BLOG
Sunday, March 18, 2007
- 8:08 AM
There is probably nothing more painful or hilarous for a youth in singapore than hearing a foreigner try to speak Singlish.I heard it for myself and just couldn't stop laughing. The way foreigners tries to mimic our 'singlish' accent made me realise singlish is not just a language but an artform.Its Intricacies are almost impossible to explain. Even teachers can't be of help. So you either get it or you don't. Even with resources like wikipedia, Foreigners still make an impoverished attempt to speak singlish which sound more like insult than genuine efforts to grasp the language.It remind me of our local comedian Gurmit Singh who starred as Phua Chu Kang truly expresses the essence of singlish " Don't play play, Best in singapore and JB and some say Batam".However, I think it will be more useful if Singaporeans adopt the American accent, Wholly or inpart- to assimilate and survive. This appropriation is by no means an abandonment of who I am or where I come from. Rather, it is a necessary means to functioning efficently outside our "little red dot". As a Singaporean I yearn for a moment of speech without care of "proper expression" or conversion of words such as "lift" into American equivalent of "elevator" and "Trolley"to "cart". Afterall, i find nothing more comforting than being in an enviroment where everyone speaks and is understood like a Singaporeans. So i say, Savour the ease of communication where you are.
Labels: Vacation homework =S
[Your name here]
