Singlish, just wondering...

familyof5 · Post by **familyof5** » Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:58 am

I am guessing its the Singaporean version of English...? As a native English speaker, will I intuitively understand most of it? none of it? some of it?

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01 pm

at first it will flummox you, then you will start to get an ear for it, and finally you will find that you start to speak it lah.

hei guess what · Post by **hei guess what** » Mon, 14 Jan 2008 1:37 pm

familyof5 wrote:Singaporean version of English...?

For the most part, it's English with Chinese syntax, i.e. literal translation of Hockien (the most common Chinese dialect used locally) into English, and to make matters worse, sometimes with sprinklings of Hockien and Malay words thrown in.

See
http://www.singlishdictionary.com/
http://www.talkingcock.com/html/lexec.p ... on=lexicon

durain · Post by **durain** » Tue, 15 Jan 2008 1:03 am

yalor

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:30 pm

Die die must do.

Can or not?

paintedfaces · Post by **paintedfaces** » Mon, 04 Feb 2008 1:01 am

A German friend of mine who studied here for 3years ended up speaking like one of us and went home with a PhD in Hokkien Vulgarities

in8mom · Post by **in8mom** » Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:26 pm

At first, you'll think "what the heck are they saying?!" Then you'll slowly start to hone in and think "singlish is so damn annoying". Then one day you'll start saying things like "can" and "it's bettuh for yuu-lah"...

Welcome to Singapore!

time · Post by **time** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:34 am

It can be so bloody amusing to listen to though. Even the local TV and media make movies specifically to make fun of the language isn't it?

EADG · Post by **EADG** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 6:44 am

or not

nice case in point, though

time wrote:It can be so bloody amusing to listen to though. Even the local TV and media make movies specifically to make fun of the language isn't it?

time · Post by **time** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:36 am

EADG wrote:or not

Did you mean: Is it amusing to listen to or not?? *getting confused*

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:10 pm

Therein lies the problem. Can or not? Which is it?

I've been here 25 years and I still hate it. So how?

May I have a can of coke please?

Bottle can, can cannot.

Where is our resident expert of both? WIMH where are you?

time · Post by **time** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:56 pm

Yes you may. No you may not!

drusilla · Post by **drusilla** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 1:49 pm

left, right? right.

right?? no, left..

left correct? right.

right or left?!!!!

durain · Post by **durain** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 7:39 pm

no laaaaaaa...

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sun, 10 Feb 2008 9:47 pm

This is a link to an old old thread which I remember well. It's in the Jokes/Rubbish forum now but if you forget about the subject matter and just check out the dialog between two of our old members' singlish ('Ah Lau' & 'SG female') as well as the commentaries by some who are translating. It will be an eyeopener for sure.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ft ... asc-0.html

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Singlish, just wondering...

Singlish, just wondering...

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