Language

After living in Singapore for over a year I have heard plenty of Singlish. Singlish is a Singaporean’s way of speaking English. At first you would think they were speaking mandarin and then you just might pick out an English word and be a little puzzled. Singlish also includes a mixture of Malaysian language, since Singapore was once part of Malaysia. And the icing on the cake is that English in Singapore is British English, not American. There are random words such as lift, flat, Q (queue) that are everyday English speech here.

So I (Holly) can do by own little Sing impersonation, “Hey, you cut Q, go back!” (of course in a Chinese accent). When standing in line (Q) you don’t leave room for someone else to get in front or it’s sort of an invitation for someone to get in front of you. Normally I have this problem when ordering food at a hawker (from an American point of view, cheap hole in the wall kind of places). You order and they make your food and they only take as many orders as they can handle at once, so you may have to wait (no problem) until someone just says forget the line and walks up and tells the hawker owner what he wants to eat and walks away. “Ah, excuse me?! Can’t you see me standing here patiently waiting to make my order and you’re just gonna cut and place your order?” Of course I think this thought, but not do not say it.  I would get a really weird look and chances are they would have no idea what I said; however if I said “Hey, you cut Q, go back!” (of course in a Chinese accent) I would be listened to. Chances are they would respect me.

However my dilemma is I do not have the guts say this. I have realized it’s partially a courage issue, but also in the states if we mimic someone it is disrespectful. If I were to throw out my Jersey accent and say “Hey, let’s meet up at the shore and listen to some Springsteen,” someone would be offended! It’s the American way. However over here because I speak proper English, I am looked at like a snob. If I were to say “Please” when I order is a dead give away to my “snobiness” They are thinking “Why you so polite?” If I throw MY English out the window and speak singlish it is in no way disrespectful but just the opposite.

I had this epiphany when it comes to talking in Singapore just recently. My realization came when I was talking to our Admissions Director at school who is a Singaporean, however has spent many years in the states. They were in Singapore when her daughter was about high school age and though she knows mandarin, refused to speak singlish. And after many years of fighting and not wanting to speak in an uneducated manner she gave in and was able to enjoy her time in Singapore. So the question is now, can I give in and play the singlish game?