7 replies to this topic

[popsune]

Hi, I"m an undergraduate student doing a research study on Singlish and culture. There is a survey link that any Singlish speakers in this forum can help me to fill up. Thanks for the help! Please leave a message if you have problems answering the questions or if you can offer improvements to the questions.

http://www.surveymon...RVn5jlBhw_3d_3d

[fireball]

I am not sure what is Singlish. Could you define it first? Then, we could have some responses for you!

[Pattie]

From Wiki

Singlish is an English-based creole language native to Singapore. It is the first language of many younger Singaporeans, especially those whose parents do not share a native language or dialect, and is the second language of nearly all the rest of the country's residents.

The vocabulary of Singlish consists of words originating from English, Malay (mainly Bahasa Melayu rather than Indonesian), Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil and to a lesser extent various other European, Indic and Sinitic languages, while Singlish syntax resembles southern varieties of Chinese. Also, elements of American and Australian slang have come through from imported television series. To date, other Asian languages like Japanese, Korean and other lesser known Chinese dialects such as Shanghainese have also been incorporated into Singlish. Recently, due to the fact that Mandarin is taught to all Singaporean Chinese in school, Mandarin words have also found their way into Singlish.

Singlish is closely related to Manglish of neighboring Malaysia.

[General_Zhaoyun]

If you want to know what Singlish is like, check out

http://www.chinahist...showtopic=17219

Ve -lee Chor Loh.. All Ang Moh (westerner) should try to understand some Singlish

We have a Singlish discussion at http://www.chinahist...showtopic=13108

The best website for anything about Singlish is http://www.talkingcock.com
(do check out its singlish dictionary)

[General_Zhaoyun]

I believe there is a 'high' and 'low' culture in Singapore. "High Culture" refers to those who speak proper English/Mandarin/Malay/Tamil. "Low Culture" refers to those who speaks Singlish, Singdarin (mixed Mandarin), other dialects etc. Because "Singlish" is considered to be a low culture (and often mockery by foreigners), that's why Singapore government does not encourage it. On the other hand, there are quite alot of Singaporeans who think that "Singlish" is a very local dialect culture of Singapore and creates the "Singaporean identity". That's why they still maintain that dialect language and even proud of it.

[liuzg150181]

I believe there is a 'high' and 'low' culture in Singapore. "High Culture" refers to those who speak proper English/Mandarin/Malay/Tamil. "Low Culture" refers to those who speaks Singlish, Singdarin (mixed Mandarin), other dialects etc. Because "Singlish" is considered to be a low culture (and often mockery by foreigners), that's why Singapore government does not encourage it. On the other hand, there are quite alot of Singaporeans who think that "Singlish" is a very local dialect culture of Singapore and creates the "Singaporean identity". That's why they still maintain that dialect language and even proud of it.

Not unlike the relationship between 'classical Latin' and 'vulgate Latin'(later evolved into Romance language branch,such as French,Spanish and modern Italian),though I am interested is whether it would evolved into a language of its own later?

Speaking of foreigners I have came across angmohs who speak Singlish as well.

[General_Zhaoyun]

Speaking of foreigners I have came across angmohs who speak Singlish as well.

Angmohs speaking Singlish? Wow.. first time hearing that. I've never come across that