Right, We Speak Singlish

"Singaporeans can't speak English, they sound funny and strange" or "Singapore is not the right place to learn English because they are bad at it" or "They don't speak standard English" etc etc etc.

These were the inputs from some of my foreign colleagues. It is disheartening to hear these comments. But they are still picking up English from me. While I don't disagree with what they were saying, it has taken me years before I can learn to appreciate the "beauty" of speaking Singlish.

It is warm. And it is especially so when speaking it to a fellow Singaporean. It sort of closes up the gap with people. I seemed more approachable, not high and mighty and more familiar. And it is so easy to identify someone as a Singaporean when all he/she has to do is to speak the language, Singlish.

But it is still important to learn to speak the standard form. As for Singlish, no need to learn lah. It comes naturally.


"If we can't change it, flaunt it."