Languages of Singapore

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A warning sign in the four official languages of Singapore that is found in all Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations

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 According to the Constitution of Singapore, the single national language of Singapore is Malay,
which plays a symbolic role, as Malays are constitutionally recognized as the indigenous peoples of
Singapore, and it is the government's duty to protect their language and heritage. “The national
language shall be the Malay language and shall be in the Roman script […]” (Constitution of the
Republic of Singapore, PART XIII) Also according to the constitution, the four commonly used
languages of Singapore are English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
The three languages other than English were chosen to correspond with the major ethnic groups
present in Singapore at the time: Mandarin had gained status since the introduction of Chinese-
medium schools; Malay was deemed the "most obvious choice" for the Malay community; and Tamil
for the largest Indian ethnic group in Singapore, in addition to being "the language with the longest
history of education in Malaysia and Singapore".[1] In 2009, more than 20 languages were identified
as being spoken in Singapore, reflecting a rich linguistic diversity in the city.[2][3] Singapore's
historical roots as a trading settlement gave rise to an influx of foreign traders,[4] and their languages
were slowly embedded in Singapore's modern day linguistic repertoire.
In the early years, the lingua franca of the island was Bazaar Malay (Melayu Pasar),
a creole of Malay and Chinese, the language of trade in the Malay Archipelago.[5] While it continues
to be used among many on the island, especially Singaporean Malays, Malay has now been
displaced by English. English became the lingua franca due to British rule of Singapore,[4] and was
made the main language upon Singaporean independence. Thus, English is the medium of
instruction in schools, and is also the main language used in formal settings such as in government
departments and the courts. As Singaporean President Halimah Yacob said during her 2018
speech, “Through the education system, we adopted a common working language in English.”[6]
Hokkien (Min Nan) briefly emerged as a lingua franca among the Chinese,[4] but by the late 20th
century they had been eclipsed by Mandarin. The Government promotes Mandarin
among Singaporean Chinese people, since it views the language as a bridge between Singapore's
diverse non-Mandarin speaking groups, and as a tool for forging a common Chinese cultural
identity.[7] China's economic rise in the 21st century has also encouraged a greater use of Mandarin.
Other Chinese varieties such as Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka, Hainanese and Cantonese have been
classified by the Government as "dialects", and language policies and language attitudes based on
this classification and discouragement of usage in Non-Mandarin Chinese or "Chinese dialects" in
official settings and television media have led to a decrease in the number of speakers of these
varieties.[8] In particular, Singapore has its own lect of Mandarin; Singaporean Mandarin, itself with
two varieties, Standard and Colloquial or spoken. While Tamil is one of Singapore's official
languages, other Indian languages are also frequently used.[9]
Almost all Singaporeans are bilingual since Singapore's bilingual language education
policy promotes a dual-language learning system. Learning a second language has been
compulsory in primary schools since 1960 and secondary schools since 1966.[10] English is used as
the main medium of instruction. On top of this, most children learn one of the three official languages
(or, occasionally, another approved language) as a second language, according to their official
registered ethnic group. Since 1 January 2011, if a person is of more than one ethnicity and their
race is registered in the hyphenated format, the race chosen will be the one that precedes the
hyphen in their registered race.[11]

Contents

 1English as the main language of Singapore

 2Singlish
 3Chinese language
o 3.1Standard Mandarin
 o 3.2Other Chinese varieties
o 3.3Written Chinese
 4Malay language
 5Tamil language
 6Eurasian languages
 7Other Malayo-Polynesian languages
 8Bilingualism and multilingualism
o 8.1Bilingual education policy
o 8.2Impacts of bilingual education policy
o 8.3Challenges in the teaching of Mother Tongue
o 8.4Foreign population in Singapore
 9Sociolinguistic issues
o 9.1Politics
o 9.2Status of Singlish as an identity marker
o 9.3Preservation issues
o 9.4Controversy over learning of Chinese varieties
o 9.5Renewed interest in learning other Chinese varieties
 10Linguistic landscape of Singapore
o 10.1Tourist attractions
o 10.2Government offices and public buildings
o 10.3Public hospitals
o 10.4Notices and campaigns
o 10.5Limitations in current research methodologies
o 10.6Controversies
 11Media and the arts
o 11.1Chinese varieties in local films
o 11.2Indian languages in the media
o 11.3Language-specific societies
 12Notes
 13Further reading

English as the main language of Singapore[edit]

Main article: Singapore English

All directional signs in Singapore are written in English.

Although de jure Malay is the national language, Singapore English is regarded de facto as the main
language in Singapore,[12] and is officially the main language of instruction in all school subjects
except for Mother Tongue lessons in Singapore's education system.[13] It is also the common
language of the administration, and is promoted as an important language for international
business.[14] Spelling in Singapore largely follows British conventions, owing to the country's status as
a former Crown Colony.[15] English is the country's default lingua franca despite the fact that four
languages have official status.[16]
Under the British colonial government, English gained prestige as the language of administration,
law and business in Singapore. As government administration increased, infrastructure and
commerce developed, and access to education further catalysed the spread of English among
Singaporeans.
When Singapore gained self-government in 1959 and independence in 1965, the local government
decided to keep English as the main language to maximise economic benefits. Since English was
rising as the global language for commerce, technology and science, promotion of its use in
Singapore would expedite Singapore's development and integration into the global economy.[17]
Furthermore, the switch to English as the only medium of instruction in schools aided in bridging
the social distance between the various groups of ethnic language speakers in the country. Between
the early 1960s to the late 1970s, the number of students registering for primarily English-medium
schools leapt from 50% to 90%[18] as more parents elected to send their children to English-medium
schools. Attendance in Mandarin, Malay and Tamil-medium schools consequently dropped and
schools began to close down. The Chinese-medium Nanyang University also made the switch to
English as the medium of instruction despite meeting resistance, especially from the Chinese
community.[19]
There has been a steep increase in the use of the English language over the years.[20] Singapore is
currently the most proficient English-speaking country in Asia.[21] Then Education Minister, Ng Eng
Hen, noted a rising number of Singaporeans using English as their home language in December
2009. Of children enrolled in primary school in 2009, 60% of the Chinese and Indian pupils and 35%
of the Malay pupils spoke predominantly English at home.[22]
English is the native language of 32% of Singaporeans, but has the largest number of speakers if
statistics were to account for speakers of English as a second language.[23]

Language most frequently spoken at home (%)[24]

Language 1990 2000 2010 2015[25]

English 18.8 23.0 32.3 36.9

Mandarin 23.7 35.0 35.6 34.9

Chinese Dialects 23.8 14.3 12.2

Malay 14.3 14.1 12.2 10.7

 Tamil 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.3

Others 0.9 2.3 2.0

Singlish[edit]
Main article: Singlish
Singlish is an English-based creole language with its own consistent rules and phonology widely
used in Singapore.[26] However, usage of this language is discouraged by the local government,
which favours Standard English.[27] The Media Development Authority does not support using
Singlish in television and radio advertising.[28]
Despite this, Singlish is still widely spoken across the island and viewed by most Singaporeans as a
trait that identifies them as uniquely Singaporean.[citation needed]

Chinese language[edit]
See also: Singaporean Mandarin, Standard Singaporean Mandarin, Singdarin, Singaporean
Hokkien, and Hokkien influence on Singaporean Mandarin

The Teochew Building houses a prominent Teochew clan association in Singapore, the Ngee Ann Kongsi

According to the population census, Mandarin and other varieties of Chinese are the most common
languages spoken at home. They are used by 51% of the population.[23] The table below shows the
change in distribution of Mandarin and other Chinese varieties, as well as English, as home
languages of the resident Chinese population of Singapore in 1990, 2000 and 2010. It can be
observed that the percentage of the population which speaks English and Mandarin has increased,
while the percentage of those who speak other Chinese varieties has collapsed and is now limited
mainly to the elderly. More recently, English is starting to displace Mandarin among the new
generation of Singapore Chinese due to long term effects of the dominant usage of English in most
official settings over Mandarin, the dominant usage of English as the medium of instruction in
Singapore schools, colleges and universities, and the limited and lower standards of local mother
education system over the years in Singapore.
 Language most frequently spoken at home among Chinese resident population aged 5 and over[9][29]

Home language 1990 2000 2010 1990 (%) 2000 (%) 2010 (%) 2015 (%)

Total 1,884,000 2,236,100 2,527,562 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

English 363,400 533,900 824,616 19.3 23.9 32.6 37.4

Mandarin 566,200 1,008,500 1,206,556 30.1 45.1 47.7 46.1

Other Chinese varieties 948,100 685,800 485,765 50.3 30.7 19.2 16.1

Others 6,400 7,900 10,625 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4

Standard Mandarin[edit]
Standard Mandarin is generally spoken as the lingua franca among the Chinese community in
Singapore.[30] Simply known as Chinese, it is the designated mother tongue or 'ethnic language'
of Chinese Singaporeans, at the expense of the other Chinese varieties.
In 1979, the government heavily promoted Mandarin through its "Speak Mandarin" campaign.
The Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated that Mandarin was chosen to unify the Chinese community
with a single language.[31] With the rising prominence of Mandarin in Singapore at that
time,[1] politicians such as Lee theorized that it might overtake English,[32] despite strong evidence to
the contrary.[33] From the 1990s, with the perceived increase in commerce and trade possibilities
with Mainland China, the Singaporean government promoted Mandarin as a language with high
economic advantage and value.[34] Today, Mandarin is generally seen as a way to maintain a link
to Chinese culture.[30] However, due to fact that English is the main medium of language instruction in
Singaporean schools, colleges and universities; as well as the limited and lower standards of local
Mandarin Chinese education in Singapore and the dominant usage of English in most official
settings, the standards of Mandarin Chinese among many young Singaporean Chinese has been
dropping as more and more young Singaporean Chinese are speaking and using English more
frequently than Mandarin Chinese.
Other Chinese varieties[edit]
Other Chinese varieties also have a presence in Singapore. Amongst them, Hokkien (Min Nan) used
to be an unofficial language of business until the 1980s.[35] Hokkien is also used as a lingua
franca among Chinese Singaporeans, and also among Malays and Indians to communicate with the
Chinese majority.[4] As of 2012, according to demographic figures, the five main Chinese linguistic
groups in Singapore are Hokkien-Taiwanese (Southern Min; Min Nan) (41.1%), Other Min Nan
variants (Teochew (21.0%) and Hainanese (6.7%)) Cantonese (15.4%) and Hakka (7.9%) ,
while Fuzhou dialect (Hokchia, Hokchew), Pu-Xian Min(HengHua), and Shanghainese have smaller
speaker bases. However, in this present day, the two most commonly Chinese varieties spoken
today among the older generation, some of the middle aged and the few of the younger generation
are Hokkien-Taiwanese (Southern Min ; Min Nan) being the dominant dialect and Cantonese being
second. Teochew, is being replaced by Hokkien-Taiwanese (Southern Min ; Min Nan), while other
Chinese varieties are increasingly less commonly heard nowadays.[29][34][36]
Written Chinese[edit]
Main article: Singapore Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese characters were used in Singapore until 1969, when the Ministry of
Education promulgated the Table of Simplified Characters (simplified Chinese: 简体字表; traditional
Chinese: 簡體字表; pinyin: jiăntǐzìbiǎo), which while similar to the Chinese Character Simplification
Scheme of the People's Republic of China had 40 differences. In 1974 a new Table was published,
and this second table was revised in 1976 to remove all differences between simplified Chinese
characters in Singapore and China.[37] Although simplified characters are currently used in official
documents, the government does not ban the use of traditional characters. Hence, traditional
characters are still used in signs, advertisements and Chinese calligraphy, while books in both
character sets are available in Singapore.

Malay language[edit]
Bahasa Melayu the standardised form of the Malay language, is the national language of Singapore
and one of its official languages. It is written in a Roman script known as Rumi.[38] It is the home
language of 13% of the Singaporean population.[39] Malay is also the ceremonial national language
and used in the national anthem of Singapore,[40] in citations for Singapore orders and
decorations and military foot drill commands, mottos of several organizations, and is the variety
taught in Singapore's language education system.[citation needed] Historically Malay was written in the Jawi
script, based on Arabic. Under the British and Dutch Malay began to be written in Rumi. Efforts to
create a standardised spelling for Malaya and Singapore emerged in 1904 by colonial officer Richard
Wilkinson. In 1910 the Malay of the Riau Islands was chosen by the Dutch van Ophuijsen as the
dialect for his book "Malay Grammar", intended for Dutch officials, standardising Rumi usage in
Dutch territories.[41] In 1933 grammarian Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad made further changes to Rumi as
used in Malaya and Singapore.[42] Many Chinese immigrants who spoke Malay were supporters of
British rule, and purposely used Rumi when writing newspapers or translating Chinese literature.
Printing presses used by colonial officials and Christian missionaries further spread Rumi, while Jawi
was mostly written by hand. The transition to Rumi changed the Malay language due to the influence
of English grammar.[41] In 1972 Malaysia and Indonesia reached an agreement to standardise Rumi
Malay spelling.[42] Singaporean Malays still learn some Jawi as children alongside Rumi,[43] and Jawi
is considered an ethnic script for use on Singaporean Identity Cards.[44]
Prior to independence Singapore was a centre for Malay literature and Malay culture, however after
independence its cultural role diminished. Singapore is an observer to the Language Council for
Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia which works to standardise Malay spelling, however it has
not applied to be a member. It nonetheless applies standardisations agreed to in this forum, and
following the Malaysian standard when there are disagreements.[45]
Other varieties that are still spoken in Singapore include Bazaar Malay (Melayu Pasar), a Malay-
lexified pidgin, which was once an interethnic lingua franca when Singapore was under British
rule.[5][46] Another is Baba Malay, a variety of Malay Creole influenced by Hokkien and Bazaar Malay
and the mother tongue of the Peranakans,[5] which is still spoken today by approximately 10,000
Peranakans in Singapore.[47] Other Austronesian languages, such
as Javanese, Buginese, Minangkabau, Batak, Sundanese, Boyanese (which is a dialect
of Madurese) and Banjarese, are also spoken in Singapore, but their use has declined. Orang
Seletar, the language of the Orang Seletar, the first people of Singapore and closely related to Malay
is also spoken near the Johor Strait, between Singapore and the state of Johor, Malaysia.
Tamil language[edit]
Main article: Indian languages in Singapore
Tamil is one of the official languages of Singapore and written Tamil uses the Tamil script. According
to the population census of 2010, 9.2% of the Singaporean population were Indian origins,[48] with
approximately 76.7% who spoke Tamil most frequently as their home language.[9] It is a drop from
2000, where Tamil-speaking homes comprised 82.9%.[9] On the other hand, the percentage of Indian
Singaporeans speaking languages categorised under "others" have increased from 9.7% in 2005 to
13.8% in 2010.[9] Meanwhile, the percentage of the total population speaking Tamil at home has
remained steady, or has even slightly risen over the years, to just above 4%, due to immigration
from India and Sri Lanka.
Apart from Tamil, some of the other Indian languages spoken by minorities in Singapore
include Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Hindi, and Gujarati.[1]

Eurasian languages[edit]
See also: Kristang language
Kristang is a creole spoken by Portuguese Eurasians in Singapore and Malaysia. It developed when
Portuguese colonizers incorporated borrowings from Malay, Chinese, Indian and Arab languages.
When the British took over Singapore, Kristang declined as the Portuguese Eurasians learned
English instead. Today, it is largely spoken by the elderly.[49]

Other Malayo-Polynesian languages[edit]

In the 1824 census of Singapore, 18% of the population were identified as ethnic Bugis, speaking
the Buginese language, counted separately from the Malays. Over the centuries, the Bugis
community dwindled and became assimilated into the Malay demographic. In 1990, only 0.4% of
Singaporeans were identified as Bugis. Today the term Malay is used in Singapore as an umbrella
term for all peoples of the Malay Archipelago.

Bilingualism and multilingualism[edit]

The majority of Singaporeans are bilingual in English and one of the other three official languages.
For instance, most Chinese Singaporeans can speak English and Mandarin. Some, especially the
older generations, can speak Malay and additional Chinese varieties such as Hokkien, Teochew,
Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese.
Bilingual education policy[edit]
See also: Language education in Singapore
Singapore has a bilingual education policy, where all students in government schools are taught
English as their first language. Students in Primary and Secondary schools also learn a second
language called their "Mother Tongue" by the Ministry of Education, where they are either
taught Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil.[50] English is the main language of instruction for most
subjects,[1] while Mother Tongue is used in Mother Tongue lessons and moral education classes.
This is because Singapore's "bilingualism" policy of teaching and learning English and Mother
Tongue in primary and secondary schools is viewed as a "cultural ballast" to safeguard Asian
cultural identities and values against Western influence.[51][52]
While "Mother Tongue" generally refers to the first language (L1) elsewhere, it is used to denote the
"ethnic language" or the second language (L2) in Singapore. Prior to 1 January 2011, the Ministry of
Education (MOE) in Singapore defined "Mother Tongue" not as the home language or the first
language acquired by the student but by his/her father's ethnicity. For example, a child born to a
Tamil-speaking Indian father and Hokkien-speaking Chinese mother would automatically be
assigned to take Tamil as the Mother Tongue language.[53]
Since 1 January 2011, Mother Tongue is defined solely by a person's official registered race. If a
person is of more than one ethnicity and their race is registered in the hyphenated format, the race
chosen will be the one that precedes the hyphen in their registered race.[54]
The Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism was set up on 28 November 2011. The Fund aims to
promote bilingualism amongst young children in Singapore, is set up to supplement existing English
and Mother Tongue language programmes in teaching and language learning. It is managed by a
Board chaired by the Singapore's Minister of Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat and advised by an
International Advisory Panel of Experts.[55]
Impacts of bilingual education policy[edit]
The impact of the bilingual policy differs amongst students from the various ethnic groups. For the
Chinese, when the policy was first implemented, many students found themselves struggling with
two foreign languages: English and Mandarin.[4] Even though several different Chinese varieties were
widely spoken at home, they were excluded from the classroom as it was felt that they would be an
"impediment to learning Chinese".[13] Today, although Mandarin is widely spoken, proficiency in
second languages has declined.[4] In response to these falling standards, several revisions have
been made to the education system. These include the introduction of the Mother Tongue "B"
syllabus and the now-defunct EM3 stream, in both of which Mother Tongue is taught at a level lower
than the mainstream standard. In the case of Mandarin, Chinese students would study Chinese "B".
The Malay-speaking community also faced similar problems after the implementation of the policy. In
Singapore, Malay, not its non-standard dialects, is valued as a mean for transmitting familial and
religious values. For instance, ‘Madrasahs', or religious schools, mosques and religious classes all
employ the Malay language.[56] However, Malay in turn is facing competition from the increased
popularity of English.[1]
In contrast to the language policy for Mandarin and Malay, Indian students are given a wider variety
of Indian languages to choose from. For example, Indian students speaking Dravidian
languages study Tamil as a Mother Tongue.[1] However, schools with low numbers of Tamil students
might not provide Tamil language classes. As a result, students from such schools will attend Tamil
language classes at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC).[57] On the other hand,
Indian students who speak non-Dravidian languages can choose
from Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu.[1] However, as with Tamil, only certain schools offer
these non-Dravidian languages. Thus, students will attend their respective language classes at
designated language centres, held by the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian
Languages (BTTSAL).[58]
In 2007, in a bid to enhance the linguistic experience of students, the Ministry of Education strongly
encouraged schools to offer Conversational Malay and Chinese to those who do not take either of
these languages as their Mother Tongue.[59] By providing the schools with the resources needed to
implement the programme, the Ministry of Education has succeeded in significantly increasing the
number of participating schools. More importantly, the programme was also well received by
students.[60]
Challenges in the teaching of Mother Tongue[edit]
The teaching of Mother Tongue (especially Mandarin) in schools has encountered challenges due to
more Singaporeans speaking and using English at home. The declining standards and command of
Mandarin amongst younger generations of Chinese Singaporeans continue to be of concern to the
older generations of Chinese Singaporeans, as they perceive it to be an erosion of Chinese
culture and heritage.[4] This concern has led to the establishment the Singapore Centre for Chinese
Language (SCCL) by the government on November 2009.[61] The SCCL's stated purpose is to
enhance the effectiveness of teaching Mandarin as a second language in a bilingual environment as
well as to meet the learning needs of students from non-Mandarin speaking homes.[62]
Despite government efforts to promote Mandarin through the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the
propagation of Mandarin and Chinese culture amongst Chinese Singaporeans continues to be a
challenge because Mandarin faces stiff competition from the strong presence of English.[4] However,
this situation is not only limited to Mandarin, but also Malay and Tamil, where rising statistics show
that English is progressively taking over as home language of Singaporeans.[1][9]
Foreign population in Singapore[edit]
With the influx of foreigners, the population of non-English speaking foreigners in Singapore offers
new challenges to the concept of language proficiency in the country. Foreigners in Singapore
constitute 36% of the population and they dominate 50% of Singapore's service sectors.[63] Thus, it is
not uncommon to encounter service staff who are not fluent in English, especially those who do not
use English regularly.[64] In response to this situation, the Straits Times reported that from July 2010,
foreigners working in service sectors would have to pass an English test before they can obtain their
work permits.[65]

Sociolinguistic issues[edit]
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Politics[edit]
Language plays an important role in Singapore's politics. Even until today, it is important for
politicians in Singapore to be able to speak fluent English along with their Mother Tongue (including
different varieties of Chinese) in order to reach out to the multilingual community in Singapore. This
is evident in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's annual National Day Rally speech, which is
communicated through the use of English, Malay and Mandarin.[66]
Before the 1980s, it was common for politicians to broadcast their speech
in Malay, English, Singaporean Hokkien, Singaporean Mandarin and other Chinese varieties. For
instance, during the 1960s, Lee Kuan Yewlearned and used Hokkien frequently in his political or
rally speeches, as it was vital for him to secure votes in elections from the Hokkien-speaking
community. Similarly, Lim Chin Siong, who was charismatic in the use of Hokkien, was able to
secure opposition votes. Facing competition and difficulty in securing votes from the Chinese-
educated, Lee Kuan Yew also had to learn Mandarin, in order to win the votes from the Mandarin-
speaking community.
Although the use of other Chinese varieties among the Singapore population has dwindled,[9] they
continue to be used in election rallies as of the 2011 parliamentary election. For instance, both Low
Thia Khiang[67]and Chan Chun Sing[68] were noted for their usage of different Chinese varieties during
election rallies.
Status of Singlish as an identity marker[edit]
See also: Singlish
There has been a continuous debate between the general Singaporean population and the
Government with regard to the status of Singlish in local domains. While the government fears that
the prevalence of Singlish would affect Singapore's overall image as a world class financial and
business hub,[69] most Singaporeans on the other hand have chosen to embrace Singlish as an
identity marker and as a language of solidarity.[70] In an attempt to eradicate the usage of Singlish,
the government then began the Speak Good English Movement, encouraging people to use
Standard Singaporean English in all contexts instead. Despite the success of the campaign, most
Singaporeans surveyed still preferred the use of Singlish to communicate with fellow Singaporeans,
and they also believed that they had the ability to code switch between Singlish and Standard
Singaporean English, depending on the requirements of the particular situation.[70]
Most recently, Singlish came into the limelight when Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots
supposedly used the language to much effect to prevent their American counterparts from
intercepting their communications during the 2014 Red Flag exercise, resulting in a boost in support
for the usefulness of Singlish among Singaporean netizens.[71]
Preservation issues[edit]
See also: Speak Mandarin Campaign
Chinese varieties (classified as dialects by the Singapore government), with the exception of
Mandarin, have been in steep decline since the independence of Singapore in 1965. This is in part
due to the Speak Mandarin Campaign that was launched in 1979. As part of the campaign, all
programmes on TV and radio using non-standard varieties were stopped. Speeches in Hokkien by
the prime minister were discontinued to prevent giving conflicting signals to the people.[72] By the late
1980s, Mandarin managed to some extent, to replace these varieties as the preferred language for
communication in public places, such as restaurants and public transport.[73]
The preservation of local varieties in Singapore has been of increasing concern in Singapore since
the 2000s, especially among the younger generation of Chinese youths.[74] This sudden revival of
other varieties can mainly be attributed to a feeling of disconnection between the younger and the
elder generations, as well as a sense of loss of identity from their own linguistic roots for many
others.[75] While more work has to be put in to revive these varieties, the recent 2014 Singapore
Teochew Festival[76] held in Ngee Ann City can be regarded as a positive sign that more people are
becoming more actively involved in reconnecting with their linguistic roots.[77]
Controversy over learning of Chinese varieties[edit]
In March 2009, a newspaper article was published in Singapore broadsheet daily The Straits
Times on a Language and Diversity Symposium organised by the Division of Linguistics and
Multilingual Studies at Nanyang Technological University. Dr Ng Bee Chin, Acting Head of the
Division, was quoted in the article as saying, "Although Singaporeans are still multilingual, 40 years
ago, we were even more multilingual. Young children are not speaking some of these languages at
all any more. All it takes is one generation for a language to die."[8]
This prompted a reply from Mr Chee Hong Tat, the Principal Private Secretary of Minister
Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. In a letter to the editor in the Straits Times Forum, he underlined the
importance of English and Mandarin over other Chinese varieties and how using these varieties
"interferes with the learning of Mandarin and English"; a statement that Mr Lee Kuan Yew later
corroborated in a speech at the 30th anniversary of the Speak Mandarin Campaign.[78] Referring to
the progress of Singapore's bilingual education policy over the decades, Mr Chee Hong Tat also
commented that "it would be stupid for any Singapore agency or NTU to advocate the learning of
dialects, which must be at the expense of English and Mandarin."[79]
Renewed interest in learning other Chinese varieties[edit]
Since 2000, there has been an renewed interest in other Chinese varieties among Singaporean
Chinese.[80] In 2002, clan associations such as Hainanese Association of Singapore (Kheng Chiu
Hwee Kuan) and Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan started classes to teach other Chinese
varieties.[81] This was in response to an increased desire among Singaporeans to reconnect with their
Chinese heritage and culture through learning other Chinese varieties. In 2007, a group of 140
students from Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Primary School learnt Hokkien-Taiwanese and Cantonese
as an effort to communicate better with the elderly. The elderly themselves taught the students the
varieties. The programme was organised in the hope of bridging the generational gap that was
formed due to the suppression of these dialects in Singapore.[82]
Likewise, third-year students from Dunman High can now take a module called "Pop Song Culture".
This module lets them learn about pop culture in different dialect groups through pop songs from the
70s and 80s performed in different varieties. Besides this, students can also take an elective on
different flavours and food cultures from various dialect groups.[83]
Although the Singapore government appears to have relaxed its stance towards Chinese varieties in
recent years, the fact is that they still did not actively support the widespread use of other Chinese
varieties especially in the Singapore mainstream Television media. Recently, the Singapore
Government allowed some local produced mini "chinese dialect" shows to be broadcast in Hokkien-
Taiwanese and Cantonese dedicated to the Singapore Chinese elderly who speak Hokkien-
Taiwanese or Cantonese but did not understand English or Mandarin Chinese. The aim of the local
produced mini "chinese dialect" shows is to transmit important messages about social services and
medical services and care to the Singapore Chinese Elderly. However, there are limited amount of
"Chinese Dialect" shows that could be broadcast on Singapore's Mainstream Television due to the
Singapore's Government strigent language policy.

Linguistic landscape of Singapore[edit]

The multi-ethnic background of Singapore's society can be seen in its linguistic landscape. While
English dominates as the working language of Singapore, the city does not possess a monolingual
linguistic landscape. These can be seen from the variety of signs strewn around the city. Signs are
colour-coded and categorised by their respective functions: for example, signs which are pointing to
attractions are brown with white words, while road signs and street names are green with white
words. Some of the most evident signs of multilingualism in Singapore's linguistic landscape include
danger/warning signs at construction sites, as well as road signs for tourist attractions. By observing
the variation in languages used in the different contexts, we are able to obtain information on the
ethnolinguistic vitality of the country.
Tourist attractions[edit]

Road signs to the Buddhist Burmese Temple and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. The non-English
languages used on the signs appear to depend upon the expected visitors to each place (only English and
Chinese for the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall sign, but those two plus Japanese and Burmese for the
Burmese Buddhist Temple sign).

The majority of Singapore's tourist attractions provide information through English in the Roman
script. In many cases, the entrances of the attraction is written in English (usually with no other
accompanying languages) while the distinctive brown road signs seen along streets and
expressways which direct tourists come in up to four or five languages, with English as the largest
and most prominent language on the sign.
Some examples of the different ways in which popular tourist attractions in Singapore display
ethnolinguistic diversity can be seen at tourist attractions such as Lau Pa Sat, where the words "Lau
Pa Sat" on the directory boards consist of the Mandarin Chinese word lau for "old" (老;lăo) and from
the Hokkien words pa sat for "market" (巴刹;bā sha), written in roman script. The entrance sign of
the attraction also includes a non-literal translation in English below its traditional name (Festival
Market). It is also called the Telok Ayer Market, a name which makes reference to the location of the
attraction and does not have anything to do with its cultural name.
The conversion and expression in Roman script of Mandarin and Hokkien into pīnyīn helps non-
Mandarin and non-Hokkien speakers with the pronunciation of the name of a place whilst remaining
in tandem with the use of English and Roman script in Singapore. The repackaging of the original
names of Lau Pa Sat in Roman script, and inclusion of the appearance of an English translation as a
secondary title can be seen as a way of heightening the sense of authenticity and heritage of the
attraction as it is marketed as a culturally-rich area in Singapore, similar to Chinatown and Little
India; both of which were formerly cultural enclaves of the distinctive races. Similarly in places that
bear cultural significance, the signs are printed in the language associated with the culture, such as
The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall which has an entirely Chinese sign without any
translations.
Some notable exceptions include the brown directional road signs for the Merlion Park which are
written not only in the four national languages, but also in Japanese. Although many variations exist,
this arrangement is widely applied to most places of interest as well as places of worship, such as
the Burmese Buddhist Temple which has signs in Burmese and some mosques in Singapore which
also have their names printed in the Jawi script even though the Malay language was standardized
with the Roman alphabet in Singapore.
Government offices and public buildings[edit]

English signage at the Singapore Parliament

Despite the fact that Malay is the national language of Singapore, government buildings are often
indicated by signs in English and not Malay. Comparing the relative occurrences of English and
Malay in building signs, the use of the working language is far more common in Singapore's
linguistic landscape than that of the national language, which is limited to ceremonial purposes. This
can also be seen on the entrance sign to most Ministries and government buildings, which are
expressed only in English, the working language.
Most of the foreign embassies in Singapore are able to use their own national or working languages
as a representation of their respective embassies in Singapore, as long as their language can be
expressed in the script of any of Singapore's official languages. For example, embassies
representing non-English speaking countries such as the French Embassy are allowed to use their
own languages because the language can be expressed in Roman script, thus explaining why the
French embassy uses its French name. However, for the case of the Royal Thai Embassy, English
was chosen to represent it in Singapore because the Thai script is not recognized as a script in any
of Singapore's official languages, even though English is less widely used in Thailand than standard
Thai.
Public hospitals[edit]
Out of the eight general hospitals overseen by Singapore's Ministry of Health, only Singapore
General Hospital has signages in the four official languages. Along Hospital Drive (where Singapore
General Hospital is located) and various national medical centres, road directories are entirely in
English. Within the hospital itself, signs for individual blocks, wards, Accident and Emergency
department, Specialist Outpatient Clinics, National Heart Centre and National Cancer Centre have
signs written in the four official languages. The English titles are still expressed with the largest font
first, followed by Malay, Chinese and Tamil in smaller but equally-sized fonts, which is in accordance
with order given by Singapore's constitution. Surprisingly, the Health Promotion Board, National Eye
and Dental Centres, which are also in the same region, have English signs only. All of the other
seven public hospitals have their "Accident and Emergency" sign in English only, with some
highlighted in a red background.
Notices and campaigns[edit]
An advisory poster found in Little

Singapore Culture

Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interaction among different races are
commonly seen. The pattern of Singapore stems from the inherent cultural diversity of the island. The
immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all
of which have intermingled.

Behind the facade of a modern city, these ethnic races are still evident. The areas for the different races, which
were designated to them by Sir Stamford Raffles, still remain although the bulk of Singaporeans do think of
themselves as Singaporeans, regardless of race or culture. Each still bears its own unique character.

The old streets of Chinatown can still be seen; the Muslim characteristics are still conspicuous in Arab Street;
and Little India along Serangoon Road still has its distinct ambience. Furthermore, there are marks of the
British colonial influence in the Neo-Classical buildings all around the city.

Each racial group has its own distinctive religion and there are colorful festivals of special significance all year
round. Although the festivals are special to certain races, it is nonetheless enjoyed by all.

In Singapore, food is also readily and widely available. There are lots of cuisines to offer. We have, Chinese,
Indian, Malay, Indonesian and Western, Italian, Peranakan, Spanish, French, Thai and even Fusion. It is very
common to savour other culture's food and some of the food can be very intriguing. Indian food are relatively
spicier, whereas Chinese food is less spicier and the Chinese enjoy seafood. Malay cooking uses coconut milk
as their main ingredient, that makes their food very tasty.

You can refer to our Eating in Singapore section for a list of recommended food outlets in Singapore.

Religion in Singapore
Most Singaporeans celebrate the major festivals associated with their respective religions. The variety of
religions is a direct reflection of the diversity of races living there. The Chinese are predominantly followers of
Buddhism, Taoism, Shenism, Christians, Catholics and some considered as 'free-thinkers' (Those who do not
belong to any religion). Malays have the Muslims and Indians are Hindus. There is a sizeable number of
Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population.

Religious tolerance is essential in Singapore. In fact, religions often cross racial boundaries and some even
merge in unusual ways in this modern country. Younger Singaporeans tend to combine a little of the mysteries
of the older generation with the realistic world that they know of today.

Religion is still an integral part of the cosmopolitan Singapore. Many of its most interesting buildings are
religious, be it old temples, modern churches, or exotic mosques. An understanding of these buildings do play
a part in contributing to the appreciation of their art.

Chinese Temples

Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and ancestral worship are combined into a versatile mix in Chinese temples.

Followers of the Tao (The Way) adhere to the teachings of the ancient Chinese legend, Lao Tzu. They are
concerned with the balance of the Yin and Yang, which are opposite forces of heaven and earth, male and
female. Feng Shui, literally translated as wind and water, also originated from Yin and Yang. Ancestral worship
is common and the spirits of the dead, like the gods themselves, are appeased with offerings.

Most Buddhists are of the Mahayana school although there are some from the Theravada school. In Singapore,
the Buddhist faith is linked with Taoism and the practical doctrine of Confucianism.

Islam

The Malays in Singapore are Muslims. A few of the Indians are also Muslims, but even more uncommon are the
Chinese Muslims.

Islam has a fundamental influence in the lives of those who follow the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad. The
religion involves praying five times a day, eating only "halal" food, fasting during Ramadan, and going to
Mecca on the Haj (pilgrimage). Halal food means food that has been specially prepared as according to the
religion's dietary requirements.

Hinduism

As the Indian immigrants migrate to Singapore, they brought with them Hinduism. The early temples are still
the central points of rituals and festivals, which are held throughout the year.

Christianity

One will be able to find Christian churches of all denominations in Singapore. They were actually established
with the arrival of various missionaries after the coming of Sir Stamford Raffles. Together with Buddhism,
Islam, and Hinduism, Christianity is considered one of the four main religions today. There is quite a large
number of Christians on the island.

Others

Minority faiths are not forgotten. There are at least two synagogues for the Jews and Sikhs. The Zoroastrians
and Jains are also represented in Singapore.
Language in Singapore

The four official languages of Singapore are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. English is the most common
language used and is the language which unites the different ethnic groups. Children are taught in English at
school but also learn their mother tongue to make sure they don't lose contact with their traditions.

Expatriates and foreigners may encounter language problems in the beginning of their stay in Singapore as
many Singaporeans use Singlish to communicate. Singlish is a mix of English with other languages mixed into
the English, sometimes phrases can end with funny terms like 'lah', 'leh', mah'. Chinese commonly use their
own dialects to communicate, and sometimes, inter-dialect groups don't understand one another's language,
as the language is vastly different. Except for Hokkien and Teochew, which have a closer link. The Malays use
the language among their fellow races and the Indians speak Tamil. But whatever the race or religion, the
country's community unite as one nation, where most religious or racial gaps are being bridged.

Singapore English has its origins in the schools of colonial Singapore. In the nineteenth century very few
children went to school at all, and even fewer were educated in English. The people who spoke English and
sent their children to English medium schools were mainly the Europeans, the Eurasians (people of mixed
racial ancestry), some of the small minorities, such as the Jews, some of the Indians and Ceylonese, and also a
group of Chinese people usually called the Straits Chinese, who had ancestors of long residence in the region,
and who spoke a variety of Malay usually called Baba Malay which was influenced by Hokkien Chinese and by
Bazaar Malay.

The fact that all these children would have known Malay probably explains why most of the loan words in
Singapore Colloquial English are from Malay. The largest group of teachers were Eurasians, and there were
also many teachers from Ceylon and India. European teachers were never more than a quarter of the total
teaching staff in a school, and they usually taught the senior classes. These Europeans may have been from
Britain (which at that time included Ireland) but were also from the USA, Belgium and France. The children in
these schools would have been exposed to many varieties of English.

In the first twenty years of the twentieth century, English medium education became popular for all groups.
Girls started going to school in larger numbers too. By the 1950s nearly all children went to school, and the
majority were educated in English. By the 1980s. all education was in the medium of English (with children
learning another language alongside English).

Singapore English grew out of the English of the playground of these children of various linguistic backgrounds
who were learning English at school. As more and more of its people experienced learning English at school,
English became widely spoken, alongside Singapore's many other languages. Since Singapore became an
independent Republic in 1965, the use of English has increased still further. For many Singaporeans, English is
the main language. Many families speak English at home and it is one of the the first languages learnt by
about half of the current pre-school children.

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 (especially various varieties of Malay and of Chinese) 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. Singlish is a badge of identity for many Singaporeans.

Singlish

Singapore English usually come from other languages spoken in Singapore, especially Malay and Hokkien.
Speakers of Singlish are not necessarily aware of which language they are from however.

Example:
 habis - finished
 makan - to eat
 chope - to reserve something
 cheem - difficult, complicated
 ang mo - a white person
 rojak - mixed, a mix of
 liao - finished, the end
 kiasu - afraid to lose mentality

Speakers of Singlish will usually end his sentence with a distinctive exclamation. The three most common are
ah, lah, ley and what.

Examples:

 OK lah, bye bye.

 Don't like that lah.
 You are going there ah?
 No parking lots here, what.
 The price is too high for me lah.
 And then how many rooms ah?
 It is very troublesome ley.
 Don't be like that ley!
 I'm not at home lah. That's why ah.

Related Page
 Expat Forum > Business in Singapore - Discuss your views about Singapore business & economy, current
policies & issues, starting a business in Singapore.

 Expat Forum > Careers & Jobs in Singapore - Discuss about getting a well paid job or career
advancement. Ask about salaries, expat packages, CPF & taxes for expatriate.

 Expat Forum > Relocating, Moving to Singapore - Moving to Singapore? Ask our regular expats in
Singapore questions on relocation and their experience here. Ask about banking, employment pass,
insurance, visa, work permit, citizenship or immigration issues.

 Expat Forum > Staying, Living in Singapore - Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living,
housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in
Singapore.

Local Customs and Culture in

Singapore
Despite its small size, the local customs and culture in Singapore are unique
and a mixture of various ethnic influences. All this has its roots in the country’s
history as a trading hub. Learn more about Singapore’s history, the fining
culture in Singapore, and its religions here on InterNations.
 The various cultural influences that have come together to form Singapore make its culture one of
the most diverse in the world.
 Singapore have a number of unusual laws, including chewing gum and spitting, so make sure to look
these up before you move.
 In Singapore, more than ten different religions are practiced, however, discrimination is still a
prominent issue.

The culture in Singapore is defined by the different ethnic groups in the city-state. Chinese, Malay,
Indian, and Western influences are all palpable there, making for a mix of traditions and local
customs. This diversity of the culture in Singapore is also reflected in the many languages spoken
there, including English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.

Asia’s Multicultural Hub: A Historical Perspective

Singapore is an island, located at the southern tip of Malaysia. From 1819, it served as a trading port
for British ships on their way to India. As a major trading hub and because of its close proximity to its
neighbor Malaysia, Singapore was prone to many foreign influences, both from Britain and from
other Asian countries. Chinese and Indian workers moved to Singapore to work at the harbor. The
country remained a British colony until 1942.

Although it took several decades to turn Singapore into the industrialized nation and expat hot spot
that it is today, the foreign influence on culture in Singapore remained. Today, it is estimated that just
over half of the total workforce in Singapore is foreign. A mix of various languages, traditions, and
religions is prevalent all over the state.

Singapore: A “Fine” City

Culture in Singapore is largely defined by peace, justice, and social and religious harmony. The
saying that Singapore is a “fine” city, not only refers to its cleanliness or its quality of life. In fact, to
 ensure safety and order in the state, the government has prohibited various things. If you don’t want
to pay a heavy fine or even spend time in jail, you should avoid the following:

 chewing gum
 spitting
 littering
 jay walking
 dancing on counters or tables at a bar
 smoking indoors
 drinking and driving
 public drunkenness
 taking drugs

Keep in mind that the last point is particularly serious. It is enough to carry even a small amount of
specific drugs to face the death penalty. You can learn more on limitation of civil freedoms in
Singapore from our guide.

A Country of Many Beliefs

The religious culture in Singapore is just as diverse as the population. Singaporeans learn about the
religious customs and traditions of other population groups early on. On the list of public holidays in
Singapore are Christian, Muslim, and Indian holidays, among others. The state is home to ten major
religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. Some people even accept
more than one faith. However, discrimination in Singapore is still a problem at times.

While exploring the culture in Singapore, you will soon find, that many of the most beautiful and
fascinating buildings in the state are religious. While some of them are open to the public, it is
important that you abide by certain rules before entering a place of worship:

 Take off your shoes before you enter a mosque or a temple.

 Wash your feet and hands before entering a Hindu temple.
 Dress appropriately! Women are expected to cover their hair or parts of their body before entering a
mosque or a temple.
 Make sure that taking pictures is allowed before getting out your camera.
 A religious building is no place for a picnic! Don’t eat or drink there.
 Bring along food or flowers to Hindu and Buddhist temples as an offering for the gods.

We do our best to keep this article up to date. However, we cannot guarantee that the
information provided is always current or complete.
11 Interesting Facts About
Singapore
Singapore has emerged as one of the world’s most prosperous countries. It’s a financial
center, an achievement in urban planning, and serves as a model for developing
nations. It’s also one of our most popular travel destinations!
Here are 11 interesting facts about Singapore.

 Singapore’s national anthem is in micro-text on the back of their $1,000 note.

 Singapore is one of only three surviving city-states in the world. The other two
are Monaco and the Vatican City.
 Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Palembang, saw a creature he thought was a
lion and named the island “Singapura” which means “Lion City” in Sanskrit.
However, there have never been lions outside of captivity in Singapore.
 In addition to its main island, the nation of Singapore includes 63 additional
islands, most of which are uninhabited.
 Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area
of only 682.7 square kilometers. The United States is about 15,000 times bigger.
 The red of Singapore’s flag represents universal brotherhood and equality of man
while the white symbolizes purity and virtue. The crescent moon stands for a
young nation on the rise and the five stars signify the ideals of democracy,
peace, progress, justice and equality.
 Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve holds more species of trees than the
entire North American continent.
 Buildings in Singapore cannot be higher than 280 metres. Currently, there are
three buildings of that height – OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza.
 The Guinness book record for the longest human domino chain was set in
Singapore on September 30, 2000. It was formed by 9,234 students and
measured 4.2km. 27.
 Singapore has more than 3,000 kilometres of roads. Stretched out end to end,
they would cover the distance from Singapore to Hong Kong.
 The national language of Singapore is Malay. The four official languages of the
country are English, Chinese, Tamil, and Malay.

MBA candidate Alexa Liberson recently wrote about her experience in Singapore as
part of an international business class program. Read her firsthand account here.
Learn more about educational travel programs to Singapore.