Languaging race and racing language of the others in Singapore

Abstract

Research in the past has often automatically associated race with language. In Singapore, the coupling of race and language is evidenced in the Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others categorisation model. While research has shown how state policies play a pivotal role in the construction of racial identities, the use of language in the construction of racial identities within the “Others” community has yet to be explored. Therefore, this paper examined how the state categorises race, and explored racial identity construction through language use of the “Others”. In order to uncover the process of racialisation, raciolinguistic lens were adopted to dissociate race from language. This was done through the analysis of four documentaries, followed by qualitative interviews with members of the Eurasian and the Arab community, who together form the majority of the “Others” in Singapore. Raciolinguistic analysis of interview responses revealed underlying linguistic ideologies held by members of both communities. Results showed that despite speaking both English and Malay, there were differences in how the Eurasians and the Arabs used both languages, leading to the creation of a distinct “Eurasian” and “Arab” identity. Ultimately, findings on how the Eurasians and the Arabs construct their racial identities through language use problems how the state categorises race, and calls for a renewed perspective in understanding language and race in the context of multiracial and multilingual Singapore.