Just read this discussion about Ms Ris Low on Vanessa's blog and it seems a pity not to air my views so here goes.
I believe that this kind of situations will be occurring more in the future. Singapore’s emphasis on the Math and Sciences are largely at fault for the sub-standard of English here. However, the trend is evolving to focus more on communication (as evident from the many presentations that we have to do in school and the fact that primary schools are now adopting the speak-first-write-later strategy). In the past, more emphasis was on the Math and Sciences because Singapore was at the developing stage. We needed the mathematical and scientific knowledge for country building. Furthermore, our standards of Mathematics and Sciences have always been our source of pride, being ranked near the top in the various tests and surveys conducted among students from different countries. Presently, the English language has become a rather important asset, being a multi-racial society and the need to keep up with globalization. English has become THE language in business dealings and many other social aspects of our lives as the world progresses further. In addition, Singaporeans are becoming increasingly educated and effectively bilingual. Many of the younger generation are able to switch smoothly from Singlish to English when necessary. Perhaps this issue of Ms Ris Low serves as a major blow to us because of the indication that maybe the system of trying to shift the focus onto the languages may not be effective enough. It signals that much more needs to be done to equip more Singaporeans with the ability to speak proper English fluently so that Singapore will not be left behind in the economic rat race. One question remains: Is it too late to teach Singaporeans proper English?
Another glaring issue would be the use of Singlish. I don’t think it is fair to put all the blame on the use of Singlish. Criticisms have made SInglish the stumbling block in our quest to master perfect English, allowing condemnation of this unqiue language and the people who spoke it. But who are we to condemn Singlish when we used it so pervasively? Singlish forms the basis of our culture, our identity. It induces a sense of belonging and familiarity among Singaporeans that many, especially those abroad, find comforting. It makes our interactions seem more homely and casual. While the elite has adopted proper English as their way of communication, it is hard to ignore the fact that most Singaporeans are heartlanders. They are covered from head to toe in the Singapore brand that is genuine and close to heart. Taking the campaign by Phua Chu Kang a few years ago during the SARS epidemic. The message to practise good hygiene habits as a preventive measure against SARS, dotted with the habitual “la”, “lo” and “leh”s, was successful in reaching out to most Singaporeans, even the non-English educated. Even the government recognized that the use of Singlish is necessary to effectively and quickly carry this message across. Regretfully, Singlish is gradually losing its place in our homeland as more people disregard the use of Singlish. Even the latest Phua Chu Kang video on good MRT etiquette, possessed less of Singlish but more of the standard English. At what price will Singapore pay to retain its culture? Almost nothing. If this obsession that standard English is the only way to go is to go on, Singapore will eventually become a global island that is not home to anyone.
I believe that there are ways to promote the use of standard English without sacrificing Singlish. A global citizen will be nothing without roots. To be able to switch comfortably between English and Singlish as and when the situation requires should be the skill that Singaporeans that should possess.
Oooooh I love this critical thinking stuff. It's so much more interesting than my current course of study.
