Originally posted by ruuix:
[b]Singlish or
English?
In my own opinion, what matters most is our ability to code-switch.
For all of you out there who don't know what is
'code-switching',
Code-switching is a term in linguistics referring to alternation
between two or more languages, dialects, or language registers in
the course of discourse between people who have more than one
language in common. Sometimes the switch lasts only for a few
sentences, or even for a single phrase.
-- wikipedia.com
To me, speaking Singlish is just code-switching. Throw in some
malay, chinese, hokkien or even some alien language and
viola!
By speaking Singlish, it doesn't mean that we are not proficient in
English. The most important thing is to know when to code-switch,
and when to not. If we are speaking to our own group of friend, i
don't see why we can't throw in a few 'lor's or 'la's in our
conversation. If our intended meaning is not distorted by our
frequent lors and las, i think it is perfectly okay to speak in
Singlish.
Just do not make a fool out of yourself by speaking in such
proficient Singlish such that other people, such as foreigners, do
not even understand what we are trying to say. I believe this is
what the Speak Good English Movement is all about. To speak good
English is not about using bombastic vocabulary, but simply being
grammatically correct and not using our Singapore speak that
often.[/b]
While intended meaning definitely won't change with lors and
lahs, it's irritating to foreigners. The more lors and lahs in a
sentence, the more confuse they will get.