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Languages Spoken in Singapore: A Multilingual Tapestry
Singapore, a vibrant island nation, is renowned for its incredible diversity. This diversity is beautifully reflected in the multitude of languages spoken within its borders. Forget the simplistic notion of a single national tongue; Singapore's linguistic landscape is a rich and complex tapestry woven from threads of history, migration, and cultural exchange. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the languages spoken in Singapore, exploring their prevalence, historical context, and significance in shaping the nation's identity. We'll move beyond the basics, examining the nuances of language use in different communities and exploring the fascinating interplay between official languages and vernaculars. Get ready to unravel the fascinating linguistic story of this dynamic Asian hub.
The Official Languages of Singapore: A Foundation of Unity
Singapore officially recognizes four languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. This multilingual approach reflects the nation's commitment to linguistic diversity while fostering a sense of national unity. Let's examine each official language in more detail:
English: While not the native language of the majority, English serves as the working language of government, commerce, and education. It's the primary language used in most professional settings and is crucial for international communication. Singaporean English, often called Singlish, has developed its own unique vocabulary and grammatical structures, reflecting the country's multicultural heritage. While informal, Singlish plays a vital role in social interactions and cultural expression.
Mandarin: Representing the significant Chinese population, Mandarin Chinese is an official language and a key part of Singapore's cultural fabric. Government initiatives promote Mandarin proficiency, recognizing its importance for economic opportunities and cultural preservation within the Chinese community. Different Chinese dialects, remnants of earlier immigration waves, still exist within the country, though Mandarin serves as the unifying language for the broader Chinese population.
Malay: As a reflection of Singapore's historical roots and its position within Southeast Asia, Malay holds a special status. It's the national language and features prominently in national symbols and ceremonies. While its usage is less prevalent in daily business compared to English, Malay remains a vital part of Singapore's cultural identity, particularly amongst the Malay community.
Tamil: Representing the significant Indian population, Tamil is an official language, showcasing Singapore's commitment to inclusivity. It’s vital for preserving the cultural heritage of the Tamil community and ensuring their continued engagement in Singaporean society.
Beyond the Official Languages: A Spectrum of Vernaculars
While the four official languages form the backbone of Singapore's linguistic system, a vibrant array of other languages adds to its rich tapestry. These include:
Hokkien: One of the many Chinese dialects spoken in Singapore, Hokkien maintains a strong presence, particularly amongst older generations. Its usage is gradually decreasing as Mandarin gains prominence.
Cantonese: Another significant Chinese dialect, Cantonese, similarly retains its foothold among specific communities, albeit with decreasing usage compared to Mandarin.
Teochew: Yet another Chinese dialect, Teochew, maintains a presence among specific demographic groups, though again its usage is progressively diminishing.
Other Chinese dialects: Various other less prevalent Chinese dialects are also spoken within specific communities, contributing to the overall linguistic diversity.
Indian Languages (Beyond Tamil): Besides Tamil, other Indian languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, and others are spoken by various Indian communities, reflecting the diverse origins of its Indian population.
Other Southeast Asian Languages: The presence of migrant workers and expatriates contributes to the presence of various Southeast Asian languages like Indonesian, Filipino (Tagalog), and Vietnamese, adding further layers to the multilingual landscape.
The Dynamic Interplay of Languages in Singaporean Society
The interaction between these various languages is a defining characteristic of Singaporean society. Code-switching, the practice of seamlessly shifting between two or more languages within a single conversation, is extremely common. This linguistic flexibility reflects the adaptability and communicative skills of Singaporeans. The use of Singlish, a unique blend of English and other vernaculars, highlights the creative dynamism of Singapore's linguistic landscape. While it may not be formally taught or used in official settings, Singlish serves as a powerful tool for social cohesion and cultural expression within many communities.
The Future of Languages in Singapore: Preservation and Adaptation
Singapore's linguistic landscape is not static. While Mandarin's prominence is growing, efforts to preserve other vernaculars are crucial for maintaining cultural diversity. Government initiatives, educational programs, and community efforts play a vital role in ensuring the continuation of these languages. The challenge lies in balancing the need for a unifying national language (English) with the preservation of cultural heritage through the maintenance of diverse vernaculars. The future likely holds a continued interplay between these forces, resulting in a dynamic and ever-evolving linguistic environment.
Article Outline: Languages Spoken in Singapore
I. Introduction: Hooking the reader with the vibrant linguistic diversity of Singapore.
II. Official Languages: Detailed examination of English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. Their roles, historical context, and current usage.
III. Vernacular Languages: Exploring the diverse range of dialects and languages beyond the official four. Including Chinese dialects, other Indian languages, and Southeast Asian languages.
IV. The Interplay of Languages: Analyzing code-switching, Singlish, and the dynamic interaction between different languages in daily life.
V. The Future of Languages in Singapore: Discussing the challenges and efforts in preserving linguistic diversity while maintaining a unified national identity.
Detailed Article Explanation (as per outline above):
(The above sections already fulfill the detailed explanation of each outline point.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is English mandatory in Singapore? While not everyone's first language, English is crucial for education, business, and government. Proficiency is highly valued.
2. What is Singlish? Singlish is a colloquial form of English with influences from other languages, commonly used informally.
3. Which Chinese dialect is most widely spoken in Singapore? Mandarin is the official and most widely spoken Chinese language in Singapore.
4. How does the government support language preservation? The government implements various initiatives, including education programs and cultural events, to preserve different languages.
5. Is there a dominant language in Singapore? While English is the working language, no single language dominates entirely due to the country's multilingual society.
6. What role does Malay play in Singapore? Malay is the national language, signifying Singapore's history and identity.
7. How many languages are spoken in Singapore in total? While a precise number is difficult, dozens of languages and dialects are actively used.
8. Are there language barriers in Singapore? Though English bridges gaps, some communication challenges exist between individuals only fluent in different vernaculars.
9. How does linguistic diversity impact Singapore's identity? Linguistic diversity is a crucial aspect of Singapore's unique and multicultural identity.
Related Articles:
1. The History of English in Singapore: Exploring the evolution of English and its impact on the nation's development.
2. The Role of Mandarin in Singapore's Economy: Examining the importance of Mandarin proficiency in business and employment.
3. Preservation of Chinese Dialects in Singapore: Discussing the challenges and efforts in maintaining less prominent Chinese dialects.
4. The Significance of Malay in Singaporean Culture: Exploring the role of Malay in national identity and traditional customs.
5. The Influence of Indian Languages on Singaporean Society: Showcasing the contributions of Indian languages to the cultural landscape.
6. Code-Switching in Singapore: A Linguistic Phenomenon: Analyzing the practice of code-switching and its social implications.
7. Singlish: A Unique Linguistic Blend: A deeper dive into the origins, characteristics, and social impact of Singlish.
8. Government Policies on Language in Singapore: A review of government initiatives aimed at promoting language learning and preservation.
9. Multilingualism and National Unity in Singapore: Examining the complex relationship between linguistic diversity and social cohesion.
| languages spoken in singapore: The Culture of Singapore English Jock Wong, 2014-06-12 A semantic, pragmatic and cultural interpretation of Singapore English, offering a fascinating glimpse of Singaporean life. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Multilingual Singapore Ritu Jain, 2021-05-25 This volume brings together researchers whose analysis and insights provide a comprehensive and up-to-date account of Singapore’s rich linguistic diversity. Applying a combination of descriptive, empirical, and theoretical approaches, the authors investigate not only official languages such as English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil, but also minority languages such as the Chinese vernaculars and South Asian and Austronesian languages. The chapters in this volume trace the historical development, contemporary status, and functions of these languages, as well as potential scenarios for the future. Exploring the tension between language policies and linguistic realities in Singapore, the contributions in this volume capture the shifting educational, political, and societal priorities of the community through its past and contemporary present. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Challenging the Monolingual Mindset John Hajek, Yvette Slaughter, 2014-10-01 This volume challenges the monolingual mindset by highlighting how language-related issues surround us in many different ways, and explores the tensions that can develop in managing and understanding multilingualism. The book features analysis and discussion on the use of languages across a range of contexts, including post-migration settlement, policy, education, language contact and intercultural communication. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Step-tongue Anthea Fraser Gupta, 1994-01-01 In Singapore, multilingualism is the norm, and English (often the local variety) is widely acquired and used. This book examines the social and historical context of children's English in Singapore, and traces the development of four Singaporean children who have English as a native language. The implications for education and speech therapy are discussed. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Singlish Controversy Lionel Wee, 2018-01-25 Singlish is the colloquial variety of English spoken in Singapore. It has sparked much public debate, but so far the complex question of what Singlish really is and what it means to its speakers has remained obscured. This important work explores some of the socio-political controversies surrounding Singlish, such as the political ideologies inherent in Singlish discourse, the implications of being restricted to Singlish for those speakers without access to standard English, the complex relationship between Singlish and migration, and the question of whether Singlish is an asset or a liability to Singaporeans. These questions surrounding Singlish illustrate many current issues in language, culture and identity in an age of rapid change. The book will be of interest to scholars and advanced students of World Englishes and sociolinguistics. Its detailed analysis of the Singlish controversy will illuminate broader questions about language, identity and globalization. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Census of Population, 1980, Singapore: Languages spoken at home , 1981 Singapore, statistical tables, educational level and language literacy, 1980 population census. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Communicating with Asia Gerhard Leitner, Azirah Hashim, Hans-Georg Wolf, 2016-01-11 In today's global world, where Asia is an increasing area of focus, it is vital to explore what it means to 'understand' Asian cultures through English and other languages. This volume presents new research on English in Asia, alongside Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi-Urdu, Malay, Russian and other languages. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Language, Society, and Education in Singapore Saravanan Gopinathan, 1994 |
| languages spoken in singapore: Singapore English Jakob R. E. Leimgruber, 2013-05-09 This book offers readers a new way of thinking about the unique syntactic, semantic and phonological structure of Singapore English. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Singapore English David Deterding, 2007-08-01 Over the past few decades, Singapore English has been emerging as an independent variety of English with its own distinct style of pronunciation, grammar and word usage. All the findings presented in the book are illustrated with extensive examples from one hour of recorded conversational data from the Lim Siew Hwee Corpus of Informal Singapore Speech, as well as some extracts from the NIE Corpus of Spoken Singapore Speech and recent blogs. In addition, usage patterns found in the data are summarised, to provide a solid foundation for the reported occurrence of various features of the language. A full transcript of the data is included in the final chapter of the book. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Trends in Language, Literacy, and Education in Singapore Mary Wan Joo Tay, 1983 |
| languages spoken in singapore: Culture and Customs of Singapore and Malaysia Jaime Koh, Stephanie Ho Ph.D., 2009-06-22 Explore the contemporary culture and traditional customs of Singapore and Malaysia in a volume that belongs on shelves in every high school and public library. Culture and Customs of Singapore and Malaysia examines all aspects of contemporary life in these two geographically close and historically and culturally connected nations, starting with the people fighting to maintain a balance between the new and the traditional. The book shows how religion has evolved through time in the two nations and examines how literature and traditional crafts thrive today. It highlights the performing arts and entertainment, noting how Western culture has influenced and shaped new customs. Housing and architecture, both modern and traditional, are discussed, along with cuisine and fashion. Students can use the book to analyze gender roles and family life. They can also read about the ways in which festivals are celebrated and can compare and contrast leisure activities of Singapore and Malaysia with their own. The volume concludes with a look to the future of these two evolving countries, both moving toward modernity, but still holding on to the traditions of the past. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Making of Vernacular Singapore English Zhiming Bao, 2019-05-16 Singapore English is a focal point across the many subfields of linguistics, as its semantic, syntactic and phonetic/phonological qualities tell us a great deal about what happens when very different types of language come together. Sociolinguists are also interested in the relative status of Singapore English compared to other languages in the country. This book charts the history of Singapore English and explores the linguistic, historical and social factors that have influenced the variety as it is spoken today. It identifies novel grammatical features of the language, discusses their structure and function, and traces their origins to the local languages of Singapore. It places grammatical system and usage at the core of the analysis, and shows that introspective and corpus data are complementary. This study will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working on language contact, world varieties of English, historical linguistics and sociolinguistics. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Handbook of Asian Englishes Kingsley Bolton, Werner Botha, Andy Kirkpatrick, 2020-09-14 The first volume of its kind, focusing on the sociolinguistic and socio-political issues surrounding Asian Englishes The Handbook of Asian Englishes provides wide-ranging coverage of the historical and cultural context, contemporary dynamics, and linguistic features of English in use throughout the Asian region. This first-of-its-kind volume offers a wide-ranging exploration of the English language throughout nations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Contributions by a team of internationally-recognized linguists and scholars of Asian Englishes and Asian languages survey existing works and review new and emerging areas of research in the field. Edited by internationally renowned scholars in the field and structured in four parts, this Handbook explores the status and functions of English in the educational institutions, legal systems, media, popular cultures, and religions of diverse Asian societies. In addition to examining nation-specific topics, this comprehensive volume presents articles exploring pan-Asian issues such as English in Asian schools and universities, English and language policies in the Asian region, and the statistics of English across Asia. Up-to-date research addresses the impact of English as an Asian lingua franca, globalization and Asian Englishes, the dynamics of multilingualism, and more. Examines linguistic history, contemporary linguistic issues, and English in the Outer and Expanding Circles of Asia Focuses on the rapidly-growing complexities of English throughout Asia Includes reviews of the new frontiers of research in Asian Englishes, including the impact of globalization and popular culture Presents an innovative survey of Asian Englishes in one comprehensive volume Serving as an important contribution to fields such as contact linguistics, World Englishes, sociolinguistics, and Asian language studies, The Handbook of Asian Englishes is an invaluable reference resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and instructors across these areas. Winner of the 2021 PROSE Humanities Category for Language & Linguistics |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Changing Languages of Europe Bernd Heine, Tania Kuteva, 2006-06-22 The languages and dialects of Europe, this book shows, are becoming increasingly alike. Furthermore this unifying process goes at least as far back as the Roman empire, is accelerating, and affects every one of Europe's 150 or so languages including those of different families such as Basque and Finnish. The changes are by no means restricted to lexical borrowing but involve every grammatical aspect of the language. They are usually so minute that neither native speakers nor trained linguists notice them. But they accumulate and give rise to new grammatical structures that lead in turn to new patterns of areal relationship. Professor Heine and Professor Kuteva look for the causes of linguistic change in cultural and economic exchanges across national and regional boundaries and in the processes that occur when speakers learn or are in close contact with another language. Testing their data and conclusions against findings from elsewhere in the world, the authors reconstruct and reveal when, how, and why common grammatical structures have evolved and continue to evolve in processes of change that will, they argue, transform the linguistic landscape of Europe. The book is written in clear, non-technical language. It will appeal to scholars and students of language change and variation in Europe and elsewhere. It will also interest everyone concerned to understand the nature of language and language change. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Language, Society, and Education in Singapore Saravanan Gopinathan, 2003 While changes in the demographic, economic, socio-political, linguistic and educational aspects of life in Singapore in the last fifteen years have been fairly well-documented, there is clearly a need for a state-of-the-art volume on the interrelationship of developments in language, society and education in Singapore. This book not only deals with English, but also with Chinese, Malay and Tamil, Singapore's otherofficial languages. It draws upon empirical research carried out in the last decade in Singapore and examines the subject from a range of perspectives, including that of classroom pedagogy, as well as the language needs of both the school-going population and working adults. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Language, Capital, Culture , 2007-01-01 Singapore has been taken by many researchers as a fascinating living language policy and planning laboratory. Language and education policy in Singapore has been pivotal not only to the establishment and growth of schooling, but to the very project of nation building. Since their inception, ‘mother tongue’ policies have been established with two explicit goals. Firstly there is the development and training of human and intellectual capital for the expansion and networking of a Singaporean service and information economy. Secondly there is the maintenance of cultural heritage and values as a means for social cohesion and, indeed, the maintenance of community and regional social capital. These tasks have been fraught with tension and contradiction, both in relation to the conditions of rapid cultural, economic and political change in Asia and globally, but as well because of the tensions between the so called ‘world language English’ and Singapore’s three other official languages, Tamil, Malay and Mandarin. This has been complicated, of course, by the challenges of vibrant regional dialects and the emergence of Singlish as a powerful medium of community life. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora Brij V. Lal, Peter Reeves, 2006 The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora is the first comprehensive survey of Indian communities around the world. Over 30 contextual features show the initiatives taken by these communities and the contributions they have made both internationally and to their host societies, in areas as diverse as literature, cuisine, popular culture, sports and political life. The greater part of the book consists of 44 country/region profiles covering all parts of the world. Written by over 60 scholars from across the globe, most of whom are from the diaspora, the encyclopedia provides insights into the experiences of a people about whom much is often assumed but little is actually known. The recent expansion of the Indian diaspora, now some 20-million strong and growing, is a social transformation of global significance. Many members of the diaspora have reached the highest levels of global commerce and trade, international public service and diplomacy, the professionals and academia. In addition, the creative literature from and about the diaspora holds a distinctive and distinguished place in the world's literary imagination. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Singapore’s Multiculturalism Chan Heng Chee, Sharon Siddique, 2019-03-15 Since independence in 1965, Singapore has developed its own unique approach to managing the diversity of Race, Religion, Culture, Language, Nationality, and Age among its citizens. This approach is a consequence of many factors, including its very distinct ethnic makeup compared with its neighbours, its ambitions as a globally oriented city-state, and its small physical size. Each of these factors and many others have presented Singapore society with a range of challenges and opportunities, and will in all likelihood continue to do so for the foreseeable future. In the writing of this book, the author team set themselves the task of projecting the impact of current domestic and international social trends into the future, to anticipate what Singapore society might look like by around 2040. In doing so, they analyse the particular path that Singapore has taken since independence, in comparison with other multicultural societies and with regard to the balance between the necessity of forging a new national identity after British rule and departure from Malaysia, and the need to ensure that Singapore’s ethnic minority populations remain socially enfranchised. They further consider how current trends may develop over the next couple of decades, what new challenges this may present to Singapore society, and what might be the likely responses to such challenges. In this book, Singapore is a case study of a global city facing the challenges of developed-world modernity in frequently acute ways. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Routledge International Handbook of Language Education Policy in Asia Andy Kirkpatrick, Anthony J. Liddicoat, 2019-04-17 This must-have handbook offers a comprehensive survey of the field. It reviews the language education policies of Asia, encompassing 30 countries sub-divided by regions, namely East, Southeast, South and Central Asia, and considers the extent to which these are being implemented and with what effect. The most recent iteration of language education policies of each of the countries is described and the impact and potential consequence of any change is critically considered. Each country chapter provides a historical overview of the languages in use and language education policies, examines the ideologies underpinning the language choices, and includes an account of the debates and controversies surrounding language and language education policies, before concluding with some predictions for the future. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Knowledge, Culture And Power Anthony R. Welch, Peter Freebody, 2005-08-04 First published in 1992. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Language Policy, Culture, and Identity in Asian Contexts Amy B.M. Tsui, James W. Tollefson, 2017-09-25 Bringing together scholarship on issues relating to language, culture, and identity, with a special focus on Asian countries, this volume makes an important contribution in terms of analyzing and demonstrating how language is closely linked with crucial social, political, and economic forces, particularly the tensions between the demands of globalization and local identity. A particular feature is the inclusion of countries that have been under-represented in the research literature, such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Korea. The book is organized in three sections: Globalization and its Impact on Language Policies, Culture, and Identity Language Policy and the Social (Re)construction of National Cultural Identity Language Policy and Language Politics: The Role of English. Unique in its attention to how the domination of English is being addressed in relation to cultural values and identity by non-English speaking countries in a range of sociopolitical contexts, this volume will help readers to understand the impact of globalization on non-English speaking countries, particularly developing countries, which differ significantly from contexts in the West in their cultural orientations and the way identities are being constructed. Language Policy, Culture, and Identity in Asian Contexts will interest scholars and research students in the areas of language policy, education, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and critical linguistics. It can be adopted in graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on language policy, language in society, and language education. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Education in Languages of Lesser Power Craig Alan Volker, Fred E. Anderson, 2015-02-15 The cultural diversity of the Asia-Pacific region is reflected in a multitude of linguistic ecologies of languages of lesser power, i.e., of indigenous and immigrant languages whose speakers lack collective linguistic power, especially in education. This volume looks at a representative sampling of such communities. Some receive strong government support, while others receive none. For some indigenous languages, the same government schools that once tried to stamp out indigenous languages are now the vehicles of language revival. As the various chapters in this book show, some parents strongly support the use of languages other than the national language in education, while others are actively against it, and perhaps a majority have ambivalent feelings. The overall meta-theme that emerges from the collection is the need to view the teaching and learning of these languages in relation to the different needs of the speakers within a sociolinguistics of mobility. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Jewish and Non-Jewish Creators of "Jewish" Languages Paul Wexler, 2006 The present volume brings together 34 articles that were published between 1964 and 2003 on Judaized forms of Arabic, Chinese, German, Greek, Persian, Portuguese, Slavic (including Modern Hebrew and Yiddish, two Slavic languages relexified to Hebrew and German, respectively), Spanish and Semitic Hebrew (including Ladino - the Ibero-Romance relexification of Biblical Hebrew) and Karaite. The motivations for reissuing these articles are the convenience of having thematically similar topics appear together in the same venue and the need to update the interpretations, many of which have radically changed over the years. As explained in a lengthy new preface and in notes added to the articles themselves, the impetus to create strikingly unique Jewish ethnolects comes not so much from the creativity of the Jews but rather from non- Jewish converts to Judaism, in search (often via relexification) of a unique linguistic analogue to their new ethnoreligious identity. The volume should be of interest to students of relexification, of the Judaization of non-Jewish languages, and of these specific languages. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The History of Singapore Jean Abshire, 2011-03-21 This book overviews Singapore's fascinating history from the precolonial era to the present, examining this wealthy island nation from economic, political, cultural, and social perspectives. Singapore is a dominant player in the global economy, serving both as an essential business hub for international finance and home to some of the world's most important ports. It is also one of the world's smallest and most resource-poor countries. This book offers an engaging examination of Singapore using a theme of globalization to explain how the country's worldwide interactions across centuries have resulted in an ethnically diverse society and allowed it to ascend to a position of being an economic powerhouse. Every significant historic event and era—from its status as a meeting point for traders in the 600s to its colonization by the British in 1819, and from Japanese occupation during World War II to the 2002 arrest of a group of Islamic terrorists—is covered. |
| languages spoken in singapore: World Yearbook of Education 2003 Jill Bourne, Euan Reid, 2003-12-16 The issues raised by the role of language in education are some of the most important and contentious faced by education systems across the globe. Language is embedded in the concepts of nationhood and identity, and is therefore directly linked to the very social and political fabric of a country. In a climate of increasing globalisation, development and mobility of populations, nations around the world are concerned with the tension between cultivating a sense of cultural and linguistic cohesion and making use of the linguistic diversity that exists in every country and region. This book examines the implications and impacts, the dilemmas and potential for language education in relation to education systems and wider society. Split into three key parts, it considers: *current issues in language education, including the role of language in maintaining power and inequalities, in encouraging participation and inclusion and in challenging the status quo; *different approaches to language education around the world; *the potential for language to provide opportunities for the disadvantaged, illustrated by case studies of three cities. This recent volume of the internationally respected World Yearbook of Education continues the tradition of offering a wide range of international perspectives from leading commentators on a universal concern. The material amassed here will be essential reading for teacher educators, education researchers and school leaders across the world. |
| languages spoken in singapore: The Handbook of Asian Englishes Kingsley Bolton, Werner Botha, Andy Kirkpatrick, 2020-09-09 Winner of the 2021 PROSE Humanities Category for Language & Linguistics The first volume of its kind, focusing on the sociolinguistic and socio-political issues surrounding Asian Englishes The Handbook of Asian Englishes provides wide-ranging coverage of the historical and cultural context, contemporary dynamics, and linguistic features of English in use throughout the Asian region. This first-of-its-kind volume offers a wide-ranging exploration of the English language throughout nations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Contributions by a team of internationally-recognized linguists and scholars of Asian Englishes and Asian languages survey existing works and review new and emerging areas of research in the field. Edited by internationally renowned scholars in the field and structured in four parts, this Handbook explores the status and functions of English in the educational institutions, legal systems, media, popular cultures, and religions of diverse Asian societies. In addition to examining nation-specific topics, this comprehensive volume presents articles exploring pan-Asian issues such as English in Asian schools and universities, English and language policies in the Asian region, and the statistics of English across Asia. Up-to-date research addresses the impact of English as an Asian lingua franca, globalization and Asian Englishes, the dynamics of multilingualism, and more. Examines linguistic history, contemporary linguistic issues, and English in the Outer and Expanding Circles of Asia Focuses on the rapidly-growing complexities of English throughout Asia Includes reviews of the new frontiers of research in Asian Englishes, including the impact of globalization and popular culture Presents an innovative survey of Asian Englishes in one comprehensive volume Serving as an important contribution to fields such as contact linguistics, World Englishes, sociolinguistics, and Asian language studies, The Handbook of Asian Englishes is an invaluable reference resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and instructors across these areas. Winner of the 2021 PROSE Humanities Category for Language & Linguistics |
| languages spoken in singapore: Language Policy, Ideology and Educational Practices in a Globalised World Delombera Negga, Monika Szirmai, Daniel Chan, 2017 The challenges posed by globalization for languages, policies and education form the basis of this collection of selected doubly-blind peer-reviewed articles, which have been put together following the 2014 PLIDAM conference on “Policies and Ideologies in Language Teaching: Actors and discourses”. The chapters collected in this volume revolve around the topic of globalization, which we understand to be a blend of ideas covered by at least four meanings: (1) internationalization, in reference to the growing interdependence and transactions between countries; (2) liberalization, which has to do with the forming of an ‘open’ and ‘borderless’ world economy; (3) universalization of certain phenomena around the world; and (4) westernization, with an emphasis on the influence of Western values (gender equality, freedom of speech and other ideas inspired by the West) over the rest of the world. The four broad themes that the chapters are organised into are (I) Policies in Language Teaching and Learning; (II) Language Policy, Ideology and Minority Languages; (III) Language Teaching and Learning across Cultures; (IV) Language Teaching and Learning with Technology. Contributing to the knowledge, discussion and debate about the impact that globalization has had on languages, policies and education in a wide variety of contexts, we hope that this book will be useful and informative to language researchers, policy makers and anyone with an interest in the intersecting field between languages, policies and education. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Handbook of Early Language Education Mila Schwartz, 2022-03-31 This is the first international and interdisciplinary handbook to offer a comprehensive and an in-depth overview of findings from contemporary research, theory, and practice in early childhood language education in various parts of the world and with different populations. The contributions by leading scholars and practitioners are structured to give a survey of the topic, highlight its importance, and provide a critical stance. The book covers preschool ages, and looks at children belonging to diverse ethno-linguistic groups and experiencing different histories and pathways of their socio-linguistic and socio-cultural development and early education. The languages under the scope of this handbook are identified by the contributors as immigrant languages, indigenous, endangered, heritage, regional, minority, majority, and marginalized, as well as foreign and second languages, all of which are discussed in relation to early language education as the key concept of the handbook. In this volume, “early language education” will refer to any kind of setting, both formal and informal (e.g. nursery, kindergarten, early childhood education centers, complementary early schooling etc.) in which language learning within a context of children's sociolinguistic diversity takes place before elementary school. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Simplicity and Typological Effects in the Emergence of New Englishes Thomas Brunner, 2017-07-24 The book is based on a detailed corpus-based investigation of the structure of noun phrases (NPs) in Singaporean English and Kenyan English with the aim of detecting, on the one hand, typological effects from substrate languages and, on the other hand, simplification patterns known to play a role in such varieties. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics (GURT) 1999: Language in Our Time James E. Alatis, Ai-Hui Tan, 2001-09-07 Marking the return — after a two-year hiatus — of this annual collection of essays on linguistics and language education, the 1999 volume speaks to the most pressing social issues of our time. More than thirty contributors from around the world take up longstanding debates about language diversity, language standardization, and language policy. They tackle such controversial issues as the Official English movement, bilingual education, and ideological struggles over African American Vernacular English. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics , 2005-11-24 The first edition of ELL (1993, Ron Asher, Editor) was hailed as the field's standard reference work for a generation. Now the all-new second edition matches ELL's comprehensiveness and high quality, expanded for a new generation, while being the first encyclopedia to really exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics. * The most authoritative, up-to-date, comprehensive, and international reference source in its field * An entirely new work, with new editors, new authors, new topics and newly commissioned articles with a handful of classic articles * The first Encyclopedia to exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics through the online edition * Ground-breaking and International in scope and approach * Alphabetically arranged with extensive cross-referencing * Available in print and online, priced separately. The online version will include updates as subjects develop ELL2 includes: * c. 7,500,000 words * c. 11,000 pages * c. 3,000 articles * c. 1,500 figures: 130 halftones and 150 colour * Supplementary audio, video and text files online * c. 3,500 glossary definitions * c. 39,000 references * Extensive list of commonly used abbreviations * List of languages of the world (including information on no. of speakers, language family, etc.) * Approximately 700 biographical entries (now includes contemporary linguists) * 200 language maps in print and online Also available online via ScienceDirect – featuring extensive browsing, searching, and internal cross-referencing between articles in the work, plus dynamic linking to journal articles and abstract databases, making navigation flexible and easy. For more information, pricing options and availability visit www.info.sciencedirect.com. The first Encyclopedia to exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics Ground-breaking in scope - wider than any predecessor An invaluable resource for researchers, academics, students and professionals in the fields of: linguistics, anthropology, education, psychology, language acquisition, language pathology, cognitive science, sociology, the law, the media, medicine & computer science. The most authoritative, up-to-date, comprehensive, and international reference source in its field |
| languages spoken in singapore: A Study of Attitudes of Dialect Speakers Towards the Speak Mandarin Campaign in Singapore Patrick Chin Leong Ng, 2017-01-19 This book makes an original contribution to the fields of sociolinguistics, language planning policy and Chinese language studies. It examines the effectiveness of the Singapore’s Speak Mandarin Campaign in changing the language use of dialect speakers towards Mandarin.Singapore may be only “a small red dot” and barely visible on the world’s map. However, its complex and dynamic linguistic diversity and its quadrilingual educational system make it a unique and fascinating research site for examining deliberate language planning on the part of governmental authorities. 2017 marks the 38th anniversary of the Speak Mandarin Campaign, a focused language-planning policy aimed at changing the deeply entrenched sociolinguistic habits of Chinese Singaporeans who are used to speaking Chinese dialects. This book provides a revealing update on dialect speakers’ attitudes towards the campaign by including discussions and other related issues such as the recent call for the revitalisation of Chinese dialects by younger dialect speakers, Chinese students’ attitude towards learning Mandarin in schools, the encroachment of English in the home environment, the spread and dominance of English in the local linguistic landscape, and the challenges of maintaining Mandarin as a language of use and preference. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Research Mosaics of Language Studies in Asia Differences and Diversity (Penerbit USM) Salasiah Che Lah, Rita Abdul Rahman Ramakrishna, This book gives readers a present and critical view of different language and linguistic issues in selected Asian contexts. The language aspect of the manuscript explores various areas of English language learning and teaching while the linguistic aspect looks at different fields such as sociolinguistics, semantics, stylistics, corpus-based studies, translation studies and cultural studies. These aspects also provide distinct tangents in researching language for they offer significant points of view and outcomes in understanding the influence and/or the function of cultures when dealing with either spoken or written discourses involving native or non-native speakers. Such dynamics are instrumental in bringing about wider range of topics pertinent to the transdisciplinary nature of the current research theme in this part of the world. Substantially, the major sub-disciplines included in the manuscript frame both theoretical and hands-on implications for more rigourous innovations and expansions in the respective area of investigation. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Topicalization in Asian Englishes Sven Leuckert, 2019-01-10 Shortlisted for the 2020 ESSE Book Award in English Language and Linguistics This monograph is the first comprehensive study of topicalization in Asian second-language varieties of English and provides an in-depth analysis of the forms, functions, and frequencies of topicalization in four Asian Englishes. Topicalization, that is, the sentence-initial placement of constituents other than the subject, has been found to occur frequently in the English spoken by many Asians, but so far the possible reasons for this have never been scrutinized. This book closes this research gap by taking into account the structures of the major contact languages, the roles of second-language acquisition and politeness as well as other factors in order to explain why topicalization is highly frequent in some varieties such as Indian English and much less frequent in other varieties such as Hong Kong English. In addition to exploring major and minor forces involved in explaining the frequency of topicalization, the forms and functions of the feature are assessed. Central questions addressed in this regard are the following: Which syntactic constituents tend to be topicalized the most and the least frequently? Which discourse effects does topicalization achieve? How can we approach topicalization methodologically? And, lastly, which influence do language processing and production have on topicalization? |
| languages spoken in singapore: Crosslinguistic Influence in Singapore English Ming Chew Teo, 2020-01-06 In a social setting where speakers with several languages interact extensively, a major source of variation in Colloquial Singapore English comes from the complex interaction between crosslinguistic influences and various social and linguistic factors. By unifying both social and linguistic aspects of the phenomenon through the use of multivariate analyses like logistic regressions and Poisson regressions, this book represents a novel approach to the study of crosslinguistic influence in Colloquial Singapore English. As multivariate analyses provide us with information regarding the relative strengths of each social and linguistic factor, they are useful tools that allow us to have a more nuanced understanding of crosslinguistic influence in contact situations. Linguistic features from a variety of linguistic domains – morphology, semantics, and discourse – will be quantified, and statistical analyses will be run in R to determine the degree to which various social and linguistic factors affect the extent of crosslinguistic influence. Well-known Singlish features like the optionality of past tense and plural marking, the unique meanings of already, got, and one, and discourse particles lah, leh, and lor, are analyzed using this approach. The statistical modeling of these features is a first step towards creating a unified framework to understanding crosslinguistic influence. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Cultural Sport Psychology Robert J. Schinke, Stephanie J. Hanrahan, 2009 Cultural Sport Psychology is the first full text to offer a complete and authoritative look at this developing field by a diverse group of established and aspiring contributors. As clinicians develop their practice to include more diverse athletes and sport psychologists expand to work in multicultural settings, this text will undeniably spark increased discussion, reflection, and research of cultural considerations in sport psychology practice.--BOOK JACKET. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Sign Language Research Sixty Years Later: Current and Future Perspectives Valentina Cuccio, Erin Wilkinson, Brigitte Garcia, Adam Schembri, Erin Moriarty, Sabina Fontana, 2022-11-14 |
| languages spoken in singapore: Noun Phrase Structure in the Languages of Europe Frans Plank, 2008-08-22 The result of over five years of close collaboration among an international group of leading typologists within the EUROTYP program, this volume is about the morphology and syntax of the noun phrase. Particular attention is being paid to nominal inflectional categories and inflectional systems and to the syntax of determination, modification, and conjunction. Its areal focus, like that of other EUROTYP volumes, is on the languages of Europe; but in order to appreciate what is peculiarly European about their noun phrases, a more comprehensive and genuinely typological view is being taken at the full range of cross-linguistic variation within this structural domain. There has been no shortage lately of contributions to the theory of noun phrase structure; the present volume is, however, unique in the extent to which its theorizing is empirically grounded. |
| languages spoken in singapore: Reading the Malay World Rick Hosking, 2010 This collection of essays is the culmination of a symposium on the representation of Malays and Malay culture in Singaporean and Malaysian literature in English held in Universiti Putra Malaysia. |
