SINGLISH AS CULTURE

Abstract

This thesis explores the bilateral tension between the forms and use of Singlish in popular media, and the opposition it often encounters from the public. The ensuing dynamics constitute a self-reflexive cultural feedback for the Singlish community. In general, Singaporeans accept that the local community of Singlish speakers have developed their own significant modes of expression. Yet this code is often denied formal acceptance because there is a lack of agreement and confidence in its legitimacy as a public code. Chapter 1 provides a preliminary outline of the Singlish phenomenon, and a set of distinctive features with which to contrast linguistically with Standard English. Chapter 2 examines some recent press articles which explicate typical responses to the use of Singlish in popular media. It is observed that often, the negative responses to the use of Singlish are in fact targeted at certain distasteful but essentially non-linguistic aspects of the respective subject matter. Chapter 3 closely analyses a local play, Still Building, to discuss how paradigms for interpreting Singlish and Standard English are necessarily different. Unfortunately, due to the socially enforced prestige status of Standard English, Singlish speakers can be denied this recognition. Finally, Chapter 4 presents a conclusion and a suggestion of possible research areas in the future.