Singapore Expats

Is it really that difficult to get this right?

Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living, housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in Singapore.
Post Reply
User avatar
Brah
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1965
Joined: Sat, 18 Dec 2010 2:59 pm

Is it really that difficult to get this right?

Post by Brah » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:04 am

Without trying to start up a sh*tstorm or YAR (Yet Another Rant, for geeks like me familiar with "YAxx" conventions), but having just got off the phone where I heard it for the first time today, but unlikely to be the last, I will ask....


Why is it that in Singapore, the mixing up of statements and questions is so consistent and ubiquitous, in what is an otherwise easy thing to say anywhere else.

Example:

Incorrect: "I don't what is it"

Correct: "I don't know what it is"

Right now I can't think of other examples although I hear them every day.

These are simplified versions, I'm sure you have heard your own examples. It just grated hearing it the first thing this morning, hence the mini-rant.

So is this just poor English being taught in schools, or the patois, or some kind of local and intentional Ebonics?

User avatar
BillyB
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1807
Joined: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:01 pm
Location: My laptop

Post by BillyB » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:16 am

I can't stand the 'is it' after everything - especially to bank and telco call centres:

Agent: Can you confirm your name, please
Me: Mr Billy
Agent: Mr Billy, is it?

Of course it's Mr Billy - you stupid twat - I just told you is was.

User avatar
Brah
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1965
Joined: Sat, 18 Dec 2010 2:59 pm

Post by Brah » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:20 am

Yes...the ubiquitous "izzit", right up there with the other trademark sentence-enders "oredi", "oso" and "one".

When "izzit" is used in reference to me I enjoy pointing out that I'm not an "it".

It ain't gonna change anything though....
BillyB wrote:I can't stand the 'is it' after everything - especially to bank and telco call centres:

Agent: Can you confirm your name, please
Me: Mr Billy
Agent: Mr Billy, is it?

Of course it's Mr Billy - you stupid twat - I just told you is was.

Travailes
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 227
Joined: Wed, 04 May 2011 7:47 pm

Post by Travailes » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:06 am

They call it Singlish.
I called it Manglish !! lah........(Mangled English)
You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everyone gets to dance with the grim reaper.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:20 am

I just call it ignorance.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
nakatago
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8363
Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
Location: Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children

Post by nakatago » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:37 pm

Can also can, cannot also can.
'nuff said or do you want me to double confirm? I will revert back to you. Brah, you are angry one.


/s
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

User avatar
taxico
Director
Director
Posts: 3327
Joined: Sat, 10 May 2008 6:05 pm
Location: Existential dilemma!

Post by taxico » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:40 pm

i've finished already.

i've eaten already.

i've gone already.

i'm ready already.

already already already.

and my favorite reply: it's like that one!

User avatar
nakatago
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8363
Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
Location: Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children

Post by nakatago » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:43 pm

...now waiting for a poster from HWZ, TNP, SGF, SBF...ad nauseam
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

User avatar
ScoobyDoes
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1667
Joined: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 6:42 pm
Location: A More Lucky Spot

Post by ScoobyDoes » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 5:12 pm

Brah wrote:Yes...the ubiquitous "izzit", right up there with the other trademark sentence-enders "oredi", "oso" and "one".

When "izzit" is used in reference to me I enjoy pointing out that I'm not an "it".

It ain't gonna change anything though....
BillyB wrote:I can't stand the 'is it' after everything - especially to bank and telco call centres:

Agent: Can you confirm your name, please
Me: Mr Billy
Agent: Mr Billy, is it?

Of course it's Mr Billy - you stupid twat - I just told you is was.

Be fair...... foreign educated..... in Wales! :P
'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

SIR Stirling Moss OBE

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Post by JR8 » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 7:43 pm

taxico wrote:i've finished already.
i've eaten already.
i've gone already.
i'm ready already.
already already already.
and my favorite reply: it's like that one!
With an eye to your picture, 'Enough already'.

:wink:

x9200
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10073
Joined: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 4:06 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by x9200 » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:18 pm

Not exactly on-topic, but I found this one interesting:
http://www.ef.sg/epi/

Singapore, a country with English being one of the official languages is 12th in the ranking after 11 European countries where English is not an official language.

User avatar
nakatago
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8363
Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
Location: Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children

Post by nakatago » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:42 pm

x9200 wrote:Not exactly on-topic, but I found this one interesting:
http://www.ef.sg/epi/

Singapore, a country with English being one of the official languages is 12th in the ranking after 11 European countries where English is not an official language.
I couldn't find the Philippines save a mention of the migrants to Canada. Singapore likes ragging on us for corruption, domestic helpers and how dangerous it is there :P
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

teck21
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 166
Joined: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 1:37 pm

Post by teck21 » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:59 pm

I'll revert back to you on the issue of bad English in Singapore.

And less commonly, so-and-so did not reply me.

Then again, the level of English competency (or lack thereof) in many English-speaking countries now is, frankly going to the dogs as well.

There, they're and their apparently are one and the same nowadays.

Poor English has been taught in Singapore schools ever since there was such a thing, blind leading the blind. People learn bad English in school, and speak bad Mandarin at home. For ethnic Chinese at least.

I still suspect the seeming inability of many Singaporeans to argue coherently, logically or even shows signs of empathy has a lot to do with the poor linguistic skills.

An inability to express and articulate their thoughts. If you can't say what you mean, you can't mean what you say.
Last edited by teck21 on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
v4jr4
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 887
Joined: Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:28 am
Location: Chocolate Factory

Post by v4jr4 » Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:05 pm

taxico wrote:i've finished already.

i've eaten already.

i've gone already.

i'm ready already.

already already already.

and my favorite reply: it's like that one!
Simplified version:
- Finish liao
- Eat liao
- Go liao

:P :P :P
"Budget Expat"

User avatar
nakatago
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8363
Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
Location: Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children

Post by nakatago » Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:07 am

teck21 wrote: An inability to express and articulate their thoughts. If you can't say what you mean, you can't mean what you say.
So, should people expect this to appear on people's Facebook statuses now?
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Staying, Living in Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests