%0 Journal Article 
%A García Viera, Silvia
%T Language identity and multiculturalism: A case study on Singlish
%D 2017
%U http://hdl.handle.net/10498/20766
%X In multiracial and multilingual Singapore, a common language is required to make communication possible. Singlish arised as a result of language contact; consisting of elements from the mother tongues (Malay, Mandarin and Tamil) and English. Even though it is very natural for Singaporeans to switch between Singapore Standard English (SSE) and Singlish, there are both pro-Singlish and anti- Singlish proponents. This paper examined the ongoing debate from a sociolinguistic point of view, considering different approaches aiming to explain the relationship between the two varieties as well as the repercussion of the country’s language policies. Different surveys on language use and language attitudes were also analysed together with the role of the ‘Speak Good English Movement’ and the ‘Save Our Singlish Campaign’. The general findings are summarized and further evaluated in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis (known as SWOT analysis), which provides the possibility to anticipate the position of Singlish in the future. Despite the government’s perseverance on eradicating the colloquial variety, it continues to be used by a great number of Singaporeans and it is even becoming a language of identity for the younger generation. Erasing a language variety, regarded by many as the core of their Singaporean identity, should be graded as a disgrace. The emergence of Singlish could not have been possible without the socio-political and historical factors that led to it and its large-scale use indicates that it meets Singaporeans’ needs. The clash between the two varieties is indeed due to different values: national identity vs. internationalism and economic pragmatism. This paper aims to highlight linguistic diversity as an outcome of linguistic and cultural richness, labelling it as positive and not as a threat. The use of Singlish needs to be embraced along with a high-quality English instruction, which would allow the co-existence of the two varieties and the proper use of both.

%K Singlish
%K Singapore Standard English
%K Singapore
%K multilingualism
%K language identity
%K language choice
%K language attitude
%K language policy
%~ Universidad de Cádiz