6. Governing English in Singapore
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Lionel Wee
Abstract
A critical assessment of Singapore’s language policy, focusing specifically on issues and challenges that arise from the government’s positioning of the English language, shows how the policy needs to be understood in relation to the government’s attempt to maintain harmony in an ethnolinguistically diverse society while ensuring that the society as a whole is economically competitive in a globalizing world. A number of particular challenges for the language policy are discussed as regards the management of English. The paper ends with some observations about how this policy might ultimately have to be modified in order to address these challenges. In particular, it suggests that there is a need for greater autonomy in language policy, in order to accommodate the increasingly diverse identities and experiences of Singaporeans.
Abstract
A critical assessment of Singapore’s language policy, focusing specifically on issues and challenges that arise from the government’s positioning of the English language, shows how the policy needs to be understood in relation to the government’s attempt to maintain harmony in an ethnolinguistically diverse society while ensuring that the society as a whole is economically competitive in a globalizing world. A number of particular challenges for the language policy are discussed as regards the management of English. The paper ends with some observations about how this policy might ultimately have to be modified in order to address these challenges. In particular, it suggests that there is a need for greater autonomy in language policy, in order to accommodate the increasingly diverse identities and experiences of Singaporeans.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- 1. Language policies, language ideologies and local language practices 1
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Part I. South Asia
- 2. The politics of Hinglish 21
- 3. Globalization and multilingualism 37
- 4. Kaduva of privileged power, instrument of rural empowerment? 61
- 5. The interface of language, literature and politics in Sri Lanka 81
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Part II. Southeast Asia
- 6. Governing English in Singapore 105
- 7. Uncertain locale 125
- 8. The encroachment of English in Malaysian cultural expression 145
- 9. “They think speaking in English isn’t good, you know” 167
- 10. The grip of English and Philippine language policy 187
- 11. Nimble tongues 205
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Part III. Asia Pacific
- 12. English vs. English conversation 227
- 13. Language policy and practice in English loanwords in Japanese 249
- 14. English speakers in Korea 269
- 15. English, class and neoliberalism in South Korea 287
- 16. Conclusion 303
- Contributors 317
- Index 321
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- 1. Language policies, language ideologies and local language practices 1
-
Part I. South Asia
- 2. The politics of Hinglish 21
- 3. Globalization and multilingualism 37
- 4. Kaduva of privileged power, instrument of rural empowerment? 61
- 5. The interface of language, literature and politics in Sri Lanka 81
-
Part II. Southeast Asia
- 6. Governing English in Singapore 105
- 7. Uncertain locale 125
- 8. The encroachment of English in Malaysian cultural expression 145
- 9. “They think speaking in English isn’t good, you know” 167
- 10. The grip of English and Philippine language policy 187
- 11. Nimble tongues 205
-
Part III. Asia Pacific
- 12. English vs. English conversation 227
- 13. Language policy and practice in English loanwords in Japanese 249
- 14. English speakers in Korea 269
- 15. English, class and neoliberalism in South Korea 287
- 16. Conclusion 303
- Contributors 317
- Index 321
