'OUR ENGLISH NO STANDARD LAH' : THE POLITICS OF SINGLISH AND IDENTITY IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This paper seeks to delve into the debate on Singlish in Singapore - it my contention that the current debate is emblematic of deeper issues of identity that have arisen in contemporary Singapore. I base my understanding of identity on Manuel Castells' work on the 'Information Age’, where he conceives of three forms of identity; legitimizing, resistance and project identities - my task will be to understand how, through Singlish, identities in Singapore have been articulated vis-a-vis Castells’ typology. Adopting the ideas of Foucault and the extension of his ideas by Stuart Hall on identity in my analysis, I approach the study of 'identity' through discursive practices. My understanding will be that the different identities, legitimizing, resistance and project may be conceived of as being articulated in discourse; I will therefore survey the discursive formation of Singlish and the various subject positions from which Singaporeans perform discursive practices in relation to Singlish - this will be done primarily through engaging in the works produced by, as well as the data gathered from interviews with, cultural producers. As I conduct the above analysis, I also consider the issue of Singlish in Singapore in the context of the developments of the end of the last millennium; globalization and the information technology revolution, which have opened up new discursive space for more subjects to take up alternative positions than those available to them through the dominant discourse.