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What A Load Of Corn

Whilst we, Malaysians, make no mistakes about the usage of the word or term or noun 'corn', the word 'corn' actually goes back a long way. In fact, originally, corn was meant for anything that was as small as a grain of sand. Any small particle. You can even use the word 'corn' for salt. Does it make sense now why we call our corned beef 'corned beef'? :-) In the history books, when you refer to a country's corn, it means the crop that the country produces the most. As in Malaysia's corn is rice...or used to be rice. So, back in Hang Tuah days, you ask them, "Woy, bagi saya satu paket corn" and they give you a packet of rice. Right or wrong, I don't know, seriously, but you get my point. Therefore, when you're in England, you say corn and they think wheat. In Scotland, you have to be a little bit more careful because when you ask for corn, they will hand you a packet of quick cooking oats. In the meantime, our brothers over in the US of States understanding is more aligned with the current Malaysian understanding of what corn is. When you ask for corn, they give you maize...which is, in effect, what we're asking for....jagung.

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