Ying-Ying Tan

To r or not to r: social correlates of /ɹ/ in Singapore English.

Abstract This paper seeks to determine the correlation between the occurrences of postvocalic-r, intrusive-r and linking-r in Singapore English (SgE) and the users’ education levels and socioeconomic status. This paper will also investigate the attitudes that SgE speakers hold toward the use of postvocalic-r and intrusive-r in the language. The results show that there is a direct correlation between the education level and socioeconomic status of the speaker and the production of postvocalic-r and intrusive-r in SgE. Speakers of higher education levels and socioeconomic status have a tendency to produce the postvocalic-r; speakers of low education levels and socioeconomic status have a tendency to produce the intrusive-r. The attitudes test also shows that users of postvocalic-r are viewed more positively as compared to users of intrusive-r. The results suggest that postvocalic-r and intrusive-r are not simply concrete, categorical phonological processes, but that their uses are motivated by social factors.

Age as a Factor in Ethnic Accent Identification in Singapore.

Abstract This study seeks to answer two research questions. First, can listeners distinguish the ethnicity of the speakers on the basis of voice quality alone? Second, do demographic differences among the listeners affect discriminability? A simple but carefully designed and controlled ethnic identification test was carried out on 325 Singaporean informants of the three major ethnic groups across three age groups in Singapore. The results show interesting age-related patterns in the identification of ethnicity in speakers of Singapore English. The results suggest that young Singaporeans may perhaps be deaf to ethnic variations. National policies and ones own ethnic consciousness (or lack thereof) may perhaps be responsible for creating this ‘deafness’.

POLITICS OF LANGUAGE IN CONTEMPORARY SINGAPORE CINEMA

While critics have argued that the films of Singapore director Jack Neo posit a critique of the state, this essay will argue the contrary. In deploying Chinese ‘dialects’ his films may appear to give voice to the Chinese-speaking masses in Singapore, especially those who have been marginalized by the states political economy, which clearly favours the educated and English-speaking milieu. For the Chinese-speaking masses, his films may even appear to act as a medium or outlet for ‘anti-state’ criticisms which they feel but cannot articulate, since criticism of the government is essentially prohibited here. However, as this essay will demonstrate, Neo uses such linguistic idioms only as a foil to further perpetuate government propaganda: he uses Chinese ‘dialects’ to draw his intended audience to his side, and once they are taken in, he persuades them to reconcile with unpopular government policies. In other words, Neos films constitute an extension of state politics via cinematic means, rather than an authentic political critique. As this essay also suggests, unveiling Neos manipulation of language in his films as such will be critical to uncover not only Neos underlying political intent, but also the unequal distribution that underlies the states language policies.

Examining the functions and identities associated with English and Korean in South Korea: a linguistic landscape study

This study focuses on the linguistic landscape (LL) of Seoul, South Korea and, via the examination of bottom-up public signage in areas of different functions, the study aims to elucidate the functions of English and Korean in the society, and how they relate to the statuses and ideologies associated with the two languages. Special attention is paid to the distinction between information-giving and decorative signs, especially for signs containing English, as it will potentially reveal whether English plays a communicative or symbolic function in South Korea. By paying attention to sign content and the different establishment types in the sign coding method, this paper argues that the linguistic landscape of Seoul reflects the city’s careful and calculated use of English and Korean to mark different identities. The findings suggest that both English and Korean in South Korea have symbolic and commercial value and the LL in South Korea has become increasingly commodified in nature.