Singlish, just wondering...

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familyof5
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Singlish, just wondering...

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?

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lost_canuck
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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.

:D

hei guess what
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Re: Singlish, just wondering...

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

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

yalor :P

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

Die die must do.

Can or not?

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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 :D

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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!

:lol:

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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?

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EADG
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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?
Ape Shall Not Kill Ape

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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*

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sundaymorningstaple
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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? :P

May I have a can of coke please?

Bottle can, can cannot. :o

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

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

Yes you may. No you may not!

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

left, right? right.

right?? no, left..

left correct? right.

right or left?!!!! :???: :???: :mad:

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

no laaaaaaa...

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sundaymorningstaple
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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
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

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