EXAMINING SINGAPORE’S TRANSITION FROM TRADITIONAL CHINESE TO SIMPLIFIED CHINESE

Abstract

Singapore’s transition from fanti to jianti in 1969 presents a neglected but interesting angle to examine the development of Chinese language in the nation. As a Mother Tongue under the bilingual policy, the traditional values which the language embodies are crucial in providing cultural grounding for Chinese Singaporeans. However, while simplification of the written script provides greater efficiency, it also suggests a potential loss of tradition as a result of the transition. This creates tension between the pursuit for development and the preservation of cultural heritage. In examining the transition, this thesis aims look at this relationship by first addressing the reasons and responses to the implementation of jianti and thereafter, providing insights on the development of Chinese language in Singapore. At a state level, the switch was mainly driven by practical concerns to support the bilingual policy as the simplified script would provide greater ease for students learning Chinese as a second language. It was also part of a larger developmental trend among Sinophone countries to adopt the new script. Seeing it as a form of progress, the government was motivated to make the switch on practical grounds. The public was in fact largely supportive of this as well. While there was resistance opposing from a cultural standpoint, this was largely overshadowed by other pragmatic considerations that were displayed among the citizens. The study of the shift in scripts ultimately reveals that spoken and written Chinese have gone in very different directions in their developments. Even though spoken Chinese remains an integral part of the Chinese identity, the cultural value of written Chinese is constantly weakened by pragmatic concerns as a result of the bilingual policy.