dn mind me, bt England?
no offence k?

I have a theory. Maybe it's got to do with accents? Some people change their accents when they speak English in a different environment.
Back home, those with a strong command of English don't normally speak it, but rather only write with it and when we speak we normally limit our vocabulary and mangle it a bit to suit others.

But in an environment where the majority have a solid grasp on English, we mind our language more. so it could be that you are catching yourself not at mis pronouncing but rather actually using more precise/complex words and trying to pronounce an uncommonly used word in a different accent.

I nowsadays also talks like that. Dunno why. Thas mean our england veddy powderful oreddi.

I agree with ViceIce. Whenever I converse with foreigners, I try to speak proper english without the "lah's" and usual Malaysian jargon. But alas, I end up sounding like an ahbeng. With all the "r's" sneaking in. "Irsit?" (Is it?) Embarassing really.

omg! I've been stammering lately.. when i talk to my friends i have to think about what i want to say before i should say it.. but i don't really.. it just comes to my mind and i say it and mess the words up..

I triedt talking in proper english once...Very hard trying to take all the 'lah' 'onot' 'liddat' 'siao' 'baka' hehe, ok maybe 'baka' isnt really malaysian...more like japanese but i still say it a lot!

I think you just need to go out and speak to people more. But all these short text messages and chat engines sure doesn't help which is why the English language is surely going down the drain if all of us don't make an effort to correct it while we can...

why do you call it England.. my england seems to be getting worse.. weird.. why not english?? well if you don't type short forms and cut out all the singlish and mangrish, it helps.. i can't say lah or any of that anymore.. it just doesn't sound 'right'.. tris.. baka? lol i don't hear a lot of people use that word a lot.. my friend let me listen to this song called baka.. it's hilarious.. the whole chorus is like bakabakabakabakabakabaka..

Substituting "English" for "England" is a stereotype of bad Malaysian English.

Well it's not like i'm trying to speak with an accent, but yes, I am making a conscious effort to speak proper English -- at least when among non-Malaysians -- and dropping all the "lahs" (and many others) that typically flourish Malaysian speech. I suppose that's an extra step for the brain to process before blurting it out.

maybe coz we know too many dialects and language that its hard to try to speak proper english?

lol. i have to think before i speak.. i pronounce some words like i used to in Singapore.. ok.. i said the word Souvenir and stretched the 'VEN' like how people say it in Spore.. my friend was laughing so hard at me.. i was like WHAT?? she couldn't stop laughing..and just now i said pedicure.. so i have like pedicure in my mind.. then i said Manicure.. but the 'MAN' wasn't streched.. so it sounded like menicure..again.. the same friend started laughing at me..

If you have dyslexia, so do I. I've always spoken English as a first language, but it really wasn't until when I went to the States where I found out that I sometimes have difficulties expressing myself verbally or in writing in pure English. Manglish is a very efficient though perhaps unlovely way of communicating. I'm definitely a lot more conscious about the way I speak, as I am determined not to be condescended to when being spoken to, and about a million times more paranoid about how I write.

shadow:don't think jon would take any offence nor would he take any offense.

well, you're talking of one here, jon. all the more so that I'm back home in ipoh where no one speaks any england at all. and if i do happen to open my mouth and speak in england, people look at me one kind. and if i speak england without the 'lah's, they think i'm putting it on. the thing is, i'm trying to put in the 'lah's but at the same time i'd prefer to speak english as it is. not to mention my cantonese is uhhh....let's not go there :)

heh, if you got Dyslexia then welcome to the club! Colin and I also got Dyslexia...I think colin does...That was a while back...I think...Hmmm....Baka!