"Ah", "mah", "lorh", "yah", "lah", "cheah", "ai yo". These words probably surface to your mind whenever the word "singlish" is being mentioned. And it is precisely because of these words that netizens are having great debates over whether we should do away with Singlish.
What is Singlish exactly? It is basically English with the fusion of words from Chinese and Hokkien into the language. Nobody is sure of when it started, but somehow it has over the years slowly integrated into the way all Singaporeans speak and communicate with others.
I'm neither a big fan of Singlish, nor somebody here to greatly support British / American English, but I feel every Singaporean must master at least a basic of both former and latter.
Singlish is, with no doubts at all, a very good representation of our multiracial country. If we pick up a language-based perspective, we would see the Singaporean Hokkien is not pure-hokkien, but a language that fuses Malay words into it. But is Hokkien a good-enough symbol of Singaporean's Chinese and Malay culture? I doubt so. Singlish is the best representation because it not only incorporates Chinese words, but also Hokkien language, as well as Malay words such as "alamak".
However, it is important to realize the significance of the ability to speak proper English too. After all, in this increasingly globalized world with English as one of its only communication bridge between countries of cultural polarities, speaking good English has inevitably became a need, and no longer a "bonus" in the good old days. "Want a good job? Do you know how to speak English?" has become one of the important questions in any job interview.
If a foreigner comes to this so-called bilingual country (or vice-versa), yet does not understand a word we are saying, then won't it be very embarrassing for ourselves and for Singapore too. Of course, the same case is even worse for Chinese language!
Therefore, it is invariably vital that we at least master the ability to speak proper language. Some said that language is language and if Singlish can be a communication that is understood and convey a meaning, then so be it. However, one should realize that this choice would only limit their world to our small island, which also in fact, is increasing with young generation so called "Ah moh" speakers. There is only indubitable benefit of widening our world, our friends, and our social and commercial circle, if we put in the effort at least grasp the basic pronunciation, grammar and spelling of English language.
Of course, its ok to use Singlish in Singapore. Personally, Singlish feels more warm to the heart and it identifies who we are. But what I think we should possess is the very least ability of transition.
Singlish has only one tap of education, and that is from one's parents, of course. When I was 6-7 years old, still without many friends and without classmates, I could already speak Singlish with extreme fluency.
As such, I feel the first step we should take in consideration for the younger generation would be to, as parents, control our tongues with moderation, Singlish is okay, but not too much until this language hijacks proper English. It will be sad if the child grows up, not being able to differentiate between standard English and informal English.
Let us be truly fit for the term "bilingual"!
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