2I1+Patrick

Group Members: Patrick Lim (Group leader) Soh Zi Quan Shawn Chua Jarrett Toh Sit Han Yu

=Script (start editing the template) = Note: We are broadcast journalists making a radio documentary, which should capture __different__ viewpoints towards the __significance__, __function__ and __role__ of Singlish
 * OUR RADIO DOCUMENTARY** by (tentative group name)


 * __PLEASE LOOK HERE: all comments should be made in RED so as to distinguish them from the structure of the documentary. You can change the font colour by clicking on the 4th icon of the the editor (the one with a big T)__ **

Also include names to prevent everyone being named Insert Name Here.
 * Possible characters/stakeholders that will be interviewed (please edit this):**

1. Journalist
Role: The journalist will have the role of the narrator in the documentary, providing basic background information and introducing the listeners to the subject.

2. Head of the English department in NUS
Role: The head of the English department in NUS ("the Head" for short) will represent **[insert what he represents here] **

3. Author of “the Coxford guide to Singlish”
Role: not a supporter of Singlish but someone who has an intricate understanding of it (knows its history, grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc)

4. Student who uses Singlish
Role: Supporter of Singlish (believes it is part of Singaporean culture)

5. “Speak Good English Campaign” chairman/leaders
Role: Anti- singlish people. Mostly government officials

6. Tourist who cannot understand a single word of Singlish
Role: The tourist will provide some entertainment by presenting a less-than-serious viewpoint of the whole issue.


 * Structure (please state what you have edited at the end of the script):**

__Part 1 – Introduction__ - Journalist should preside over proceedings - May start with a Singlish conversation between 2 or more characters - Journalist could explain what Singlish is (colloquial English used in Singapore, brief info about the English debate in Singapore, etc)



__Part 2 – Characteristics of Singlish (note: this section should be short as it is not our main focus)__ - Some information about sentence structure and pronunciation - Influences from other languages (Malay, Chinese, Chinese dialects, etc) - Interview with the Head of the English department in NUS (major differences between Singlish and standard English, etc) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> OR interview with author of “the Coxford guide to Singlish” (also for the characteristics of Singlish and its major differences with Standard English) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Origin of Singlish (when it achieved widespread usage, how it developed) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Its usage in Singapore today (statistics on no. of users, etc)

__Part 3 – What the supporters of Singlish think__ -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Supporters believe it is a national symbol, part of what makes us Singaporean, holds Singaporeans together, etc -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Singlish is just like any other form of colloquial English in other parts of the world (e.g. cockney English, “nigger-talk”, Chinglish & Manglish) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Evidence to support both statements (may include an interview with students, workers, professors who are pro-Singlish or simply accept it)

__Part 4 – What those against Singlish think__ -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Those against Singlish believe it hinders Singapore’s growth (foreigners find it hard to understand, etc) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Singlish showcases to the world the negative qualties of Singaporeans and Singaporean society (Certain words in Singlish show that we are kiasu, kiasee, lazy, etc) -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Evidence to support these statements (anti – Singlish people à “Speak Good English Campaign” leaders -<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Anecdote from a tourist who came to Singapore and could not understand a word of Singlish

__Part 5 – Conclusion__ Conclude here what we are trying to say

Enrich text in green with Singlish expletives, slang, etc.
 * THE SCRIPT **

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,5);">Should a commercial break be inserted to allow a rest period? The Journalist may be overworked. <span style="color: rgb(68,68,68);">Journalist: Welcome listeners to OUR RADIO DOCUMENTARY. I am your host. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist: Long has there been a debate on the declining popularity of speaking Standard English in Singapore. This can be seen through the need for the recently implemented speak good English movement. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist: Under heavy influences by other languages such as Chinese and Malay, English has evolved into the much spoken Singlish in Singapore’s society today. Like Standard English, there are also variations when speaking Singlish as the different ethnic groups that have influenced Singlish have distinct accents. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist: The pro Singlish argue that Singlish is the cultural heritage of Singapore’s multi racial society and is the common language for all Singaporeans to understand one another. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist: On the other hand, others that support the Speak Good English Movement feel that with the spreading globalisation, there is a greater need for Singaporeans to speak Standard English so that they will not face difficulties communicating with foreigners. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist: Today’s documentary aims at discussing the debate about the use of Singlish in Singapore. <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);"> Journalist<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(68,68,68);">: Let us first listen to a short conversation to better understand the language. <span style="color: rgb(255,12,0);">**//Mr Tan: Chinese Person, Whole Background In Chinese. Picked Up English/Singlish From Society, has No Choice But To Speak It//** Journalist: Good afternoon, Mr. Tan. Thanks for volunteering to take out some time to join us today to share more about your thoughts for Singlish. Firstly, let me ask you how well-versed are you in Singlish? Mr Tan: Ah? Journalist: How good is your Singlish? Mr Tan: I usually speaks in Singlish. But my English cannot speak very well. From young, I have studied in a pure Chinese school where all subjects are taught in Chinese, My first language is Chinese. But now, I want to talk to other people, so I just learn from other in the society. Journalist: Well, can you share why you think that Singlish should not be abolished? Mr Tan: What abolish? Singlish is what we speak.<span style="background: rgb(255,255,255); -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> It's very hard to abolish from what I see in society now. Journalist: Alright, so you justify Singlish by saying that it is a common dialect used by most Singaporeans in today’s society to help improve communications. However, some people say that Singlish should be abolished because it lessens our ability to communicate with the rest of the world and destroys English-speaking capability. Mr Tan: Maybe yes, since Singapore wants to be more "western-like". <span style="color: rgb(68,68,68); background-color: #ffffff;">Journalist: Well wasn’t that interesting? It is certainly an interesting perspective of how an ordinary Singaporean views Singlish. To people who support Singlish, Singlish is what makes a person Singaporean and how Singlish makes communications much easier. Now we shall examine the different points of view. I invite in a very special guest to provide a basic overview of Singlish. Professor ! Applause <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">The Professor Insert Name Here: Head of English department, expert about English use. Also provides more info on how Singlish is spoken. Journalist: Welcome professor, nice to meet you. Associate Professor is the Head of the English department in NUS. Journalist: So professor what do you have for us today? Prof: Basically I will provide the basic differences between Singlish and English. In addition, I would also like to share my personal experience. Prof: Singlish, unlike English, has no variation in tense and is in simple present tense throughout. There is no subject verb agreement and the subjects of the sentence are often missing. Prof: When speaking Singlish, plural nouns are replaced with singular. Singlish is syllable-timed giving it a very rhythmic and staccato feel. Singlish also has a tendency to start on low tone and gradually have a crescendo which ends on a high tone. Singlish also uses flat pitches across each syllable with abrupt pitch changes between syllables. Prof: In 1965, when decolonization occurred, a large number of the English returned to Britain. Those born during this period were increasingly exposed to non-native teachers. Due to budget constraints and the privatization of public schools in 1990, the standard of English language instruction fell, leading to confusion of grammar and vocabulary. In this unchecked environment, all the varieties of Singlish started to appear. Today the Singlish speaking population is at 3,227,000 native speakers and over one million as a second language Journalist: Thank you for that enriching lecture professor. Having taken into account your expertise in this subject, so on which side do you stand for in this debate of “Singlish should be abolished”? Prof: I strongly object to the use of this Language. With English as an international language that has helped spur globalisation, Singlish will become a deadweight that must be dropped if we are to make further progress and succeed.

Journalist: Without doubt, Singlish has its fair share of supporters, most of whom, are of course, Singaporean. These people believe that Singlish is a national symbol and is part and parcel of being Singaporean, as does Chua Si Rui, a 15-year old student from Singapore Chinese Girls’ School. Si Rui (SCGS) student: I tink dat Singlish is like… like – like just about the only ting that holds Singaporeans together. Like we don’t have anyting else in common, right? Journalist: Indeed, there is some truth in this statement. Singaporeans are mostly made up of 3rd or 4th generation immigrants from such faraway countries such as India, China and Europe, which each has its own unique cultures. Singlish combines all these cultures to form a unique though messy hodgepodge of languages. Si Rui (SCGS student): When I speak to my Malay friends, both of us feel much more comfortable when speaking in Singlish, instead of like our native languages. Even if we spoke a common language like English, both of us would feel like foreigners. We would find it difficult to communicate. Its very-very weird to speak in English cos it feels unnatural. But Singlish, on the other hand, just rolls off my tongue and my fren feels comfortable too. Journalist: Si Rui also believes that Singlish does not only hold Singaporeans together, but is also a national symbol. Si Rui (SCGS student): If you think about it, national symbols like the Merlion, the Esplanade of the Orchid aren't really rare and exclusive to Singapore, and dont adequately showcase Singapore culture. So what is the most accurate depiction of the SIngapore lifestyle and attitude? Singlish.

Journalist: Then there are those who do not necessarily support the use of Singlish, but do not see any wrong in it, like this 35 year-old teacher from Chestnut Drive Secondary School. Teacher: Ummm… I do not exactly promote the use of Singlish, but I certainly feel that it’s totally fine for people to use it, because… … Isn’t singlish just like any other form of slang? If we can accept Cockney English, Chinglish, Manglish, then why can’t we accept Singlish? We don’t have to promote its use, just accept it. Journalist: So do you allow students to use SInglish in your class? Teacher: Of course not. Teachers are encouraged to be paragons of good, spoken English themselves but it is undeniable that many teachers and students alike still speak SInglish even when teaching students. Singaporeans, through living in Singapore, will inevitably pick up Singapore's most commonly used form of slang, Singlish. However, this is no excuse and i feel that students must be able to code switch between SInglish and standard English. Journalist: So, what do you mean by code switching? Teacher: Well, teachers and students and teachers alike nowadays claim that they are able to "code-switch", which means to use singlish in their leisure and free time, but switch to standard english when working, just like how one would switch from speaking to Chinese to speaking English after a Chinese lesson. Journalist: What are your views towards this ability? Teacher: I personally feel that there is no wrong in having to "code- switch", but a student should still have a good foundation of English. With a good foundation, a student would be able to rise the occassion and speak beautiful, fluent standard English when encountering situations that require him to do so, and not code switch to an embarrassing deviant of English and become a laughing stock. This will be exceedingly important in the corporate will, as one surely cannot use such an informal form of language such as Singlish when speaking to clients.

Journalist: Well after listening to quite a few people mentioning the Speak Good English Movement", we would certainly like to understand more about it and here we have Professor Koh Tai Ann, former Chairman of the Speak Good English Movement to share with us more about the movement. Prof Koh: We aim to encourage Singaporeans to be intelligible when speaking English so as to ensure that we can be understood not just locally, but internationally. Too often, we think that we are speaking good English, just because we seem to be speaking fluently, as if it were our native language; but in fact it is actually Singlish we are speaking, and which is only completely intelligible amongst ourselves. Singlish departs from many of the baisc principles of Standard English, and creates ots won rules in grammer, spelling and pronounciation. It also has a multitude of unique vocabulary items boroowed from the Mother Tongue languages spoken in Singapore. Journaist: So what impacts do you think Singlish will have on Singapore? Prof Koh: We must understand that to be able to speak only SInglish limits our horizons, our potential and our opportunities. Singapore has been ranked the most globalised nation in the world. Since English clearly has the status of a global language, Singapore citizens who function in the global economy should be able to communicate in a manner that is universally understood by the many visitors to our island, by the non-Singaporeans who live and work in our midst, and by those we have dealings with, in the world beyond Singapore. If you are accustomed to using SInglish, you become unaccustomed to standard English. When conversing with your client or customer, you will be unable to communicate smoothly and make yourself understood. Hence, I want to emphasize the imporatance of speaking Standard English. Journalist: Thank you for your sharing your views. Do you have anything else to say to the listeners of this radio broadcast? Prof Koh: I hope that this Speak Good English Movement will help create a greater awareness among Singaporeans to speak good English. Thank you.

Journalist: The Speak Good English movement is indeed a great organisation to help Singaporeans. Let us now invite a spokesman from another organisation to help Singaporeans speak good Eenglish. What is so interesting is that this organisation is made up completely of volunteers, Let us find out why these volunteers are so passionate to help Singaporeans. Welcome **Ms Serene Wee,** the president of The Society for Reading and Literacy to share their passion with us. Ms Serene: The Society for Reading and Literacy is a dynamic organisation striving to make Singapore a nation of readers and writers. Our mission is to champion reading and literacy in Singapore and provide professional leadership by promoting cooperative work among educators and interested parties in the field of literacy. Our organisation is composed entirely of volunteers who are devoted to helping Singaporeans speak good English. We mainly help spread information and promote research in developmental, recreational, corrective and remedial reading; organises national conferences, co-sponsors reading-related activities with other organisations in Singapore such as the Speak Good English Movement. Journalist: So, Ms Serene, what are your personal views of Singlish? Do you have violent objections against it? Ms Serene: I wouldn't say i have violent objections against Singlish but I just feel that if majority of Singaporeans has the ability to speak Standard English, then Singapore is able to develop itself with far more ease.

<span style="color: rgb(255,98,0);"> Journalist: It seems that the problem lies in the interaction with foreigners. What are their views? Now we have, <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">[insert name], an English-speaking tourist here with us to voice his views about the use of Singlish. Journalist: What problems have you faced when speaking with Singaporeans? Foreigner: I have this problem of not being able to understand what Singaporeans are talking about. Singaporeans have the tendency of using words like "lah" and "leh" at the end of almost every sentence and also such words in the middle too. I don't really know what these words are. Sometimes I wonder if these words are words in other languages or if they are Singapore's version of English, since they also use English words which I can identify. Is Singlish a slang? Journalist: Those words do come from other languages and are words in Singaporean's version of English, called Singlish, so it's Singaporean slang. Now that you have known these words are part of Singlish, can you tell us what you think about the use of Singlish? Foreigner: I think that Singlish should not be used too often as Singaporeans who meet foreigners, like me, will use Singlish to converse with us. We foreigners cannot understand Singlish and therefore cannot commnicate with Singaporeans if they were to use Singlish. English is currently the international language, so I suggest that most Singaporeans use Standard English in their daily lives so that communicatons between SIngaporeans and foreigners will not be a problem to both parties. However, we foreigners also have our own slang in our own countries. I also use slang in part of our daily lives Journalist: Do you think people can incorporate both Singlish and standard English into their daily lives? Foreigner: I am unsure of it. In my opinion, people who use Singlish in their daily lives will tend to have Singlish words rolling out of their mouths. It's like brushing your teeth every day. If you practice brushing your teeth at least twice a day, you'll have the habit of doing it all the time. It's the same for Singlish. The more you use it, the more natural it will be, and eventually becomes a habit. If these people who use Singlish most of the time are told to use Standard English, they would probably struggle and feel unnatural when trying to speak Standard English. People who often use Standard English will be less likely to use Singlish. Journalist: Therefore, what's your stand on "Singlish should be abolished"? Foreigner: Hmmm... If Singaporeans are able to use Standard English when talking with foreigners naturally and fluently, then there is no need to abolish Singlish. However, it would be best to use Standard English. Even though it is better to use Standard English, I think that people should also try to understand slangs such as Singlish. We should try to understand how people in different countries use slang and therefore, understanding each other would also be easier in this way.

__**Conclusion**__ All right everyone, that's all the time we have today and im afraid the documentary has to end soon. In conclusion, there is no clear right and wrong in the English-Singlish debate currently taking place in Singapore. An answer has not been determined, and likely never will be, though feel free to take your own stand and viewpoints in this exciting debate. Perhaps a compromise or an agreement could be made between the two sides of the debate, possibly where Singlish should not be abolished in Singapore; rather the ability to code- switch should be emphasized on in school. This is <journalist's name> speaking for 93.2 LIVE, and remember to tune in tomorrow for another compelling documentary.