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I was watching the Singapore anti-gambling campaign that features kids talking about World Cup. I was saddened how Singaporeans kids speak in English with their accent. What happened to the Speak Good English campaign??
Unfortunately, I cannot post the video for now (I'm at the office) and I appreciate if somebody who had watched it will post it here for everyone's reference Thank you!
This is a prevalent issue of Singapore, something that the government has to accept and must consider for instead of their lame excuse of "Singlish is uniquely Singapore so be it". Singlish has to be understood as English and not another language or dialect.
Russians, Australians, Scottish, Spanish, Africans, Italians, Indians etc...have their own English accent uniquely for them but are easily gets understood so why can't Singlish?
I like the singlish accent and generally have no difficulty understanding it. There is, of course, a lot of local vocabulary but generally everyone knows that isn't standard English and can substitute more standard vocabulary when talking with foreigners.
My biggest language hurdle when I was in Singapore was when I was trying to get a motorcycle license and the amount of British based vocabulary in the test surprised me a bit (boots, bonnets, carriage ways, zebra crossings, lorry, pavement means something different, etc.) :-)
Edit: is that the correct video? Just watched it and there doesn't appear to be any Singlish at all, just a local accent.
Unique, one of Singapore's great cultural treasures. It always warms the bones to here Singlish, makes me feel at home, even though I was only born there I've gone 'back' quite a number of times and my mother speaks it...although hers isn't as charming as it lacks some of the intonation and slang:
I like the singlish accent and generally have no difficulty understanding it. There is, of course, a lot of local vocabulary but generally everyone knows that isn't standard English and can substitute more standard vocabulary when talking with foreigners.
My biggest language hurdle when I was in Singapore was when I was trying to get a motorcycle license and the amount of British based vocabulary in the test surprised me a bit (boots, bonnets, carriage ways, zebra crossings, lorry, pavement means something different, etc.) :-)
Edit: is that the correct video? Just watched it and there doesn't appear to be any Singlish at all, just a local accent.
I also did understand te entire convo because I've been living in Singapore for the past 9 years. But I admit having difficulty undertstanding it in my first few years here. It was no surprise the comments of the non residents on the video.
The choice of words are very British I agree but it is the pronunciation that is awful.
This is a prevalent issue of Singapore, something that the government has to accept and must consider for instead of their lame excuse of "Singlish is uniquely Singapore so be it". Singlish has to be understood as English and not another language or dialect.
Russians, Australians, Scottish, Spanish, Africans, Italians, Indians etc...have their own English accent uniquely for them but are easily gets understood so why can't Singlish?
I don't see this line of thought.. Singlish is a way Singaporeans communicate among ourselves.. We don't need an outsider to decide for us whether it stays or goes or need modiification etc .Period
it's kinda ugly but at the same time it's awesome
i love the singaporean accent
it's not romantic but it can be very cute
How many accents are romantic, really? I hardly think our Aussie accent sounds romantic, or imagine say a Scottish accent. It is cute though, and very funny, great for comedy haha...
This is a prevalent issue of Singapore, something that the government has to accept and must consider for instead of their lame excuse of "Singlish is uniquely Singapore so be it". Singlish has to be understood as English and not another language or dialect.
Russians, Australians, Scottish, Spanish, Africans, Italians, Indians etc...have their own English accent uniquely for them but are easily gets understood so why can't Singlish?
What are you talking about? Have the PAP softened their stance on Singlish since Uncle Lee tried to eradicate it, like he did the 'dialects'?
Singlish is a continuum between a sort of creole and Singaporean-accented English, like Jamaican. It would be a crying shame if it were lost, it is part of Singaporean identity as well as a variety of English, I don't see how they are even mutually exclusive?
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