ABSTRACT

This qualitative study explores the attitudes of Singaporean undergraduate students living abroad towards the colloquial variety of Singaporean English, also known as Singlish. The data, consisting of eight in-depth individual interviews, and the findings were analysed using a theoretical framework incorporating cognitive, affective and behavioural components of attitude. The findings demonstrate that Singaporeans have a ‘love and hate’ relationship with Singlish. While the distinctiveness of Singlish features allows Singaporeans to recognize and connect with fellow countrymen abroad, serving as a marker of identification and solidarity, it is also viewed as ‘improper’ and ‘a cause of embarrassment’. Singlish is considered a means by which non-Singaporeans can assimilate into the Singaporean community, and yet, it was found that there was an exclusivity about Singlish in that it could only be mastered by Singaporeans. The findings are discussed in relation to the implications that future research can have on attitudes towards Singlish.

摘要

这项定性研究探讨了居住在国外的新加坡本科生对口语化的新加坡英语（也称为 Singlish）的态度。数据由八次深入的个人访谈组成，并且使用包含态度的认知、情感和行为成分的理论框架对调查结果进行了分析。调查结果表明，新加坡人与新加坡式英语有着“又爱又恨”的关系。虽然新加坡式英语特征的独特性使新加坡人能够认识并与国外的同胞建立联系，作为认同和团结的标志，但它也被视为“不当”和“尴尬的原因”。新加坡式英语被认为是非新加坡人融入新加坡社区的一种方式，然而，结果发现，新加坡英语有一种排他性，因为它只能由新加坡人掌握。讨论结果涉及未来研究可能对新加坡式英语的态度产生的影响。