Can you speak your national language?

What is the national language of Singapore?
Do you not all use English on a daily basis?
You mean there is a national language in Singapore?

The answer to the above questions is: Malay is the national language of Singapore, but English is generally the language of everyday business and communication.

Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multicultural nation. The first inhabitants of this island were Malays. All others were foreigners looking for work and finally became immigrants, then citizens. Malay is the national language in honour of those who lived here first.

Every morning of the school year, every school-going child will sing the National Anthem, Majulah Singapura, which is written in the national language. Ask the average school-going child whether he knows what he is singing, and the answer is most likely to be "no". The average non-Malay adult will give you the same answer. Many cannot even pronounce the words correctly, much less understand the meaning of the song.

It seems to me that in every country of the world, natural born citizens are conversant in their national language. Why is it different in Singapore? I have no answer. However, I am supportive of Prof Kishore Mahbubani's suggestion (article pictured above) that all Singaporeans be able to carry on a simple conversation in Malay. At the very least, know what we are singing every morning in school and on official occasions. I imagine Singaporeans would be embarrassed if they were ever asked what the National Anthem means.

Let us learn something new today. Learn how to pronounce the words of the National Anthem correctly. Learn the meaning of what we are singing. Be proud to be Singaporean!

I am!

35 years of Speak Mandarin Campaign

2014 marks 35 years of the Speak Mandarin Campaign in Singapore. Quite an achievement for a country that turns 49 years old in August 2014.

Singapore began life as a trading port made up of Malay natives (who spoke only Malay) and immigrants from many parts of Asia and Europe. The British came to lay claim and made it a colony for a number of years. Due to the multi-ethnic make-up of the population, people spoke their own language of home, plus a smattering of whatever other languages that their friends and neighbours spoke. Communication between races and ethnic groups was made up of a mixture of each one's different language. Did it matter that grammar rules were thrown out the window? Certainly not. Communication was effective and efficient. Everyone got along quite well with each other.

After China chose to unite the entire country and ethnic groups in one national language, Mandarin, Singapore chose to follow suit. Being that the older generation spoke either fluent English, or whatever Chinese dialect they grew up speaking, or both, the big push to get all Chinese Singaporeans speaking Mandarin was quite a task. Yet, look at us today!

Singaporean leaders have a working proficiency of Mandarin and a firm grasp of English. While we may not be able to conduct a government-level negotiation in Mandarin, we can converse socially in the language, thus warming us to the Chinese hosts.

Language is more than just a communication tool. Learning a language means learning about a culture and a people. Speaking the language of your host touches his heart and opens doors that you never thought possible.

Want to touch a heart? Go learn his language.

Here's to multi-lingualism!

English language - thank you, Britain!

As much as I enjoy learning languages and communicating with people all over the world, I have to say that this article makes a very important point: English is the universal language of communication.

Having worked with people from all over the world mostly in South-East Asia, I have found that the only way we can all communicate with each other is in English. I may speak one or more of the languages of the people I deal with, but they cannot communicate with the others in their language because the others do not speak it. English becomes the medium of effective communication among us.

Dealing with varying levels of proficiency in English has also forced me to write simply, so that the message comes across quickly and clearly. Two Malaysian friends found my writing to be hilarious because I had spelled out everything in minute detail, but after explaining that most of the readers have low levels of English and the fact that most of them do not know how to follow instructions, my "writing-for-small-children" style was imperative to the smooth running of the event.

Whether you like it or not, English is here to stay. Write simply.

An interesting point the article brought out was that anywhere that England conquered in the past and became a British colony, that place still uses English as the main language of business and everyday life. British colonialism has left an indelible mark on many parts of the world.

That set me thinking about Japan in history. The Japanese conquered and ruled much of Asia during World War II. While some of those 80 years and older may still speak some Japanese, this language is not prevalent outside of Japan. Colonialism may not always leave a positive legacy in the colonised nation. It all depends on what kind of positive influences the colonial masters left behind. At the end of the day, personal relationships and human kindness always prevail.

What kind of impact are you leaving on those around you? May it be positive!

Here's to leaving a lasting legacy where you are!

Don't use bombastic words

Do you use big words in your writing? There was a time in my childhood that "bombastic" was an often-quoted word to describe people who constantly used "big" words to impress others with their so-called command of the English language. Most of the time, the speaker of flowery language had only a vague idea of what he was saying. He had just learned a new word and wanted to show off to his friends how intelligent he was.

Was he really intelligent? Maybe. Unfortunately, the primary purpose of language is communication. Communication is only effective when the listener has fully understood what the speaker/writer is trying to say. Bombastic words fulfill no purpose except to show that the writer is good at his craft. What is he trying to say? I do not really know. Precisely the point of this article. Big words do not always convey the message. It is time to simplify.
A rule of thumb that I was taught in writing a brief message to another person is: write as though a third-grader is going to read your message. If he understands what you said, you have communicated well. Of course, that all depends on the content of your message. Not all communication is meant for third-graders. The point is we have to write simply. There is no place for showing off in daily communication. Be clear of what you want to say, and write it clearly.

The world will be a less confusing place if we all decided to simplify our writing styles.

Here's to clear and concise writing!