I like Singlish. There, I’ve said it, and am ready for the barrage of protests from:

1. teachers of English who all these years have been struggling—alas, unsuccessfully—to get their students to speak and write grammatical English which, of course, Singlish (the abbreviation for ‘Singapore English’) isn’t.
2. the purists who believe that English, that most illustrious language of Shakespeare and Jane Austen and Winston Churchill should be preserved in its pristine state, and not be debased by a mixing with local dialects, of which several can be found in Singlish and
3. the pragmatists who believe that English, being the language of international business, trade and technology and hence virtually Singapore’s lifeline, should not be allowed to degenerate into a form that is no longer intelligible to the international community, which Singlish is rapidly becoming.

All three groups have endless horror stories about how the use of Singlish, even by educated Singaporeans, has led to much misunderstanding, embarrassment or even a total breakdown in communication.

Well, it looks like I have a lot of explaining to do to justify my pro-Singlish stand.

Actually, I understand the hostilities regarding what has become an entrenched part of the linguistic scene in this former British colony, and I hope that certain points which I’m now going to make will reduce the antagonism somewhat:

Singlish is an inevitable product of our linguistic history, that is, it is exactly what can be expected when a foreign language is adopted and then used widely, including by those who have had no formal instruction in it. Note that in other societies where English had also once been the elite language of the colonial masters, the same phenomenon is seen, for instance, India and The Philippines. Singlish, having developed naturally and organically, is a permanent feature of the linguistic landscape in Singapore, and hence, we have no choice but to live with it. To desire its eradication is hence unrealistic and futile.

Having said that, I hasten to add that Singlish, being unintelligible to foreigners, should have no place in situations where Singaporeans have to communicate with international speakers, such as at business meetings or in tourist settings. Hence, service staff at hotels, restaurants and shops, places of tourist entertainment, as well as airline staff making announcements, government officers answering inquiries, etc. have to ensure that the English they speak is of the standard variety, that is, it adequately meets international standards (which have nothing, of course, to do with fake accents or hoity toity Queen’s English!)

Apart from being a means of communication, language, in order to be acceptable, must be socially acceptable, that is, it should be appropriate to the context in which it is being used, just as the clothes one wears must be appropriate to the occasion. Singlish is an extremely informal variety of English, suitable only for certain settings such as friendly gatherings among friends or for purposes of entertainment and humour, but definitely not for others, such as job interviews or public presentations and announcements (I invariably speak Singlish when I’m playing mahjong or engaging in idle chat with my friends, but immediately switch to Standard English if, for instance, I am interrupted by a formal phone call)

Once Singlish is kept out of those language settings where it would be unintelligible or socially discomfiting, its usefulness can be understood and appreciated. For one thing, Singlish, being an informal variety, creates a friendly atmosphere and establishes a sense of camaraderie among Singaporeans. (Many Singaporeans have written about the pleasant experience, while traveling abroad, of hearing someone, in a bus or restaurant, speak Singlish, recognizing it instantly, and going forward to greet a fellow Singaporean traveller) Some Singaporeans claim an even higher function for Singlish: its use in multi-racial Singapore could contribute towards the building of a national identity that we sometimes complain is lacking in our society.

As a writer, I claim the highest value for Singlish (which is the reason behind that enthusiastic declaration at the beginning of this article). This localized variety of English, spoken spontaneously by Singaporeans as they engage in the various speech acts of informing, protesting, arguing, bargaining, complaining, quarrelling, flattering, insulting, gossiping, etc. is exactly the kind that writers of local fiction should use to depict local life vividly. What better way to convey the smells, colours and flavours of home than through Singlish dialogue?

So far I have not made extensive use of Singlish in my writing, apart from a short story called ‘The Taximan’s Story’, a monologue by a taxi driver telling a passenger about his woes, and another short story where I used the contrast between the Singlish spoken by a woman who had had only a few years of Primary school education, and the impeccable Queen’s English spoken by her Cambridge-educated husband, to reflect the contrast between her simple, honest, trusting nature and his carefully cultivated sophistication (which makes him ashamed of her and drift into an affair with a well-educated, well-spoken colleague). I see Singlish as definitely having great literary potential which I’m still exploring.

In the light of all the above deliberations, I stand justified in saying again, with pride and relish, ‘I like Singlish!’

---

About Vignettes...

A continuing flow of little, readable pieces that will constitute what I feel is an important 'legacy of values' to leave behind. Read more about Vignettes...