Malay Contributions to English, pt 2

With the war in mind, here is the next installment: Amok, usually seen as “run amok”. It tends to be used in English to mean out of control, but the dictionary meaning is the same in English as it is in Malay:

In a frenzy to kill; in a violent rage; bloodlust; berserk

Let’s use it in a sentence! “A disgruntled Marine went amok and fragged his superiors’ tents.”

Update: Major Boggs gives us the common American usage, out of control, in today’s New York Times:

“Let’s not get gun happy here,” Major Boggs cautioned the officers under the tarp that was the command center, quickly heating under the midmorning sun. “We are running amok. We’re suppressing him, probably, but we’re not killing him.”

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You’re currently reading “Malay Contributions to English, pt 2,” an entry on Bin Gregory Productions

Published:: 03.23.03 / 6pm

Category:: Language

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Sana 03.29.03 / 1pm

Asalaam Alaikum. Nice blog, MashaAllah. I went abck and read ur Chechnya post.a ctually my MSA just finished raising money for them. Jsut reading it amde me wodner how they’re doing…but yea. I like ur blog. Keep it up.

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