Watch the film here!
Who are you? Siapa kau? நீங்கள் யார்? 你是谁?
Manglish is more than a humorous aspect of the Malaysian way of speaking; it is a unique language phenomenon that adds a layer of authenticity to the Malaysian identity. Characterized by code-switching between local languages, distinct grammatical structures, and shared vocabulary, it reflects who we are as Malaysians. But how deep is that connection, truly? What is Manglish? What does it reveal about Malaysian identity — and what happens to that part of you when you leave home?
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As part of the 2024 Humanities Fellows Program, I was part of a selective cohort of student researchers investigating individual interests along the theme: 'What represents the Self?'
After spending my summer back home in Malaysia, I've decided to create a documentary exploring the intricate relationship between Manglish, a creole-type language combining the national languages of Malaysia, to the Malaysian identity. With support from my research advisors, Andrew Grace and Nathan Snaza, I've explored the ways we can use documentary film to tell personal stories embedded in research.
After a year-long research process, I'm excited to announce that Rojak! will officially be released April 19th! I'll be presenting at the UR A&S Research Symposium, before showcasing the film.
Here's the presentation:
More details on my research can be found here:
Details on the Humanities Fellows Program can be found here: https://humanities.richmond.edu/programs-initiatives/humanities-fellows.html