Singlish Phonology

l /p/ t/ k/ become unaspirated esp among Malay Singaporeans →

Pat, tin, come → bat, din, gum

l /t/ /d/ → three → tree, then → den

l The distinction between /l/ & /r/ not found at basilectal level - “Use your blain!”

l Plural – s is often omitted which might be the result of Chinese influence which does not distinguish between single and plural forms

l Singlish is syllable-timed compared with other varierties of English which are stress-timed

l Pitch tones are well-defined, tones resemble Chinese

l Singlish tends to preserve tone of loan words from Mandarin and other languages

Singlish Grammar

Nouns are optionally marked for plurality. Articles are optional too.: He can play piano. I like to read novel. Your computer got virus one, izzit?

As a copular and auxiliary verb be is often omitted: Dis house very nice/ Dat car not worth the money / You looking for trouble, izzit?

Past Tense markers are optional: He talk for so long, never stop, not even when I ask him. I eat liao (I ate or I have eaten) How come he never pay just now? (Negation+ past tense marker)

Interrogative This book you want or not? Can or not? They never study, is it? You don’t like that, is it?

Reduplication My boy-boy is going to primary school. We two friend-friend one. Want to go Orher walk walk see see or not? (Orchard Road) You got take the small-small one.

l Kena is an auxiliary to mark the passive voice: He was scolded – He kena scold (negative evauation) VS * he kena praised.

Singlish Discouse Particles

Lah - Drink, lah! – Come on, drink! (in the end of the sentence to assert solidarity)

What / wat/ - But he very good at sports what!

Mah – This one can also work mah!

Leh – command, complaint, claim:

Give me leh!

Daughter: Mum, it’s private. How can I let you read it?

Mother: Can la. I’m your own mother.

Wife: You bought cheese, Farouk? (= ‘Did you buy cheese, Farouk?’)

Husband: No’, but lot butter I bought. (= ‘No, though I did buy a lot of butter’) (No’ = [noυ])

Why didn’t you come in?