SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
Working language
-
- Chatter
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:09 am
Working language
Can i confirm that the working language of Singapore is English? Is it reasonable to expect english to be spoken in the workplace when discussing work issues?
What do you think when during group meetings, certain individuals talk to each other in other languages, when a particular work issue is being discussed by the group?
What do you think when during group meetings, certain individuals talk to each other in other languages, when a particular work issue is being discussed by the group?
Its usually English if I am in the meeting or work is being discussed, and as said before my boss will make sure the conversation is in English if I am there.
However now and again if I am on a conference call with Taiwan, Mandarin will be used especially if the folk in Taiwan feel like they need to rant. When their tone starts getting higher and higher you know Mandarin is on the way.

However now and again if I am on a conference call with Taiwan, Mandarin will be used especially if the folk in Taiwan feel like they need to rant. When their tone starts getting higher and higher you know Mandarin is on the way.

Life is short, paddle harder!!
Depends on organisation culture. Our company allows people to speak in any languages they want and most teams here are heavy with Filipinos and Indians. In a team meeting if there are only Filipinos then it won't be surprising to see that all are talking in their native language. In case of Indians too same case you will see them speak in Hindi. In case of Indians though there is a problem of some of them from the south who don't understand Hindi and its only then you see them speaking in English.
-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
There are four official languages for business in Singapore. Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and English. You need to be conversant in all four and some of the local dialects (Hokkien) and possibly some of your workers languages (Tagalog and Hindi) if you want to be taken seriously here.
Now I'm called PNGMK
offshoreoildude wrote:There are four official languages for business in Singapore. Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and English. You need to be conversant in all four and some of the local dialects (Hokkien) and possibly some of your workers languages (Tagalog and Hindi) if you want to be taken seriously here.



Well may be in the environment where majority had their education in non-english, perhaps, nothing against construction or shipbuilding site workers, but yeah I'd expect working language non-english in places like that. In quiet & placid places inhabited by office plankton aka air-con offices of CBD working language will be English as it should be. English is the Esperanto nowadays.offshoreoildude wrote:There are four official languages for business in Singapore. Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and English. You need to be conversant in all four and some of the local dialects (Hokkien) and possibly some of your workers languages (Tagalog and Hindi) if you want to be taken seriously here.
-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
I absolutely disagree with you and frankly your assertion is half assed. I personally expect English to die out in the next century.ututu wrote:Well may be in the environment where majority had their education in non-english, perhaps, nothing against construction or shipbuilding site workers, but yeah I'd expect working language non-english in places like that. In quiet & placid places inhabited by office plankton aka air-con offices of CBD working language will be English as it should be. English is the Esperanto nowadays.offshoreoildude wrote:There are four official languages for business in Singapore. Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and English. You need to be conversant in all four and some of the local dialects (Hokkien) and possibly some of your workers languages (Tagalog and Hindi) if you want to be taken seriously here.
Now I'm called PNGMK
The fact that English is a lingua franca globally does not have to imply it is lingua franca in every country and every profession.ututu wrote:Well may be in the environment where majority had their education in non-english, perhaps, nothing against construction or shipbuilding site workers, but yeah I'd expect working language non-english in places like that. In quiet & placid places inhabited by office plankton aka air-con offices of CBD working language will be English as it should be. English is the Esperanto nowadays.offshoreoildude wrote:There are four official languages for business in Singapore. Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and English. You need to be conversant in all four and some of the local dialects (Hokkien) and possibly some of your workers languages (Tagalog and Hindi) if you want to be taken seriously here.
Re: Working language
I think I'd find it it very rude, in that it is a public display of separateness from the others. I.e. it seems contrary to the idea and spirit of a group meeting.macaroonie wrote: What do you think when during group meetings, certain individuals talk to each other in other languages, when a particular work issue is being discussed by the group?
-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
Re: Working language
Rather harsh for those who can't grasp what is said in the main language in the meeting. However if a little filipino / hindi cartel is forming.... it can be a PITAJR8 wrote:I think I'd find it it very rude, in that it is a public display of separateness from the others. I.e. it seems contrary to the idea and spirit of a group meeting.macaroonie wrote: What do you think when during group meetings, certain individuals talk to each other in other languages, when a particular work issue is being discussed by the group?
Now I'm called PNGMK
Re: Working language
Well, different people, different opinion. You remind me about someone on the client said who said the same exact thing. But as for me, I'm fine with it, as long as the team can reach the expected target.JR8 wrote:I think I'd find it it very rude, in that it is a public display of separateness from the others. I.e. it seems contrary to the idea and spirit of a group meeting.macaroonie wrote: What do you think when during group meetings, certain individuals talk to each other in other languages, when a particular work issue is being discussed by the group?
"Budget Expat"
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
English/Mandarin language exchange
by joyoverseas » Sat, 28 Apr 2018 10:14 am » in Language Exchange - 0 Replies
- 2145 Views
-
Last post by joyoverseas
Sat, 28 Apr 2018 10:14 am
-
-
-
Any low budget language courses?
by austinsparrow19 » Wed, 26 Sep 2018 4:07 pm » in Entertainment, Leisure & Sports - 3 Replies
- 4931 Views
-
Last post by Lisafuller
Mon, 18 Jan 2021 12:45 pm
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 1528 Views
-
Last post by changkh
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 1:42 pm
-
-
American Institute Of English Language Noida is best place for learn English
by aielnoida » Sun, 14 Apr 2019 5:51 am » in Leisure Chat, Jokes, Rubbish - 1 Replies
- 3544 Views
-
Last post by Strong Eagle
Sun, 14 Apr 2019 7:32 am
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 4239 Views
-
Last post by mistella
Thu, 02 May 2019 5:22 pm
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests