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Say what? English can, Singlish also can
Singapore’s fascinating version of the King’s English should be cherished and nurtured
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Far from a corruption, Singlish is an adaptation that stamps ownership on something alien.
PHOTO: SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH MOVEMENT
Paddy Rangappa
In a Cold Storage supermarket recently, I was greeted by an energetic song in Gurmit Singh’s dulcet voice urging me to join the Yuu reward programme. While I did not sign up on the spot, his enthusiastic advocacy in English mingled with a generous dose of Singlish made me smile.
It also took me back in time to my first encounter with the language 22 years ago, a disquieting one that hadn’t made me smile.
