a collection of short stories in baba malay · speaking baba nyonya community, this book features...
TRANSCRIPT
CHRITA-CHRITABABA
A Collection of Short Stories in Baba MalayBOOK DESCRIPTION
KENNETH Y. K. CHAN
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Chrita-Chrita Baba, which means Baba Stories in the Peranakan language, is a collection of short stories, written in both Baba Malay and English presented side-by-side on facing pages. The tales draw from Southeast Asian folklore, featuring both adaptations of familiar fairytales with a twist, and elements from local customs, traditions, and beliefs. All stories, as with most folk tales of the past, revolve around the teaching of a moral lesson. Chrita-Chrita Baba is the spiritual successor to the Chrita Dulukala, the last collection of stories translated into Baba Malay in the early 1900s by the Peranakan Chinese. However, while those were faithful translations of Chinese classics for the enjoyment of the non-Chinese speaking Baba Nyonya community, this book features both adaptations of old Nusantara folk tales and original stories for the enjoyment of the contemporary reader. The book was written in response to the Baba language being listed as an endangered language with fewer than 1000 fluent speakers in Singapore. With recent Baba language revitalisation efforts by the Peranakan community, new learners of the language will now have something to read and look forward to. The book will also be enjoyed by those who are interested in Peranakan culture, heritage languages, and local folklore.
ISBN: 978 981 141907 2Style: HardbackSize: 6” x 9”Page length: 260 Categories: Fiction, Short Stories, Baba Malay/English, Folklore - Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian language, PeranakanPrice: $40Available to order: 6 October 2019Source: www.BabaMalay.com
Email: [email protected]: (65) 9270 8174
Kenneth Y. K. Chan is an educator with a background in anthropology and linguistics, and is currently involved within the Peranakan community with efforts to revive the use of Baba Malay. The effort to revive the language is in response to the fact that Baba Malay is an endangered language in a critical stage where it is at risk of being lost within a few generations. He is also the author of Mari Chakap Baba, the first ever Baba Malay textbook which is currently being used to teach Baba Malay language classes.
“This is important work - it highlights the unique fusion language, and it provides essential reading for learners of the language . . . .” Dr. Nala H. Lee, Assistant Professor, NUS