Singapore’s linguistic diversity reflects its multicultural society, where people of different ethnicities and linguistic backgrounds coexist and interact on a daily basis. The government promotes bilingualism and multiculturalism as key pillars of national identity and social cohesion, fostering a harmonious and inclusive society.
1) English: English is the main language of administration, education, business, and daily communication in Singapore. It is widely spoken and understood by the majority of the population, regardless of ethnic background. Singapore English, often known as Singlish, is a unique form of English that incorporates elements of various languages and dialects 方言 spoken in Singapore.
2) Mandarin Chinese 華文: Mandarin Chinese is one of the four official languages of Singapore and is widely spoken among the Chinese community, which constitutes the majority ethnic group. It is taught in schools and used in Chinese-language media, business, and cultural activities.
3) Malay 馬來語: Malay is the national language of Singapore and is spoken by the Malay community, as well as by many Singaporeans of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Malay is used in government, education, media, and cultural events. Bahasa Melayu is the standardized form of Malay used in Singapore.
4) Tamil 印度語: Tamil is spoken by the Tamil community, which is primarily of South Indian descent. It is used in cultural, religious, and community activities, as well as in Tamil-language media and education. Tamil script is also used for official purposes, such as road signs and public announcements, alongside English and Mandarin.
DIALECTS
In addition to the four official languages, Singapore is home to a diverse range of dialects spoken by various ethnic groups and communities. These include dialects such as Hokkien 福建話, Teochew 潮州話, Cantonese 廣東話, and Hakka 客家話 among the Chinese community, as well as dialects like Punjabi, Bengali, and Gujarati among the Indian community.
Code-Switching: Singaporeans often engage in code-switching, mixing different languages and dialects in their daily speech. We can speak in formal, proper English in one moment and switch immediately to Singlish in the next minute.
LINGO 潮語
1. Blur Sotong: “模糊 – 八爪魚” => 大頭蝦
2. Kancheong Spider: “緊張 – 蜘蛛” => 太過緊張
3. Siao One!: 痴綫野！
4. Stylo Milo: 爛有型
5. Steady: 好得
“Let’s meet up later!” “Steady.“
“Dear, let’s go steady?”: “愛人，我們的關係去到穩陣階段好唔好?”