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LANGUAGE & CULTURE
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Having
traded in its opium
dens for cloud-shrouded
skyscraps, Singapore
might initially seem
shockingly modern and
anonymous. Yet, dscrape
the surface and you
will see that this is
an undeniably Asian
city with feng shui
inspired shopping
malls and mythological
national animals.
What Is The Merlion?
Whether
as a statue by the Esplanade
or as a kitschy lighter
sold to tourists, you
are sure to come across
frequent depictions
of Singapore's fantastical
mascot - the Merlion.
Half lion, half fish,
the Merlion is a reference
to both the legend of
Sang Nila Utama and
Singapore's origins
as a small fishing village.
Cultural Diversity
Today, Singapore
is a cosmopolitan city;
and yet, a lot of Singapore's
present day culture
can be traced back to
its culturally diverse
immigrant history. With
Malay, Chinese, Indian
and European influences
intermingling, the results
are truly unique to
Singapore.
When Singapore was still
under the British, various
areas of the island
were segmented for the
different races. These
areas - such as Little
India, Chinatown, Geylang
and Arab Street - still
retain much of their
unique character.
These areas are truly
arresting to visit,
with their pre-war architecture,
cultural history and
traditional industries
intact.
Two National Pastimes
Singaporeans fondly refer to the double act of eating and shopping as the only things to be done in Singapore. Whilst inaccurate, the statement is representative of the things that make up a significant part of Singaporean culture.
All international cuisines are here, though Chinese, Indian and Malay foods dominate. Particularly popular dishes include Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay and Roti Prata. What is unique about Singaporean cuisine is that, whilst the dishes might have originated in another country, they have been adapted to suit local palates with the increased use of coconut milk, spices and local ingredients (such as an increased emphasis on seafood). With this variety, it is not unsurprising that most Singaporean gatherings centre around food.
You
can also just as easily
find Indonesian, Japanese,
Western, Italian, Peranakan,
African, French, Thai
and Russian cuisine
here. For a true sample
of the myriad of dining
options available in
Singapore, the Singapore
Food Festival held annually
in April is a good place
to start.
Shopping is also a major
concern with Singaporeans,
and you will be able
to find a shopping mall
almost everywhere in
Singapore. Most Singaporeans
eagerly look forward
to and save up for the
Great Singapore Sale,
which is held in June.
During the event, prices
are reduced dramatically,
even up to 80%, and
shopping malls are sometimes
open till 2 am.
Religious Festivals
Religion is
still an integral part
of cosmopolitan Singapore.
In fact, many of its
most interesting buildings
are of religious origin,
be it old temples, modern
churches or exotic mosques.
Marked by this myriad
of distinctive religions,
Singapore celebrates
a large amount of colorful
festivals of special
significance all year
round. Although the
festivals are special
to certain races, they
are nonetheless enjoyed
by all.
Major religious festivals
include the Chinese
Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn
Festival, Hari Raya
and Hari Raya Haji,
Vesak Day, Christmas,
Deepavali and Thaipusam.
Languages In
Singapore
The four official
languages of Singapore
are English, Malay,
Tamil and Mandarin with
English being the
language-in-common for
most people. Children
are taught in English
at school, but also
learn their mother tongue
to make sure they don't
lose contact with their
traditions.
Many Singaporeans use
Singlish, a mix of English
with local dialects
and languages to communicate,
and sometimes sentences
end with terms like
"lah", "leh" and "mah".
While frowned upon by
the government, Singlish
has come to be a badge
of identity for many
Singaporeans.
Some
Singlish Terms
•
habis
- finished
• makan - to eat
• chope - to reserve
something
• cheem - difficult,
complicated
• ang moh - a caucasian
• rojak - mixed,
a mix of
• kiasu - afraid
to lose mentality
Examples Of
Singlish In Use
• OK
lah - Alright
• Makan already
or not? - Have you eaten?
• Got meh? - Really?
• Don't have what.
- It's not here like
you said.
• You very troublesome
leh. - What you are
asking me to do is very
taxing.
• Don't like that
lah! - Don't be angry/difficult/offended!
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