Nearly everyone in Singapore speaks more than one language, with many people speaking three or four. Most children grow up bilingual from infancy and learn more languages as they grow up. Naturally the presence of other languages has influenced the English of Singapore. The influence is especially apparent in the kind of English that is used informally, which is popularly called Singlish, but which is called Singapore Colloquial English or Colloquial Singapore English in most academic writing. Singlish is a badge of identity for many Singaporeans, and, as you can see from Cafe Vanda, there are some websites that are written in it.

It is great site really.

Re: Re: Singlish

It does sound like a funky place.

Hey, have you learnt any UML yet? ;-)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Singlish

Ditto ;-/

When do you get back?

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Back in London on New Year's Day, will probably be back in Cov on Sunday, still jetlagged and half my stuff still in suitcases at home.

Re: Re: Re: Singlish

Heh. I've barely started the logic stuff, let alone UML. Erk.

Re: Singlish

I'm currently in Singapore, as it happens. I wouldn't say *all* Singaporeans... mostly it's the younger elements, in some misguided attempt to create some sort of distinction between themselves and their parents (as you might have expected). Actually, more people in Malaysia seem to end their sentences with "lah" than do in Singapore.

Singapore is actually an exceedingly odd country. Four national languages, no índigenous peoples, administered like a private multinational company, under a democracy where no opposition candidates ever seem to run. Nice climate though, if a tad on the humid side for my tastes. And completely safe. Anyone may wander around at any hour without fearing for their person or property. I am however somewhat disillusioned with the fact that buying electronics here now seems to be no cheaper than doing so in the UK... bah.