Language use in Singapore : the case of Singlish and English

Abstract

Language is a tool that most individuals use everyday for communication. The language(s) that individuals grow up learning and using are more often than not dictated by external factors such as the state’s language planning. This is the case in Singapore, where language planning has played a highly important role in its nation bulding. The four official languages — English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil — were the outcome of a deliberate selection process that gave precedence to economic prosperity and social stability for the nation. Despite immense effort by the government, language policies have given birth to Singlish — what is commonly defined as a colloquial form of Standard English — when put in practice. With some in support and some showing disapproval of the local vernacular, this paper seeks to explore Singaporeans’ attitudes towards Standard English and Singlish, and how they use these languages in social interactions.