Speak Good English Campaign

[nakatago]

The issue arises when some Singaporeans are unable to distinguish when they should stop Singlish and start speaking English.

THIS.

I hate it when I know I'm speaking English and the Singlish-speaking person tells me why not use English in the first place.

(Not to any one person in particular) Keep your Singlish as long as you want but please at least be honest enough to realize that Singlish is not English.

[farlene]

Please don't get me wrong, it was never my intention to imply that Singlish is English.

What I meant was when and where necessary, Singlish stops and English begins i.e when conversing with foreigners / tourists.

In any case, Singlish is not forced on anyone. Like I said, it's a like "dialect" for us Singaporeans.

The issue arises when some Singaporeans are unable to distinguish when they should stop Singlish and start speaking English.

THIS.

I hate it when I know I'm speaking English and the Singlish-speaking person tells me why not use English in the first place.

(Not to any one person in particular) Keep your Singlish as long as you want but please at least be honest enough to realize that Singlish is not English.

[mummy mantras]

Please don't get me wrong, it was never my intention to imply that Singlish is English.

I hate it when I know I'm speaking English and the Singlish-speaking person tells me why not use English in the first place.

Farlene,

I don't think that Nakatago thinks that you have this problem.

You are clearly a highly educated person and can make a distinction between Singlish and English. It is also very likely that you are capable of effectively code-switching (i.e. using Singlish when conversing with fellow Singaporeans and using Standard English when conversing with non-Singaporeans).

I think that Nakatago is trying to make the point that (sadly) most (but of course, not all) Singaporeans simply can't make the distinction.

They believe that Singlish is Standard English and, for that reason, are incapable of even recognising Standard English when someone uses it. So, for example, when Nakatago speaks in Standard English only to be told that she is not by someone speaking Singlish, this is understandably irritating.

Of course, in any society, there will always be people whose communication is confined to variants (and even sub-variants) of a language. They cannot help it. They were raised to speak that way, and were not taught or possibly exposed to any other means of communication. Also, their social circumstances may mean that they are continually limited to using that language variant.

This means (in plain and simple English), there will always be Singaporeans who only know and are capable of communicating in Singlish. However, what is alarming is not their inability to use Standard English (this is after all, no fault of their own) but their lack of awareness that the language variant they are using is not Standard English.

This is the problem. Not the existence (or otherwise) or Singlish.

[nakatago]

1. What she said.
2. I'm a dude.

[mummy mantras]

2. I'm a dude.

Really?

[farlene]

1. No offence taken. We're discussing... No, i'm not highly educated but thanks though.
2. yes he's a dude... Only a dude could suggest bringing up Blade to kill Edward Cullen. Like that's really necessary...

[farlene]

The Govt should spend more time pushing the Courtesy Campaign and less speak english campaign.

Most Singaporeans have no freaking manners and it just annoys the crap out of me! A simple "Thank you" for holding the door open is not that difficult!

Before you SGPs say anything please note I'M SINGAPOREAN!!!

[nakatago]

The Govt should spend more time pushing the Courtesy Campaign and less speak english campaign.

Most Singaporeans have no freaking manners and it just annoys the crap out of me! A simple "Thank you" for holding the door open is not that difficult!

Before you SGPs say anything please note I'M SINGAPOREAN!!!

Hey, you're the one who can "vote."*

* democracy in Singapore--crazy, I know.

[farlene]

it has nothing to do with voting la... and regardless of who runs the show, they should seriously push the Courtesy campaign.

[sundaymorningstaple]

farlene, they've been running the courtesy campaigns for as long as I've been here (and possibly as long as you've been alive - I don't know your age) plus a couple (33 or 34 years now - I've been here 30!). All with negligible results. This leads me to think, after 2 generations of kids brought up with the campaigns, that it IS a genetic defect and Singaporeans are incapable of learning simple courtesies. (of course, there are genetic aberrations out there who are courteous like yourself & my wife) but they are far overshadowed by the majority.

But like all campaigns, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink.

[the lynx]

But like all campaigns, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink.

At worst, the horse probably poops into the water instead

[farlene]

It's really sad and I'm really going to need that headblade if my son grows to be an inconsiderable sh**ck!

[sundaymorningstaple]

[farlene]

It's either "annoy Farlene day" or i'm just really really bitchy today.

[Vaucluse]

farlene, they've been running the courtesy campaigns for as long as I've been here (and possibly as long as you've been alive - I don't know your age) plus a couple (33 or 34 years now - I've been here 30!). All with negligible results. This leads me to think, after 2 generations of kids brought up with the campaigns, that it IS a genetic defect and Singaporeans are incapable of learning simple courtesies. (of course, there are genetic aberrations out there who are courteous like yourself & my wife) but they are far overshadowed by the majority.

But like all campaigns, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink.

If I may add my 0.02 cents worth, or sen as the case may be.

Ok, imagine there never was a courtesy campaign . . . Singapore would be inhabited by people who act like mainland Chinese . . .

Keep the campaign going!!!!!