How did English spread to Singapore?
In the context of British colonization, English speakers moved around the world, carrying and spreading the English language. This is how the English language also reached Singapore when it was acquired by the British in 1819 (Tan 2012:123,128).
Why did Singapore choose English?
For political and economic reasons, English had to be our working language. This would give all races in Singapore a common language to communicate and work in.” Thus the decision to use English as the lingua franca, and the working language for government and business.
Was Singapore founded by the British?
The establishment of a British trading post in Singapore in 1818 by Sir Stamford Raffles led to its founding as a British colony in 1824.
How important is English in Singapore?
English as a global language has allowed the different culture in Singapore to unite as one. … It is the common communication medium for the people living in Singapore which is often used in the education and business sectors.
How common is English in Singapore?
The population of Singapore today is more than 75% Chinese, about 15% Malay, about 8% ‘Indian’ (mainly Tamil), and roughly 2% other origins, but about half of the population now speak English (or Singlish) at home.
Why do Singaporeans sound British?
The strength of one’s ethnic mother tongue-accented English accent depends on factors like formality and their language dominance. Words from Malay, Chinese, and Tamil are also borrowed, if not code-switched, into Singapore English.
Is English an official language in Singapore?
In Singapore four languages — Malay,Chinese, Tamil and English — are official and equal languages. Malay is our common language and it is our National Language.
Is English compulsory in Singapore?
Although English is the language of instruction in Singapore schools, Mother Tongue is a compulsory subject at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level (‘O’ Level) and Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level (‘A’ Level).
Why was the bilingual policy introduced in Singapore?
When vernacular schools were closed in 1987, the Ministry of Education implemented the National System of Education. The Bilingual Policy encourages Singaporeans to be proficient in both the English language, and in their respective ethnic mother tongues, which include Chinese Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.