Yeah, but you don't seem to understand what you read though, do you? Do you know what sarcasm is? I thought not.Artemias wrote:Skppp wrote:My opinions are not personal at all, Singaporeans may like to claim English as their first language but to do so is erroneous - simple question: what do most speak in their own homes and what language do they drift into?
You are right. No one speaks English at home in Singapore.
I speak English at home.
Heehee ........... something I've noticed is that in general (forgive the sweeping statement) the majority of Singaporeans don't understand sarcasm/altruism/piss taking, whatever!Yeah, but you don't seem to understand what you read though, do you? Do you know what sarcasm is? I thought not.
Are you referring to Singapore, NSW or Singapore, Berkshire or Singapore, New Hampshire? Is this your first trip outside your country?LoriW wrote:
As for "why perfection?" - surely if you speak a language which is considered to be your first language, you would want to speak it correctly?
Uuhhh?? I'm referring to the fact that surely if you call a language your first language, you ought to speak it correctly! Maybe it's because I was brought up by a dreadful snob of a mother who insisted that if I spoke a language, any language it had to be correct!Are you referring to Singapore, NSW or Singapore, Berkshire or Singapore, New Hampshire? Is this your first trip outside your country?
So would that mean if you were born and bred in Singapore (or anywhere else besides England) English will not be the first language?LoriW wrote: I speak English as my first language being born and brought up in England, Cantonese Chinese as my mother tongue, Mandarin Chinese out of necessity as a regular visitor and soon to be working in Singapore, French having spent a fair amount of time in France and having French friends.
I think it's just you. My life is an open book on here as well. So? Nobody is forcing you to read her or my posts are they?dazzlebabe wrote: On a separate note, is it just me or is LoriW a tad arrogant in her postings? or is she just too open with her life? Sorry LoriW, I do not know you personally and you do post good replies but sometimes, like the above, you come across as F O S.
Guess it depends on what race your parents were wouldn't it. A person's 1st language is not necessarily the language of the country you are residing in, although in the case of mixed parentage like LoriW, Her 1st language could well have been Mandarin or English. Has she been in Singapore, her mother tongue would have been English as Singapore recognizes the mother tongue only as the fathers tongue which in her case I believe is English (similar to my children). Her first language could have been either English or Mandarin.dazzlebabe wrote:
So would that mean if you were born and bred in Singapore (or anywhere else besides England) English will not be the first language?
You mean her mothers, mother tongue, is in fact her mothers, fathers mothers tongue?sundaymorningstaple wrote: Has she been in Singapore, her mother tongue would have been English as Singapore recognizes the mother tongue only as the fathers tongue which in her case I believe is English (similar to my children). Her first language could have been either English or Mandarin.
"First language" and "mother tongue" are different. There are plenty of countries with English as the first language - Singapore included! Although ..... .......... at the risk of causing further offence ........... of course, the UK and USA are two countries divided by a common language!!So would that mean if you were born and bred in Singapore (or anywhere else besides England) English will not be the first language?
I'd say that with Singaporeans, it's not "difficulties" as such with the English language but a standard misuse. As a young child, my cousins used to laugh at the way I spoke both English and Cantonese because I used different grammar to them. Recently one cousin reminded me of a curious phrasing I used to use for a term in Cantonese. Someone else pointed out that I was in fact correct, because I used the gramatically correct term rather than the abbreviated term.Worth noting since I have misunderstood Singaporeans when they say English is their first language having noticed their not infrequent difficulties or misuse of the language.
I am not sure I agree entirely as I notice when writing a good many Chinese use the past tense of a word when they should be using the present and vice-a-versa. However, you could be referring to spoken English, written always take considerably more skill even one's native tongue.LoriW wrote:
I'd say that with Singaporeans, it's not "difficulties" as such with the English language but a standard misuse.
From what I've been told, that's the "English" of choice in China.QRM wrote:You mean her mothers, mother tongue, is in fact her mothers, fathers mothers tongue?sundaymorningstaple wrote: Has she been in Singapore, her mother tongue would have been English as Singapore recognizes the mother tongue only as the fathers tongue which in her case I believe is English (similar to my children). Her first language could have been either English or Mandarin.
As to speaking English properly well thats a can of worms, I remember a Scottish bloke teaching the Japanese students English, with quite humorous result.
Interesting to note there are school advertising "American" English lesson.
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