Singapore English in the Singapore linguistic landscape

Abstract

ABSTRACT Singapore’s linguistic landscape is dominated by English, reflecting its functional role of providing a means of inter-ethnic communication. The English represented is mostly the Singapore English standardised variety – Singapore Standard English (SSE). While SSE does not differ substantially from standardised British English, it does have features that are distinctly Singaporean. The colloquial variety, commonly referred to as ‘Singlish’, has long been discouraged by the government, but increasingly, businesses and even some government agencies are recognising the marketing potential of Singlish linguistic features, presenting them prominently on websites, advertisements and Twitter feeds. Conceptualising the term ‘linguistic landscape’ broadly as ‘language appearing in public spaces’, I provide here an overview of English in Singapore’s linguistic landscape. My intention is to help us take stock of where we are regarding the English that surrounds us in Singapore and gain a better understanding of the societal trends that brought us to this point.