Yes, our own local version of English has again being elevated to the global stage by none other than the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)!
Singlish is an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore. It is a confirmation of our multi-ethnicity culture, where the language of all the major races (Chinese, Malay, Indian and English) are mixed together in a “rojak” (salad) fashion that is unique to us. Some say that it even improves the efficiency of the communication process by minimizing words to effectively convey the same message.
Earlier this week, OED has again added new Singlish words into its global new words list for September 2016, to the pride of our citizens. In this round, the following words have been included : Ah Beng (stereotype Chinese man), Aiyah/Aiyoh (irritated exclamations), Atas (high class), Char Kway Teow (a type of fried noodles), Hongbao (a red packet) and Kopitiam (coffee shop).
The government has been trying to stamp down on Singlish for the longest time, calling it an uncouth bastardized version of English which a good student should avoid. But it has continued to thrive as an underground language to the dismay of the authorities. If you can’t beat them, you might as well join them then. Its uniqueness is now seen as our pride and joy. A new citizen is seen to have truly integrated into the local society if his mastery of Singlish is now steady pom pi pi (well prepared)…
Leave a Reply