View Full Version : British English vs. Singlish
phantom_opera
18-05-12, 15:52
British English vs. Singlish
Who says our English is teruk? Just read below - Ours is simple, short, concise, straight-to-the-point, effective etc.
WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Britons: I'm sorry, sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for you.
Singlish : No stock.
RETURNING A CALL
Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone call for me a few moments ago?
Singlish : Hello, who call?
ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY
Britons: Excuse me, I would like to get by. Would you please make way?
Singlish : S-kew me.
WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
Britons: Hey! Put your wallet away, this drink is on me.
Singlish : No need lah.
WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door?
Singlish : (pointing at the door) Can ah?
WHEN ENTERTAINING
Britons: Please make yourself right at home.
Singlish: No need shy shy one lah!
WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money.
Singlish : Where got?
WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER
Britons: I would prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
Singlish: Don't want lah.
IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Britons: Err...Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about the issue.
Singlish : You mad ah?
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE.
Britons: Excuse me, but could you please lower your voice? I'm trying to concentrate over here.
Singlish : Shut up lah!
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU.
Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for sometime. Do I know you?
Singlish : See what, see what?
WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION.
Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment..
Singlish: Die lah!!
WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened?
Singlish : What happened ah? Why like that one lah?
WHEN SOMEONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
Britons: This isn't the way to do it. Here, let me show you.
Singlish : Like that also don't know how to do!
WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
Britons: Would you mind not disturbing me?
Singlish : knn!
This is a good one, isn't it?
Now we know why it is a real challenge trying not to be rude in this forum. I believe, we have no intention to be rude; just that we tend to write the way we speak.
British English vs. Singlish
Who says our English is teruk? Just read below - Ours is simple, short, concise, straight-to-the-point, effective etc.
WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Britons: I'm sorry, sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for you.
Singlish : No stock.
RETURNING A CALL
Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone call for me a few moments ago?
Singlish : Hello, who call?
ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY
Britons: Excuse me, I would like to get by. Would you please make way?
Singlish : S-kew me.
WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
Britons: Hey! Put your wallet away, this drink is on me.
Singlish : No need lah.
WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door?
Singlish : (pointing at the door) Can ah?
WHEN ENTERTAINING
Britons: Please make yourself right at home.
Singlish: No need shy shy one lah!
WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money.
Singlish : Where got?
WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER
Britons: I would prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
Singlish: Don't want lah.
IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Britons: Err...Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about the issue.
Singlish : You mad ah?
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE.
Britons: Excuse me, but could you please lower your voice? I'm trying to concentrate over here.
Singlish : Shut up lah!
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU.
Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for sometime. Do I know you?
Singlish : See what, see what?
WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION.
Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment..
Singlish: Die lah!!
WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened?
Singlish : What happened ah? Why like that one lah?
WHEN SOMEONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
Britons: This isn't the way to do it. Here, let me show you.
Singlish : Like that also don't know how to do!
WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
Britons: Would you mind not disturbing me?
Singlish : knn!
This is productivity.
British English vs. Singlish
Who says our English is teruk? Just read below - Ours is simple, short, concise, straight-to-the-point, effective etc.
WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Britons: I'm sorry, sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for you.
Singlish : No stock.
RETURNING A CALL
Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone call for me a few moments ago?
Singlish : Hello, who call?
ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY
Britons: Excuse me, I would like to get by. Would you please make way?
Singlish : S-kew me.
WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
Britons: Hey! Put your wallet away, this drink is on me.
Singlish : No need lah.
WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door?
Singlish : (pointing at the door) Can ah?
WHEN ENTERTAINING
Britons: Please make yourself right at home.
Singlish: No need shy shy one lah!
WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money.
Singlish : Where got?
WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER
Britons: I would prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
Singlish: Don't want lah.
IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Britons: Err...Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about the issue.
Singlish : You mad ah?
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE.
Britons: Excuse me, but could you please lower your voice? I'm trying to concentrate over here.
Singlish : Shut up lah!
WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU.
Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for sometime. Do I know you?
Singlish : See what, see what?
WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION.
Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment..
Singlish: Die lah!!
WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened?
Singlish : What happened ah? Why like that one lah?
WHEN SOMEONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
Britons: This isn't the way to do it. Here, let me show you.
Singlish : Like that also don't know how to do!
WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
Britons: Would you mind not disturbing me?
Singlish : knn!
buttercarp
18-05-12, 19:43
This is productivity.
Singlish is a summary of English.
Concise and to the point!
Posts in this forum usually in a very serious tone & sometimes leading to debates, singlish does add colour and fun to it. Singlish sounds rude?
buttercarp
18-05-12, 22:57
Posts in this forum usually in a very serious tone & sometimes leading to debates, singlish does add colour and fun to it. Singlish sounds rude?
Nope.... singlish does not sound rude, though it may be crude at times.
On the otherhand, it may sound warm and reassurring too.
Likewise real English may sound a tinge bit snobbish at times.
I think the common Brit speaks with an F in every sentence :D
Our Singlish is straight to the point, no wasting time, no wasting of saliva and easy to say but some of the words really sound like "Ah Beng" leh.
Eg.
1) Where got?
It sounds as though you are angry or impatient with the opposite party.
2) Shut up lah
It sounds so rude to me leh, maybe must think of another word to replace this, hehe.
Our Singlish is straight to the point, no wasting time, no wasting of saliva and easy to say but some of the words really sound like "Ah Beng" leh.
Eg.
1) Where got?
It sounds as though you are angry or impatient with the opposite party.
2) Shut up lah
It sounds so rude to me leh, maybe must think of another word to replace this, hehe.
2) Hello! Too loud!
Or even better:
2) Shhhhhhh!!!!
People always say:"it is not what you say but how you said it" that makes the difference. Wonder why we the customers tend to get upset with service providers? It is because they are not trained to speak in the way that make customers feel good. Can Singlish (all the short form etc etc) makes customers feel good especially in a service recovery situation? Definitely not!
One word Singlish equivalent of British exclamation/scolding words.
1. British: That woman is such a whore!
Singlish: Slut!
2. British: Get outta my way!
Singlish: Siam la!
3. British: Hit me with your best shot!
Singlish: Lai la!
4. British: Talk to the hand!
Singlish: Pui!!!
5. British: You are so lame!
Singlish: Lamer!!!
6. British: Please move! You are stepping on my foot!
Singlish: Ow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. British: Look at me you!! I am talking to you!
Singlish: HELLO!!!
8. British: This is really bad!
Singlish: Fuc* la!!!
9. British: This is really getting to me....!
Singlish: Sianz!!!!!
10. British: Oh my goodness, I really don't know what to say!
Singlish: Pengz!!!!
2) Hello! Too loud!
Or even better:
2) Shhhhhhh!!!!
Right, "shhhhhhhh" is more direct and simple.:cheers4:
People always say:"it is not what you say but how you said it" that makes the difference. Wonder why we the customers tend to get upset with service providers? It is because they are not trained to speak in the way that make customers feel good. Can Singlish (all the short form etc etc) makes customers feel good especially in a service recovery situation? Definitely not!
I always think that it is the tone and face expression that matters. Same sentence of words with different types of tone and expression will have different interpretation.
'Can you please spare a thought?' to
'don't like that lah'.
'So do you still want this seat?' to
'You want or not?'
'There's a great sale where items are going at 50% discount' to
'lelong'
'Can you please spare a thought?' to
'don't like that lah'.
'So do you still want this seat?' to
'You want or not?'
'There's a great sale where items are going at 50% discount' to
'lelong'
Right, if you jokingly say "don't like that lah", it sounds more friendly and acceptable but if you raise your voice and say "don't like that lah", it might hurt the other party or he/she might get a shock.:cheers5:
Right, if you jokingly say "don't like that lah", it sounds more friendly and acceptable but if you raise your voice and say "don't like that lah", it might hurt the other party or he/she might get a shock.:cheers5:
If a guy say don like that lah and wink wink and shakes his shoulders to and fro....?
http://woman.zaobao.com.sg/pages8/living120529.shtml
新加坡式英语让外国人觉可爱
新加坡女性说新加坡式英语，外国人听了会觉得可爱。
新传媒艺人李国煌认为，新加坡女性以新加坡式英语为特点，排名全球第4美，把日本、韩国等其他亚洲国家挤出10大，实至名归。
“新加坡式英语的音调是往下，不像正统的英式发音有上下起伏，所以外国人听了会觉得新加坡女性可爱，但是还会听懂，不像日本、韩国的女性，根本听不懂，所以比较有魅力。” 他表示，虽然电视上有很多日本、韩国美女，但不见得在街上个个都是那么漂亮。
Thanks,
Richard
buttercarp
30-05-12, 22:49
http://woman.zaobao.com.sg/pages8/living120529.shtml
新加坡式英语让外国人觉可爱
新加坡女性说新加坡式英语，外国人听了会觉得可爱。
新传媒艺人李国煌认为，新加坡女性以新加坡式英语为特点，排名全球第4美，把日本、韩国等其他亚洲国家挤出10大，实至名归。
“新加坡式英语的音调是往下，不像正统的英式发音有上下起伏，所以外国人听了会觉得新加坡女性可爱，但是还会听懂，不像日本、韩国的女性，根本听不懂，所以比较有魅力。” 他表示，虽然电视上有很多日本、韩国美女，但不见得在街上个个都是那么漂亮。
Thanks,
Richard
Used google translator to translate for our non chinese readers.
Singapore English for foreigners feel cute
The women of Singapore said that Singapore English, foreigners will be listened to feel lovely.
New media artist Mark Lee, Singapore women is characterized by the English of Singapore, ranked the world's first four America, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries out of 10 up to its name.
"The tone of the English in Singapore is down, unlike the orthodox English pronunciation ups and downs, so foreigners listening to lovely Singapore women, but also to understand, unlike Japan, South Korea's women did not understand , it is more attractive. "he said on TV a lot of Japanese, Korean girls, but not necessarily in the street, all of them are so beautiful.
Right, if you jokingly say "don't like that lah", it sounds more friendly and acceptable but if you raise your voice and say "don't like that lah", it might hurt the other party or he/she might get a shock.:cheers5:Any nice words spoken abruptly and loudly will inevitably induce shock not just to the party involved but on bystanders too. :D
rattydrama
30-05-12, 23:37
all they met are great pretenders? wait till you marry one of them.
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