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M.Chu
Singapore
31 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Nov 2004 : 22:40:57
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On 12 June 2003, while having breakfast at a fastfood restaurant in Chinatown area, I overheard customers ordering "harsh" brown notwithstanding that hash brown would be served according to the menu. Well, I felt only a slight discomfiture, being mindful that my Hua Yi would, in turn, be very lan (atrocious) to those who are more-inclined to speak in Mandarin.
Some time after the episode, wonder of wonders, I have come across e-mails employing 'new' words that make Singlish fun to the initiated. They sound kinda cool and their pronunciation is easier on the tongue.
For fuller appreciation, try speaking out the following words: 'Harlow' with its 'har', coming across as being more full-bodied and upbeat than "hello" with its dour "her"; and 'Tomolow' looking chic (don't you think so?) with its 'low', of which some people would find it easier to enunciate than the "rrh" in "tomorrow".
I'll be glad to hear from you on your collection of Singlish. However, let's keep things beyond the earshot of educators, English-police and children, in no particular order. Meanwhile, I'll understand if you choose to order "harsh" brown the next time just to irk English speakers.
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lucille
1 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2005 : 23:24:26
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I can understand the " standard " singlish, but not when the words are severely mispronounced. At my previous workplace, my supervisor frequently mentioned what I thought was a technical term, "ferryweight". Found out later from my colleague that it was actually "fabric weight".
But perhaps looking at singlish grammar would not be a bad idea, coz it's grammar is exactly the same as that of mandarin. Could be really useful when conversing in mandarin, for those who think usually in English. |
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Going beyond Singlish?
