I am an English speaking Chinese Singaporean. I have been
reading this forum and talking to many Singaporeans (duh) and I
just can't understand why some Singaporeans of Chinese ancestry say
things such as "if you can't speak Chinese, you have lost
your roots", "English is not our language" etc.
Let me make some points clear.
1. I am Singaporean, not Chinese. I have never been to
China. My culture is Singaporean not Chinese. Anyone who has
been to China will know Singapore culture and Chinese culture are
like night and day, totally different. Our laws, medical system,
social conventions, dressing, thinking, schools, transport,
everything are TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
2. I, like all Singaporeans, grew up in school with English as
our first language. I only use English at work and at home, since
Singapore is runs on English. Our laws, newspapers and everything
else are all in English.
I don't understand why under such an environment, some people
still reject the use of English and speak Mandarin.
3. English IS Singapore's language. Some Singaporeans reject
English as a "foreign language", the language of the British and
Americans etc and say that as "Chinese" we should speak Mandarin,
our ancestral language, our "roots". This is just a very bigoted
view which is based on ignorance.
If we subscribe to this "foreign language" argument, every
English speaking country in the world except English would be
speaking a "foreign language" and have lost their
ancestral "roots"!
If we follow this argument, in Britain, the Welsh should speak
Welsh. Scottish should speak Scots, those at Cornwal should
speak Cornish. Those in Northern Ireland should speak
Irish.
Ireland should speak Gaelic or Irish, not English, a "foreign"
language from England.
Americans, who are mostly of Irish, Germans, Polish
descent would all be speaking a "foreign language". After all, they
should speak German, Polish or Irish language, not English!
And African Americans should be speaking Afrikaans?
English is no more a foreign language to Singaporeans than it is
to the Americans, Canadians and 80% of British people.
If Singaporean Chinese should speak Mandarin, then German
Americans should all speak German, Irish Americans, Irish, African
Americans, Afrikaans etc.. But they like Singaporeans, are not
German/Irish/African, the link has long been cut, they are
Americans, they speak American English.
4. I think Singaporeans should be clear that they are
Singaporeans not Chinese citizens. Just like African Americans are
Americans not Africans. German Americans are Americans
not Germans...so on and so forth.
I say we speak Standard Singapore English proudly with our
Singaporean accent. (Mild) Singlish is fun as well, no it is not
"bad English" because if you compare it with some British dialects
such as "Geordie" or "Scottish English" or even "Welsh English", it
is actually easier to understand.
If a foreigner does not understand my accent or comment that I
sound weird, I would tell him he is the one who sounds weird! This
is Singapore and this is our accents. If you can't speak with a
Singaporean accent, then of course we can't understand you well,
don't compain.
5. Mandarin is not even my ancestral language if you want to be
anal about it. Mandarin is the dialect of Beijing and my
forefathers were probably from Fujian, though I have some Malay
blood in me as well.
6. Mandarin is useful? If you are dealing with China, yes. But
lets not forget that 55 countries worldwide and almost all
supranational organs use English.
The biggest economy in the world, America, uses English.
Europeans all speak English as their second language these days.
Canadaians, Australians, etc. And without English, you cannot find
a good job in Singapore.
7. Lets not forget my "forefathers" and probably
yours ran away from China and took up Singapore citizenship
for a reason. He didn't want to be a Chinese citizen.
So don't tell me to speak Mandarin (a beijing dialect) in
Singapore (an English society).
If you can't speak English in Singapore, I suggest
you hang your head in shame, for you have truly "lost your
roots".
Cool story bro 
