Abstract
Official languages reflect a country's people and cultures, and the process by which they are formulated provides insight into the country's historical development. In multi-ethnic countries, the diversity of languages represents rich cultural deposits, and each language has become a symbol of its people. However, such diversity can make the formulation of official languages challenging. Singapore serves as a compelling example of this challenge. In this research, I will examine the advantages and disadvantages of adopting English and Mandarin as official languages in Singapore, a multi-ethnic country with a complex linguistic landscape. I will also explore the negative outcomes that can arise from overemphasizing Mandarin in bilingual education. This research will demonstrate that mandatory implementation of a language cannot necessarily improve citizens' national identity, and may even exacerbate centrifugal forces.
Published Version
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