Language
The living proof of Singapore’s cosmopolitan status is her adoption of four official languages, namely Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English.
English is the medium of education and business – it is the first language taught at school and the main language used at the workplace.
In addition to learning English, students study their mother tongue at school to ensure that they maintain their cultural heritage, usually Chinese, Malay or Tamil. Most Singaporeans are therefore bilingual, if not multi-lingual.
The predominant usage of English makes Singapore one of the most easily adaptable countries in Asia for expatriates and foreigners.
Singaporeans also speak a local brand of English that tends to startle unsuspecting English speakers when they first set foot here. Affectionately known as Singlish, it is a hybrid of mainly English, Malay and Chinese dialects, giving rise to a unique and living patois that is often a talking point in itself! Be patient and you’ll grasp the key phrases and expressions soon enough – start by adding a “lah” to the end of a sentence. However misplaced, it will garner you lots of smiles for the effort! Here’s an unofficial guide from talkingcock, a local satirical website, to get you started.