JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING WEBINAR
Deciphering Peranakan Poetry
A cultural investigation of a dying language.
When a language dies, a way of thinking vanishes. Join Theresa Fuller—researcher, author, and descendant of ancient dragon masters—for a lively, hands-on journey into Peranakan verse.
This isn’t a quiet reading; it’s cultural detective work. Together, we’ll crack open ancient poetry to reveal how our ancestors thought, felt, and imagined the world.
October 31, 19:30 AEST. Online.
Reserve Your Spot Here
AUTHOR
Theresa Fuller
I grew up with ghosts outside my door. They haunted dark trees and cemeteries and were the spirits of young girls betrayed by lovers. These stories were made real by my cousins who were always telling me how just last year a child around my age had been snatched by one of these ghosts - Pontianaks. And never seen again...
In Singapore it is considered a treat to bring children to Haw Par Villa, originally a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. Here children are shown the ten views of Hell. I had nightmares for a week after each visit. Even today, I can visualize the demons as they tortured liars by pulling their tongues, elongating them grotesquely.
This is probably why I never wanted to be a writer. Initially.
Writers bend the truth. A little.
Then I came to Australia for my education, met my husband, married and stayed.
When my first son was born I read him stories. And somehow something stirred. I remembered my grandfather and how he would tell fairy tale after fairy tale, at least ten per night until in frustration he would record them to be spared reading the same stories repeatedly.
Thus, in a strange land far away from my own family and what was familiar, I began to write. And in my stories, I could come home.
To a land where boys turn into crickets and mousedeer dance laughing upon the backs of crocodiles.
Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going
TAKE A LOOK
Baba Malay Today
Baba Malay is the language of the Peranakans, also known as Straits born. I created the Baba Malay Today Series for Peranakan children, because I wanted to provide my own children with a handy guide to learning the language. My hope is to preserve the language of my ancestors, so that their stories, words, and traditions live on.
Happy Reading!
