The year is 1974. A song was banned by Radio Television Singapore – the state broadcaster at the time. The reason? Improper use of English.
Over the next few years, educational reforms swept through our young nation to fix what then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew called “distortions in Singapore English”. But a spontaneous series of events would stir the imaginations of Singaporeans and push Singlish into once forbidden waters.
Musician and host Shabir Tabare Alam discovers how our common tongue came to be and traces its journey from nationhood to the cusp of the new millennium.
Credit: Song at 24:27 performed by @The Gohmedian
WATCH MORE Singlish: Why We Talk Like That?
Part 2: https://youtu.be/oeU8-_49JiM
Web extra: The Wah Lau Gang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSLEkP3tUbk
0:00 Singlish: An introduction
2:58 How well do you know Singlish?
5:45 What is ‘lah’?
10:12 Origins of Singlish
14:17 Banning of a Singlish song, Fried Rice Paradise
17:40 Why the rejection of Singlish?
21:36 Why I chose to document Singlish
24:30 How the army became Singlish incubator
28:56 Singlish phrases explained, with Annette Lee
31:35 ‘Why U So Like Dat’ by Siva Choy
34:44 When Singlish was finally acknowledged
38:24 Singlish quiz with Gwee Li Sui
41:12 How Singlish connects us
43:13 Are we more giving to Singlish speakers?
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About the show: Award-winning singer-songwriter Shabir traces the genesis of Singlish and its journey from pariah to cultural phenomenon.
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To speak proper English, Singapore must de-sinicize. Chinese culture is cancer culture.
As I know, Singlish came about when Pea Air Pea came to power. There was a major import of Federation misfits. Federation people put on pajamas then go to school to teach. You can see them in the western part of Sinkapoh.
Until today, these English language teachers from the federation still use the Hokkien word Sinkapoh to refer to Singapore. Its origins, well let's say its, the credit came from the Federation people and Pea Air Pea.
24:16 who dis, a bit yandao
Even Jamaican like bob Marley has their own version.We are not English. English is a colonial language.Singlish became our indentity where everybody understand each other regardless of status and age.Hope we all continue to communicate in singlish socially.
Sounds like English street slang, like little teens on the streets of UK making up things to sound cool
Boss asked me: have you finished the report? Replied: ya doned, have you had your lunch? Replied: ya makened, end of the day: end liao, hui jia liao 🤣🤣 my own singlish, my boss my colleague knew what I said they’re local 🤣🤣
English evolved and blended with every other language since its like the universal language so its not surprising theres a variety of how it is used by countries. In Philippines theres Tag-Lish, In US theres English US and a lot so no wonder SingLish is unique on its own.
Singlish is fun.I can speak proper English too.
Ti's calls for Manglish version
Wah lao! Title wrong oredi lah. Should be 'Why we tok laiddat?' #SMH
Singlish is another language, not English! Malaysian Mandarin is also another language, not Chinese/Taiwanese Mandarin! It’s absolutely okay 👌 to be another language! 👍 Similar but also different! 🇸🇬🇲🇾🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇳🇹🇼🥰🥰🥰
shabir is a horrible person to host this. he has zero talent! gah.
Very interesting documentary yet again!!! Great job!!!
I personally prefer proper English because I am a foreigner already speaking English with an accent. If I don’t understand when I am talking to a local person I just ask them again to repeat what they said.
wah lau spent so much time watching this lei! but not bad hor can manage to finish lah
Don’t play play lah ! Alamak !
Singlish is very much like the Blacks speak in USA. Always be proud of your pidgin language. 👍
It's not Singapore specific. Travel to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar. Their English sounds comparable to Singlish, sans a bit vocab here and there. Even Chinese peranakan in Indonesia who had never been to Singapore speak Singlish-like English. The lah, meh suffixes are all from Chinese Hokkien.
COME TO PARTY LAH I thought it means PLEASE COME TO PARTY WITH US.
My all time fave is the origin of gostan: go astern. lol It's not even a phrase that the British use anymore yet it's mangled form is everyday Singlish in Singapore
Indonesian also speak "LAH" in their daily conversation, to emphasize the wordings~ but it spoken very subtle unlike Singaporean who makes it very stand out n fun to hear
Your Saturday is longer than Sunday – always tickles me. It means the petticoat is peeping out of the dress.
Wah piah!. Finally go international lah.😅🤣
What is Singlish? Singlish is simply "rojak".
5:38 it's kind of funny how just a normal way of speaking here has garnered attention from ACADEMIA. there are research papers about singlish. i don't know why this is so hilarious to me
To think the garment tried so hard to kill Singlish, the truly local product of Singapore 🇸🇬. Just like Singaporeans 🇸🇬, Singlish is fast and effective !
30:53 amazing. this managed to be aired on national television LOL
We have more "lah" here
Anyone use this Singlish ,”Hope” as in catching it? For example….” I throw u the ball,u “hope” ok”
🥱
Thank you very much CNA for having this program of how our every Singlish came about. It was very interesting to know so much about the origin of it.
I find our Singlish very very unique and as we have conversation with friends, it sound very friendly too.
I have a foreign friend once asked how to speak in Singlish😀 she liked it very much.
I told my friend, if you stay here long, you will naturally pick up😊 Singlish
We greet like this 'Ho say bo?'
Lah basically softens all the sentences/questions. Come to the party lah sounds better than come to the party.
on a side note students, couples the youngs consistently slips into american dialect so fluent as if speaking in mother tounge is shameful.