[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/chinatown-foodstreet-sign.jpeg” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||213px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”204px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”20px|48px|20px|48px|true|true”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”50px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”8px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”29px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.3em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat”]<\/p>\n
Singaporean Youths and their Chinese Dialects and Cultures<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”15px|129px|1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”9px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat”]<\/p>\n
Jamie Mah<\/strong> explores the significance of Chinese dialects to Singapore\u2019s Chinese roots and how youths view their Chinese dialects.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-75px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n The Woodsman is a graphic novel by renowned illustrator, ELvin Ching. Photo courtesy of Epigram Books.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|48px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”90px|||||” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-53px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”27px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-19px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-14px|-415px||-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Singapore: a multi-racial melting pot of different cultures and by extension, languages. With four national languages (English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil), Singaporeans are used to speaking in sentences littered with phrases and words of multiple languages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, some of our other languages, namely, our Chinese dialects, are slowly becoming more obscure, particularly among the younger generations due to the lack of use and interest in learning them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/chinatown-foodstreet-sign.jpeg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”chinatown foodstreet sign” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n A street sign in English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and Japanese in Chinatown. Photo taken from <\/span>Culture Trip<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-35px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”||14px|||” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s Chinese dialects mainly consist of Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainanese. Hokkien is perhaps the most recognised dialect as Singaporeans fall back on its popular phrases and swear words with familiar ease, leading to Hokkien having a reputation as a rather \u2018vulgar\u2019 dialect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” background_color=”rgba(226,45,72,0.13)” custom_margin=”-2px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Some common Hokkien phrases include food, such as rice dumplings, known as ba zhang <\/i>in Hokkien. Other phrases include le zuo simi, <\/i>which means \u201cwhat are you doing?\u201d in Hokkien.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”12px|||||”]<\/p>\n Nowadays, dialect is more commonly heard in short phrases amongst youths, while the actual language is only spoken among older generations when they gather with friends in coffee shops or void decks.<\/p>\n With the culture of dialects fading fast due to the lack of proficiency among youths, what does this mean for the future generations of Singaporean Chinese?<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/residents-at-void-deck.jpeg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”21px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Many senior citizens are unable to speak English, and rely on either Mandarin or their dialects to communicate with others. Photo taken from <\/span>TOUCH Community Services<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-9px|||||”]<\/p>\n According to the <\/span>General Household Survey conducted by the Department of Statistics<\/span><\/a> in 2015, a measly 12.6 per cent of households primarily speak dialect in their homes, a small number as compared to the 15.8 per cent in 2010 and the 18.2 per cent in 2005. Not to mention, among the 12.6 per cent of Singaporeans speaking dialect at home, only 3.4 per cent of them were aged between 15 to 29 years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nowadays, English is the most commonly spoken language in Singaporean households. <\/span>A survey conducted on households<\/span><\/a> showed that 36.9 per cent of residents above five years old used English more often at home, against the 34.9 per cent who use Mandarin more.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Origin of Dialects in Singapore<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-9px|||||”]<\/p>\n Dialects have had a long history in Singapore, but were pushed to the background when Singapore began prioritising Mandarin and English under the leadership of our first Prime Minister and Founding Father, Lee Kuan Yew. He believed that <\/span>\u2018the knowledge of dialects undermined the mastery of key languages.\u2019<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sg-1970s.png” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”sg 1970s” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||10px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Orchard street in Singapore during the 1970s. Photo taken from <\/span>Mustsharenews<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em”]<\/p>\n Singapore used to be a fishing port filled with people from all corners of the world, and Hokkien was the first language of around <\/span>40 per cent of the population in the 1970s<\/span><\/a>. Around 75 per cent of the population were of Chinese ethnicity, and in 1979, the <\/span>\u2018Speak Mandarin\u2019 campaign<\/span><\/a> was launched to encourage citizens to speak their mother tongue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Other than Mandarin, <\/span>English<\/span><\/a> was pushed to be one of our main languages as it was the language used for global trade and commerce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dialect-dying.jpg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”dialect dying” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n Chinese dialects are being spoken less in Singapore. Photo taken from <\/span>LearnDialect.sg Instagram<\/span><\/a> page.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-30px|||||” custom_padding=”||15px|||”]<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>As compared to the past, Chinese dialects are not spoken as frequently today. However, this is understandable as the languages used in Singapore are English and our respective Mother Tongues,\u201d says <\/span>LearnDialect.sg<\/span><\/a>, a dialect learning centre in Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s Chinese inhabitants<\/span><\/a> mostly came from the southern provinces of China, such as Guangdong and Fujian, where our dialects of Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka dialects came from.<\/span><\/p>\n The dialects we speak in Singapore now hold different nuances in pronunciation as compared to those spoken in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, despite holding the same name. This is an effect of the <\/span>\u2018Chinese diaspora\u2019 in Singapore<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” background_color=”rgba(224,122,44,0.13)” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Chinese diaspora is defined by Professor Wang Gungwu, who has studied Chinese diaspora significantly, as \u201cthose of Chinese descent who have made their homes and settled as nationals in a variety of countries, specifically in Southeast Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n Chinese forefathers brought their cultures and traditions to the different countries that they migrated to, and these Chinese identities began to change to adapt to the ways of the country they were in. In Singapore, the Chinese identity is less prominent now than ever before.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”14px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Dialect in Singapore today<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”15px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]<\/p>\n However, in recent years, our Chinese dialects have begun to become more obscure than common. It is a common scene when a grandparent is unable to communicate with their young grandchildren due to the language barrier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI do feel left out especially when it’s my older cousins speaking in dialect,\u201d says Shayne Chong, 19, a Mass Communication student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. \u201cBecause we are of the same generation, kind of, and I want to be able to know what they are talking about and I don\u2019t want them to treat me as if I\u2019m a kid and not get what they are talking about.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The younger generation has taken to learning English and Mandarin before their own cultural dialects, with many not learning their dialects until well into their teenage years, and some never showing interest in the languages.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEnglish already works as a universal language, and Mandarin is widely understood as it is a common mother tongue,\u201d says a participant in a survey done by Hype Magazine when asked if they felt that it is important for youths to learn their Chinese dialects. \u201cWhile dialect has its place as a way to feel more connected to culture and traditions, I do not feel it is necessarily [a] language that is significant to appreciating and understanding said culture and traditions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Of the statistics from our survey, it was found that 55 per cent of respondents could not speak or understand their dialect, while 10 per cent of the respondents were able to understand their dialect but were unable to speak them. Majority of the respondents, a significant 87.5 per cent of them, learned to speak their dialect through listening and speaking with their family.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHokkien was used in adult conversations daily, I picked it up by listening\u2026 Occasionally, when I [visited] my maternal family, I would hear Teochew and try to pick it up as well,\u201d said Toh Yee Ling, 22, a real estate student at the National University of Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While there are still a significant number of youths who know their dialect, there are still plenty who do not know their dialect and even show no interest in learning it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe emphasis should be spent on globalised concepts such as sciences or universal languages such as English,\u201d says another youth participant from our survey.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, there are many youths who are passionate about reviving the culture of our dialects in Singapore. Some of these youths have social media pages that hope to inspire and teach others about their dialects.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|7px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Resources for learning dialect in Singapore<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em”]<\/p>\n For example, the Facebook page <\/span>\u2018Writing in Hokkien\u2019<\/span><\/a> has amassed a following of nearly 6,000 people, and is run by Lee Xuan Jin, 20. He regularly posts flashcards of Hokkien phrases and updates on dialect-related topics in Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There is also an Instagram account called <\/span>\u2018hakka_scribbles\u2019<\/span><\/a> run by Sung Chang Da, where he posts flashcards of Hakka words and phrases to teach people the language. Further proving that there are youths still passionate about dialects, there is also a <\/span>TikTok account <\/span><\/a>run by Yi Ting, 21, a university student in Singapore, where she <\/span>teaches her audience on Hokkien phrases<\/span><\/a> through fun and humorous videos.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2021-08-18-at-9.54.53-PM.png” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-08-18 at 9.54.53 PM” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Yi Ting\u2019s TikTok account teaches youths Hokkien through her funny content. Photo taken from <\/span>@lashyoyt on TikTok<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-12px|||||”]<\/p>\n There are also places in Singapore that offer lessons for those interested in learning dialects beyond educational social media pages, such as at<\/span> community centres<\/span><\/a> or specific dialect clan associations, such as the<\/span> Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan<\/span><\/a> or the<\/span> Ngee Ann Kongsi<\/span><\/a> organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-12px|||||”]<\/p>\n There are also places in Singapore that offer lessons for those interested in learning dialects beyond educational social media pages, such as at<\/span> community centres<\/span><\/a> or specific dialect clan associations, such as the<\/span> Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan<\/span><\/a> or the<\/span> Ngee Ann Kongsi<\/span><\/a> organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-12px|||||”]<\/p>\n There are also places in Singapore that offer lessons for those interested in learning dialects beyond educational social media pages, such as at<\/span> community centres<\/span><\/a> or specific dialect clan associations, such as the<\/span> Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan<\/span><\/a> or the<\/span> Ngee Ann Kongsi<\/span><\/a> organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ngee-ann-kongsi.jpeg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”ngee ann kongsi” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||8px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n The Ngee Ann Kongsi focuses on preserving Teochew heritage. Photo taken from <\/span>The Ngee Ann Kongsi<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” background_color=”rgba(232,204,46,0.13)” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off”]<\/p>\n The Ngee Ann Kongsi is a non-profit Teochew philanthropic organisation focused on educational, cultural and charitable activities in Singapore. They also place a deep emphasis on preserving the Teochew heritage.<\/p>\n The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan has always made it its priority to preserve and promote Chinese language and Chinese culture. The Huay Kuan also focuses on education and social services.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-12px|||||” custom_padding=”30px|||||”]<\/p>\n Clan associations have a long history in Singapore, dating back to 1985 when the <\/span>Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations<\/span><\/a> was registered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They aimed to \u201crevitalise the roles played by Singapore\u2019s Chinese clan associations, to promote Chinese language, values and traditions, as well as to organise and support educational, cultural and community activities. It also aims to promote social cohesion and harmony among all races and new immigrants in Singapore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0One organisation that offers dialect lessons in Singapore is<\/span> <\/span>LearnDialect.sg<\/a>. Run by Ski Yeo and Eugene Lee, they are <\/span>passionate about helping others<\/a> in Singapore learn their <\/span>native dialects and understanding the languages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Learn-Dialect-in-Singapore-Workshop-Photo-scaled.jpg” alt=”xia qingling chu opera hua dan wuhan” title_text=”Learn Dialect in Singapore – Workshop Photo” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-20px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”59px” custom_margin=”15px||55px|||” custom_padding=”0px||83px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n
Jamie Mah
Editor
Hype Issue #53<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
Sep 7, 2021<\/h5>\n