual anthropology, musicology and social psychology.
What about my band here? It's a sad thing, but I'm sure the guys will understand... after all, they're all talented enough to play on without me. :) But before I leave, I hope I am able to record a demo CD with these guys.
How about Aikido? I'm sure to miss the folks here... but I'm equally sure they'll eventually get used to my absence.
Attended a damn interesting talk yesterday on linguistic (typology) data maintenance and storage. In the digital age, anything seems possible.
And one of the speaker's closing remarks is this: As professionals, it is imperative for professionals to keep abreast with the latest developments.
A good lesson which I intend to 'radicalise' at UM when I get back.
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Sorry have not been updating this blog. Busy as hell. Pretty gung ho about my 6th chapter (written about 23 pages already) and many more sections to work on.
Plus! I am working with my Prof (back in Msia) on a new paper, and I might be doing documentary work in Singapore come December as a research fellow! :P (note the modality).
I am also going to take this time to calm my edgy nerves. I feel betrayed and frankly, I am quite disappointed with myself for trusting people too much.
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It's really because...
...Just want one thing Just to play the king But the castle's crumbled And you're left with just a name
Where's your crown, King Nothing? Where's your crown?
It has been a long week. Here are some quickie updates:
#1. Aikido grading on June 14! :P Training these days are vigorous but enriching!! XD
#2. So many people fong fei kei-ed me last week.. bah. -.-
#3. Re-revised Chapter 2. Looks good. XD
#4. Going to the city on Friday to meet a photographer and get myself a Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive (apparently, it's much better than the Ibanez tube screamer!). Hopefully that offer is still on. Will be spending AUD100.
#5. House got political issues. I'm steering clear from them.
#6. I've not been reading my rss reader. It has gotten so bad that in 3 days, it has about unread 10,000+ entries. Tak larat...
#7. I'm learning Photoshop CS2™. Oldie, but a goodie proggy.
#8. Comic drawing is so time consuming, but very rewarding. *thumbs up*. So I've not been practising my sax and guitar for about a week now. :(
#9. Speaking of guitar, jamming and recording this Sunday (bassist ffk-ed us last minute).
#10. Prof back home got promoted (again) in a big association (information withheld) she's affiliated with. Hopefully I'd be able to present additional papers/seminars when I get back, at her association. I won't be getting paid, but it's really cool to present stuff there and expand my professional network.
#1. Aikido rocks. Am going for grading next month! :P
#2. Comic drawing with HJ was fun... although she didn't do her 'homework,' she was quick to produce great caricatures on the spot.
#3. The research involving playing the PS3 was damn fun! I played Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Reminds me a lot of Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. The PhD dude working on the research later commented that for a newbie, I fared much better and reached further levels faster than other participants. :P
#4. Colleague macam nak cari pasal. Nak kena sepak ni. >:(
Hey folks! I won't be blogging for the next couple of days... partly because it's kinda liberating to be 'offline' and I am in the mood to work on my thesis.
Here are some updates:
#1. Today at Aikido, we had a temporary replacement Sensei. Although there were only 2 students (lame huh?), we did lots of really challenging and fun techniques!! XD
The Sensei asked me, "You look like you've had training before... Have you done any other martial arts before?"
"Err... no."
I lied because telling others that I'm a black belter will invoke challenges and 'discrimination' from the senior members.
#2. I got a new partner in crime in comic drawing! It's gonna be oh-so-very-fun! :P I got a couple of new scripts to work on. Now where did I place that book of ideas? -.-
#3. I cancelled the Bundoora Park outing cause it was raining and so damn cold a couple of days ago. Next Saturday I'll be meeting my photographer friend in the city, and hopefully visit his makeshift home studio.
#4. I'm going to be playing Halo3 and Quake on the PS3 this coming Thursday AND GET PAID for my time. :P I'm going to be a human-hamster/participant at the computer science dept.
#5. Although I have a copy in Msia, I bought myself Janet Holmes' An Introduction to Sociolinguistics because it only cost AUD2! Can sell it off for about AUD15. >:D
Yesterday's presentation was kinda OK (nothing beats that presentation I gave at that USM conference in Dec 2006). Torrent of information running in my head made me stutter quite a bit... and that was slightly embarrassing.
My supervisor didn't attend and another friend fong fei kei-ed me last minute... >:O But SHE came... And that kinda made my day. :P
[updated] Supervisor was quite apologetic about missing the talk and he wrote (IMO) a rather long apology mail. :P
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I admit! I really like Wheesung's songs! This Korean guy is a damn good RnB singer! XD
Let his manly whiny voice mesmerised you!
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I had a nightmare last night. It was quite terrifying that I think I shouted in my sleep and woke my housemate. O.o
Nada. No Freddy Kruger. In that dream, I witnessed the death of a motorcyclist. His bike tripped and he was flung underneath a huge bus. His head got caught in the path of the huge wheel and as the bus went on, his helmet broke and his head exploded like a smashed watermelon... -.-'
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Am going for a photoshoot at Bundoora Park tomorrow.
*sigh* Might have to get a new hard disk and a larger capacity CF card to accommodate the RAW images.
Speaking of photography, I totally love this book: Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method. It's a must read for documentary photography wannabes (like me)!!
When I get back, I want to include a short course in documentary photography, as part of a visual linguistics program (betcha never heard of it) I intend to introduce. XD
... to perform... well, according to the bassist, that is. :P If we do get paid, I'll treat the income as an incentive rather than work income.
Ín 2 weeks time, we'd be recording a demo! XD
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OOoo.. Talk's tomorrow. For those of you in the know, it's a sociolinguistic paper. Am certain my supervisor's going to hantam/throw tough questions. But... bring them on!
1. I made some errors on one of my papers. :( And because of that it is most likely I won't win that Richard Hogg prize. :( Shit shit... Damn sad la. Must follow my Prof's footsteps and proofread my work at least 5 times before submitting.
2. I'm finishing my powerpoint presentation for my seminar. Do come! You can all shake my hand after the 'show.' :P I'd try to make my presentation as enlightening and entertaining as possible.
3. Another 4-8 weeks before I finally get my paper review from the American Journal. Can't wait. If it gets published, it would be my very first publication in America. :P
4. My Prof in Msia asked me if I want to submit a paper to an editor who is working on a book on language and the media. And no, the paper will fully bear my name.
5. PhD on hold.
6. This just in: I'm screwed. Abstract accepted, but I have to make changes to my paper because the organiser wants me to work on a different theme. -.-' die die...
7. Band practice this Sunday. Wee! We've got a number of new songs in our playlist. It's damn exciting! :P
8. Only 2 students today, but training was intensive... I noticed that fewer students = vigorous sessions; more students = more relaxed sessions. Aikido is becoming more and more fun. Jo work is incredibly interesting.
1. Supervision meeting was damn good. Hallelujah! I'm on track again! And supervisor liked the way I troubleshot the pressing issues. No conceptual clash! W00t! I can now move on to address my 6th chapter.
2. The editor back home finally faxed my publication details to the linguistics dept today. Thank you! Thank you!
3. One of the lecturers here jokingly suggest that I send the Singaporean consulate an invitation for my seminar on May 16th (3:30-5:30pm @ rm330 DMB(east)). The presentation is based on a paper which I have submitted for the Richard Hogg prize.
I'm determined more than ever to focus on my goals and dreams in life.
I'll never let anyone again get in my way. NEVER AGAIN. So yeah. Thanks (in a cynical way). You know who you are. You had your chance(S), and you made your decision well. And I know you'll live with it with a contented heart. Hell, to show my sincere gratitude, I plan to include a short acknowledgment line in my thesis.
And... Shhh!! Do you hear that?
My motherland beacons me! Oh how I grow to despise this land by the minute. And it's kinda ironic how this loathe is pushing me to realise my goals. :)
Yesterday, I was a bit surprised to find out that only one PhD candidate completed/is completing his work in the shortest time span of 3 1/2 years. The rest averaged about 5 years. I want and will do my best to beat that record. And my work won't be cincai bocai.
In a way, I must thank Arshana for her mail. I don't know why she sees me as a role model, but... thanks. It's truly an honour for me. I'll do my very utmost best to live up the role. :)
Gambarimasu!
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Important (short term) objectives to complete in Australia:
-Complete thesis. Complete and fill in the kernel (90% of thesis) by July 2008. I could have reached this objective back in January 2008, but I've been 'distracted.' And now that distraction is gone, I believe I'm diligent enough and more focused to achieve my target goals.
-Go as far as I possibly can with my band. This will be my best Australian memento. Here are the updates: a new keyboardist might be joining us (he better, because jamming studio costs have sky rocketed to AUD70 for 3 hours). We also plan to record a demo and do gigs. When it's out, I'll post it online (depending on the consensus of my fellow gang). :)
And trust me when I say this: We're actually not too bad. Here's the thing: we don't meet regularly, but we are quite tight as a band as communication is damn good, it's as though we have been playing together for many many years. Both drummer and bassist were professional musicians (i.e. play for money/gigs) many years ago, and their skills surpass that of my former band mates. Fusing with them is truly inspirational.
Anyhoo, I think we'd be able to build a fan base here. :P
And she has only met her to-be-husbands in less than a month. Consequently, she's giving up her scholarship, going to apply for Australian PR and move over to Canberra.
In a way, I foresee a WAY much quieter office.
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Meeting my supervisor was one of the most depressing things that occurred to me today.
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Sometimes I wonder why I'm in Australia doing my Doctorate... But I do know that not doing so is going to make me regret. Gah. I hate these contradictions.
Sometimes I wonder why I'm not talented enough and not born a prodigy or an elitist genius... like this kid.
wah, just met him for one month then plan to marry liow? 0_o how do they know it's like, the right one or something? yet there are marriages that last and started off like that also...
are you still depressed? :( i'm sure something good will come soon!
I also really don't know. Don't really have the mood to poke into her life story. Apparently they click so much and the guy was ordained as a Buddhist monk before (hmmm... shouldn't this guy be emancipated from relationships?), and she too is a hardcore Buddhist and the guy speaks her language too. Recipe for love.
Uh huh. Still am depressed. Judgment day today. Got a *ahem* 'meeting' later.
1. Finally submitted my revised Chapter 2 and also requested my genius supervisor to review Chapters 3-5.
2. Submitted my abstract for my upcoming seminar on May 15 at the uni. The hour and half long seminar will cover issues pertaining to linguistic hegemony and resistance in Singapore, based on a paper I submitted to a UK linguistic conference not too long ago.
3. I covered 3 verses of Rylynn. Not sure when I can finish memorising the entire song. There's one really cool part in the song towards the end which has lots of slap harmonics. I so wanna learn it.
4. I picked up a couple of interesting books from the library, and amongst them, "10 steps to a more tolerant Australia."
Here's an excerpt.
My earliest memory of what I now see as xenophobia is an aversion that was much less ambitious. When I was a child in a country town, we Protestant kids would feel estranged whenever the Catholic nuncs, in a most un-Australian manner, openly walked through the streets with their bodies covered by long black gowns and their faces constricted within starched headdress, as if all God wanted to us to see of them was their eyes, noses and mouths... occasionally, more fundamentalist Protestants would come to town to distribute pamphlets exposing the Pope as the Antichrist roasting in hell. Throughout Australia, many business firms wouldn't employ Catholics; Masonic lodges organised against them... Although it was peaceful, the Protestant-Catholic split was one of the significant and chronic dividers of Australian society...
Heh. It's so meh.
5. I finally got the playstation (1) emutator to work. Yay me. But I have to restart Final Fantasy 9 all over again. :/
6. Linguistic postgrads have to meet up on the 14th for a meeting (think: report card day)-minus the awkward formalities, and plus the cakes!
7. I finally got my Aikido gi. OMFG. It costs me AUD40!!! That's like... RM120!! Training was mediocre yesterday. Since the more senior members didn't turn up (all of them), I was up next in line and became the 'uke' for the sensei throughout the entire session.
Kow tim Chapter 2! Phew. I managed to trim it down to about 15,000 words, from it's initial length of 24,000 words. Now I have to do a thorough review and revision before I submit a copy to my super-well read genius supervisor.
Must also revise one section in Chapter 3 so that it is coherent to the points made in Chapter 2.
Tomorrow, I would be attending a philosophy seminar at Humanities 2.
I can't wait to attend Aikido tomorrow. I might just buy a bokken to practise.
