Itchy Backside
Language plays such a huge part in our lives that i think many of us have started taking it for granted. It is not only our primary vessel for communication, it is something that can be highly reflective of its users as well!
Meanings are attached to words & phrases when the society or a group of people are in agreement or consensus of their meanings. What then happens when 2 people of different culture have trouble understanding each other even when they speak the same language?
Watch the clip below from the 1.30 sec mark onwards! (:
In the video, foreigners who are native speakers of English do not understand the terms presented to them even though they were in English, because they did not understand the context they could be used in! Many of these terms, such as ‘itchy backside’, ‘shaking your leg’ & ‘vomit blood’, are terms derived from sayings that were originally in dialects or other ‘Singaporean’ languages.
Other than illustrating the fact that language can be arbitrary & highly contextual, i believe that the above clip has brought up a very good point about being uniquely Singaporean!
While some might argue that speaking Singlish reflects poorly on Singaporeans, it holds true for me that as long as we are able to differentiate between situations which call for us to speak in proper English (such as business meetings, social settings), & colloquial ones where we can be less formal, i do not see why we should not embrace the unique flavor that makes us truly Singaporean! How many countries can say that they have their own special language resulting from having about a million different wonderful races in their nation? (:
I do not feel that we should view Singlish as being a less “correct” version of another language. If language is a “system of symbols derived from social convention & consensus,” then i guess this pretty much makes Singlish a language all on its own! Just like any other form of language, it has to be learned & used in the correct context in order for it to make sense. Shaking leg is not a new dance move & neither is itchy backside a form of disease!
I feel that as long as Singaporeans conduct ourselves with the grace & warmth as any gracious host with any guests invited into their homes, i do not see how speaking Singlish would reflect poorly on us! I definitely know more than a couple of Singaporeans who have a great command of the language & yet still speak Singlish because its part of who they are (:
What about you? Do you think conversing in Singlish mars our reputation? Here are more videos to pick your brains!
For those who do not understand Chinese, it is a group of Taiwanese criticizing our ‘broken’ English on a local Talkshow!
This is an example of self-serving bias & I do not think its fair to pass judgment based on the few people they came into contact with. While i admit we do speak Singlish (i’m proud of it!), they’re basically saying is that it is so bad that they find it impossible for them to understand us! Mrs kaveri is so going to kick their asses for judging our culture as inferior to their own!
Radio DJs conversing in Singlish on the airwaves
A fellow citizen who almost seems embarrased by Singlish. P.s. She is the voice behind those Train Service Announcements!
Please share with me your views! (:
Sylvia replied:
hi,
the taiwan variety show is really ridiculous.
firstly, by all means if they want to criticise our mandarin, but who are they in place to criticise singaporean’s english?
secondly, i don’t see any singaporean speaking the way the taiwan ppl described. they are just trying to be funny and they are known to be exeggerating stuffs so that they get the attention. its so unfair!
but i do think singaporeans should speak more proper english. at least its to make ourselves more understandable and it certainly sound more pleasant to the ears. i certainly am proud to be a singaporean because we are bilingual, but certainly singlish doesn’t make me proud.
Sylvia
May 25, 2009 at 1:05 pm. Permalink.
Ed replied:
Unfair Unfair Unfair..
Why are western slangs like ‘OMG thats sick!’, ‘this club is the sh*t’ and ‘cramping my style’ (yes you said it in sociology class) accepted by the masses while Singaporean slangs are dismissed and deemed ‘bad’.
Don’t worry my fellow classmates. I’m going to become a major international superstar and start promoting singaporean slangs so that the world will finally work in the system that was always meant to be = Asian>Western.
May 26, 2009 at 1:48 pm. Permalink.
Parvin replied:
I need to confess that i’m guilty of speaking singlish very often myself.
I clearly remember the time when i was in Primary 5, my english teacher issued a fine in class for every time a person used the word ‘lah’ or ‘mah’. Surprisingly, it was only after the fine was implemented, that i payed more attention to the way i spoke and tried to stop using singlish in my speech.
It is true that singaporeans have embraced singlish as part of our lives. Some might realise that it is a bad form of english or some might even think that it is alright to speak in such a manner. For young students like me, singlish can slowly rupture my language ability.
Therefore, i feel singaporeans should speak proper english so as to be able to communicate our points clearly and refrain from making a fool of ourselves when we say words like ‘cock’ which actually means coke.
After all, singlish might give us an identity of being a singaporean. However this identity is ridiculed or frowned upon in many other countries. In this context, it does not give us pride to be a singaporean.
May 27, 2009 at 11:09 am. Permalink.
Justin replied:
I’d like to say something regarding what you wrote, How many countries can say that they have their own special language resulting from having about a million different wonderful races in their nation? (:”
You could say that every nation that is sovereign has its own special language with more that a million different races. I would say, no offense, that singlish is a market language.
July 12, 2009 at 2:27 pm. Permalink.
alexia replied:
Singlish has already become part of Singapore’s culture, therefore, i guess it’s quite impossible for us to eliminate or get rid of this ‘habit’ of speaking singlish.
Singlish may not necessary be bad, i guess it depends on how you view it. While it does give us our unique identity as Singapore, some tend to think that it’s a disgrace to speak such awful and broken English.
I admit that Singlish may sound a little off and awkard, especially when we’re speaking to people who come from english speaking countries such as Great Britain or the United States, and at times, singlish may make us look a little less refined and in more extreme cases, boarish.
While we don’t have to get rid of this unique identity of Singgaporeans, i feel that each and everyone of us should realised that importance of speaking good and decent english as well. We can speak broken english with our peers or during relaxed and leisure time, but when we are speaking or conversing with imporant people or during formal occasions, we should always switch back to decent English.
July 17, 2009 at 7:44 pm. Permalink.