Discuss about the latest news & interesting topics, real life experience or other out of topic discussions with locals & expatriates in Singapore.
-
zzm9980
- Governor
![Governor Governor]()
- Posts: 6869
- Joined: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 1:35 pm
- Location: Once more unto the breach
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by zzm9980 » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 5:40 pm
nakatago wrote:
But the Chinese have 'r'
PRC Mandarin pronounces the "r" initial a lot different than an english "r". They used the "r" character with pinyin for convenience, but don't think it's the same sound. It's kind of a cross between a rolling R and a buzzing Z, if that makes any sense. And I'm sure I'm still f-cking it up.
My wife (she's vietnamese) funny enough can say L and R properly, but on certain easy words, still messes it up. She always says "clazy" for "crazy", it sounds like a bad South Park Chinese parody (GOD DAMN MOGORIANS).
-
morenangpinay
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 890
- Joined: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 6:19 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by morenangpinay » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:01 pm
durain wrote:they cant say flux but they sure can say fu*k perfectly!
they type it differently though...i've seen fark several times on some online comments lol
-
nakatago
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 8364
- Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
- Location: Thunderbolts* HQ
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by nakatago » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:04 pm
zzm9980 wrote:PRC Mandarin pronounces the "r" initial a lot different than an english "r". They used the "r" character with pinyin for convenience, but don't think it's the same sound. It's kind of a cross between a rolling R and a buzzing Z, if that makes any sense. And I'm sure I'm still f-cking it up.
.
Still doesn't excuse
typing 'tomolo' instead of tomorrow, right?
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."
-
JR8
- Immortal
![Immortal Immortal]()
- Posts: 16522
- Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
- Location: K. Puki Manis
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by JR8 » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:08 pm
nakatago wrote:
Still doesn't excuse typing 'tomolo' instead of tomorrow, right?
Maybe they're just acting cute ah?
-
beppi
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 1768
- Joined: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 11:15 am
- Location: Ahlongistan (O$P$)
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by beppi » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:09 pm
Ang Moh: "What's your job?"
PRC: "Pirate"
Ang Moh: "What?!?"
PRC: "Yes, Pirate, frying airprane!"
Singlish also has no distinction of short and long vowels, thus "kitchen" sound almost like "Key-chain".
-
JR8
- Immortal
![Immortal Immortal]()
- Posts: 16522
- Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
- Location: K. Puki Manis
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by JR8 » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:23 pm
beppi wrote:Ang Moh: "What's your job?"
PRC: "Pirate"
Ang Moh: "What?!?"
PRC: "Yes, Pirate, frying airprane!"
re: pronunciation and comprehension: right back at you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh5xu35bAxA
Berlitz German coastguard ad.
-
zzm9980
- Governor
![Governor Governor]()
- Posts: 6869
- Joined: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 1:35 pm
- Location: Once more unto the breach
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by zzm9980 » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:25 pm
nakatago wrote:zzm9980 wrote:PRC Mandarin pronounces the "r" initial a lot different than an english "r". They used the "r" character with pinyin for convenience, but don't think it's the same sound. It's kind of a cross between a rolling R and a buzzing Z, if that makes any sense. And I'm sure I'm still f-cking it up.
.
Still doesn't excuse
typing 'tomolo' instead of tomorrow, right?
True. The most annoying thing was when I first got here, and a highly educated friend I made kept using "e" instead of "the". "I'm waiting for e bus", etc... I see it a lot here. Drives me nuts.
-
snowqueen
- Chatter
![Chatter Chatter]()
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 7:39 pm
- Location: East Coast, Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by snowqueen » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 6:54 pm
I've been living on Bayshore Road for the last 4 years and whenever I've caught a cab home, some drivers don't understand 'Bayshore' so I have to say 'Bishaw', then all of a sudden the mist clears and they know the road I've referring to.
-
poodlek
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 878
- Joined: Mon, 10 May 2010 3:48 pm
- Location: Taipa, Macau
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by poodlek » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 9:00 pm
My all time favourite: pizzeria=piss-area.
Honourable mention: Biopolis=B. O. Police.
-
the lynx
- Governor
![Governor Governor]()
- Posts: 5281
- Joined: Thu, 09 Dec 2010 6:29 pm
- Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by the lynx » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 9:48 pm
Guys, OP was asking about Singaporean words, not mispronounced English words.
Anyway back to OP, the reason many of these places have unfamiliar names (such as Bedok in your example) is because these names are Malay in origin.
So the rule of pronunciation the English way flies out of the window. Malay pronunciation is different especially the way the vowels are pronounced.
-
nakatago
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 8364
- Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
- Location: Thunderbolts* HQ
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by nakatago » Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:16 pm
Here's what I don't get: We have
Bukit Merah AND Redhill.
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."
-
sensei_
- Chatter
![Chatter Chatter]()
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:11 pm
- Location: Perth, Australia
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sensei_ » Sat, 21 Jul 2012 7:24 am
nakatago wrote:Here's what I don't get: We have
Bukit Merah AND Redhill.
Whats not to get? Or would you rather they call it something else. Red mountain for instance

-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40557
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Sat, 21 Jul 2012 9:15 am
sensei_ wrote:nakatago wrote:Here's what I don't get: We have
Bukit Merah AND Redhill.
Whats not to get? Or would you rather they call it something else. Red mountain for instance

Sorry sensei_, but........
.......there, my friends, is what we call a typical local, unable to use lateral thinking, response.
Bukit Merah, is Malay for Red Hill and Red Hill means Bukit Merah. But both refer to two different locations. But the irony has been lost on 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
-
x9200
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 10075
- Joined: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 4:06 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by x9200 » Sat, 21 Jul 2012 9:49 am
There are probably more like this around. Very convenient if you ask me.
No twisted associations with Bukit Batok?
-
sensei_
- Chatter
![Chatter Chatter]()
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:11 pm
- Location: Perth, Australia
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sensei_ » Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:13 am
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sorry sensei_, but........
.......there, my friends, is what we call a typical local, unable to use lateral thinking, response.
Bukit Merah, is Malay for Red Hill and Red Hill means Bukit Merah. But both refer to two different locations. But the irony has been lost on you.

some assumptions you are throwing out there SMS. And we know what they say about assumptions eh

.
Unlike some, i have no problems with using both languages that mean the same thing. And if you are stupid enough to get the two places confused, then something is really wrong.
You dont happen to be those who get lost because there are places with the same name in multiple places? Like that couple a few years back who wanted to go to Perth, Australia, but ended up in Perth, Scotland
-
-
Singaporean man works for Chinese Intelligence in the US
Replies: 4
First post
I mean..what was he thinking? Did he think he could get away with it? At some point, someone in the US would definitely sell him out.
Last post
They probably seduced him with wine, women and song in KTV lounges. He didn't look like the sort of guy who could find a root in a brothel much less...
- 4 Replies
- 3622 Views
-
Last post by PNGMK
Mon, 27 Jul 2020 11:48 am
-
-
Singaporean marrying a foreigner
Replies: 6
First post
I’m a S’porean planning to marry my gf who is a Malaysian in 2 years time. I would like to ask if it’s easier to ask her to work in SG before the...
Last post
Mike, try reading the italicized portion. Permission is NOT required if she has NEVER held a WP. I think it's correct. IF it's she EVER held a WP...
- 6 Replies
- 4426 Views
-
Last post by sundaymorningstaple
Mon, 03 Aug 2020 5:20 pm
-
-
- 4 Replies
- 10586 Views
-
Last post by kk69
Thu, 29 Jul 2021 3:08 am
-
-
Singaporean male sponsoring PR for Aussie fiance
Replies: 5
First post
Singaporean male here who spent a few years abroad and is engaged to an Aussie lassie whom he met while residing down under.
I am currently building...
Last post
If I can successfully sponsor LTVP and PR for my very white American husband, your very white future Aussie wife should stand a chance as long as you...
- 5 Replies
- 7979 Views
-
Last post by MOCHS
Mon, 02 Dec 2024 1:36 pm
-
-
Direct hire FDW with child from Singaporean
Replies: 3
First post
I am in the market for an FDW and realize it’s very competitive. A FDW currently in Philippines was referred to me by a friend. She has worked in...
Last post
Might be difficult to come over. I've applied for a helper once I found online and approved by MOM, and I informed the helper. A few days later, MOM...
- 3 Replies
- 6004 Views
-
Last post by abbby
Thu, 07 Jan 2021 12:15 pm
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests