sgwhatsup - Chinese bloggers remind people that English is Singapore's first language and they shouldn't expect everyone to speak Mandarin

[niefeng80]

When I work part time at Mac Donald's over weekends, always encounter PRC and they will use their half past 6 English to order. Until I super pek chek already then I will tell them to order in mandarin, I can understand. Always see them very relieved, but encountered a few rude ones who said 早说普通话不就可以了吗。

 

[begintoend]

These 5000 Yr behavior very funny huan

See outside service staff expect Chinese language and bully and act victim as tourists.

Go airport see customs and security will auto England even if broken to avoid immigration problems or act well travelled.

To me is They Ownself 犯贱.

 

[SaintPeachie]

Sinkies should learn Hindi and Mandarin to accommodate our new citizens

 

[Philipkee]

Remind them Malay is our national language.

A very funny thing is that Malay is our national language. Military commands in Malay, national anthem in Malay etc etc and yet we are not taught Malay in school if we are not Malays

Actually the education ministry should make a policy that all students should learn Malay at least at primary school level. This will also be good and useful when we travel regionally also

Even if you don’t want to unnecessarily stress the students, at least they should learn the spoken malay

 

[Hyperephania]

same when you go China holiday, they will ask how come you can speak chinese.

Really? Can understand if the person don't look like Chinese but if you're look Chinese they won't think you're from overseas right?

 

[Hello_Kitty]

recently got some university implemented new courses in chinese, right???

 

[drkcynic]

Sometimes, when i see a chinese, local chinese, I will speak mandarin to him / her.

Then sometimes they will insist to reply me in English then give me 1 kind of look.

It's weird la, chinese cannot speak mandarin or don't want to speak then still give me 1 kind of look like I am the problem.

 

[TA20222025]

Isn't it good that people are creating such videos to set the expectations with PRC tourists so that they stop hounding on people here to speak Chinese?

Awareness is very important and not all PRCs are that educated; especially the older or kampong folks.

 

[zoossh]

That’s because these people are more educated and more mature putting themselves in the shoes of a multiethnic society and knowing there are Asians from different origins

just because there are some bad eggs, shouldn’t think all or most are discriminating. Actually many from there are open minded.

whenever unsure, speak the common working language or international language english first.

Only if both party is more comfortable with another language and had established that, then go ahead. if tiongs want to add some hokkien or Cantonese when ordering cai png, if they are comfortable with it, then I see nothing wrong

 

[spyder81]

Remind them Malay is our national language.

This is Singapore’s multi racial if I go China I will also make video say they don’t speak English why like that.

 

[zoossh]

our 1st language not malay meh?

National language
Common/working language
“Mother” tongue
Mother tongue
First language

all means different things loh

 

[wutawa]

This is Singapore’s multi racial if I go China I will also make video say they don’t speak English why like that.

Why is it a requirement for them to speak a foreign language when they r in their own country?

 

[Kaylin]

National language
Common/working language
“Mother” tongue
Mother tongue
First language

all means different things loh

houmai...

 

[Eatsleepeatsleep]

When ah Tiong approached me with 你好 I will straight away reply

I am not google map

 

[shagrat]

Hotel front desk is Chinese man from Pinoy lah. You want him to speak Chinese, he prefers you speak tagalog

Actually some time back I often visited an eatery, the cashier there always asked me in Chinese. She doesn't really look like Chinese, I was guessing she was a Vietnamese because a lot of Vietnamese in service sector in Singapore know Chinese. But one time got asked her, apparently she is a Pinay, her face doesn't look like a typical Pinay though.

 

[zoossh]

Why is it a requirement for them to speak a foreign language when they r in their own country?

People are just pointing out the irony

They come sg, jp and the west expecting others to speak mandarin is akin to us going china and expecting them to first speak english

only exception is locations that deals with tourist from everywhere else. Then that is english.

 

[MangoCAT]

Sometimes, when i see a chinese, local chinese, I will speak mandarin to him / her.

Then sometimes they will insist to reply me in English then give me 1 kind of look.

It's weird la, chinese cannot speak mandarin or don't want to speak then still give me 1 kind of look like I am the problem.

Somtimes is funny de too, since they know how to do simple coding or excel - BUT struggle with hands-on language

 

[bochup84]

Actually some time back I often visited an eatery, the cashier there always asked me in Chinese. She doesn't really look like Chinese, I was guessing she was a Vietnamese because a lot of Vietnamese in service sector in Singapore know Chinese. But one time got asked her, apparently she is a Pinay, her face doesn't look like a typical Pinay though.

My grandma new indon maid, I first time see her I speak in English. Then when she speak to my grandma in perfect mandarin, I is chua sai surprise.

 

[siaoliaolor]

A very funny thing is that Malay is our national language. Military commands in Malay, national anthem in Malay etc etc and yet we are not taught Malay in school if we are not Malays

Actually the education ministry should make a policy that all students should learn Malay at least at primary school level. This will also be good and useful when we travel regionally also

Even if you don’t want to unnecessarily stress the students, at least they should learn the spoken malay

Kinda agree ..
It's our roots ma .

At least can order nasi padang smoothly

 

[zoossh]

houmai...

Yes quite complex one

Mother tongue is the most misused term. If you grew up with your mum speaking gibberish english which then becomes your most comfortable language then that is your mother tongue. And it doesn’t have to be mum, just anyone bring you up eg granny.

most Singaporean chinese our ancestral language are dialects, not mandarin. but our parents may be brought up speaking english, dialect or mandarin which lead to different mother tongues. It doesn’t always mean or have to be mandarin

then the school will teach you assigned languages which is again another thing