There are four official languages in Singapore. These are Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil. Most Singaporeans speak more than one language; English usually being the common denominator (because of its wide spread used in business and law).

There is also a peculiar mix of languages called ‘Singlish’ that is used by many Singaporeans. It has its origins in the colonial period when children from vastly different backgrounds came together in school to learn English. In their attempts to communicate with each other, Singlish developed. It is marked out by the ‘lah’, ‘leh’ or ‘meh’ sounds that come at the end of the sentence.

In the early twentieth century, the English education system and its techniques became popular all over the country. By the 1950s, a large percentage of children went to school, including girls and other parts of the population who did not always have the opportunity of a formal education before this time. English became the standard teaching medium during this time, with most children learning at least one other language at the same time. Many Singaporean families converse in English at their home as well as at their place of work.

Nearly all Singaporeans speak more than one language, with many able to converse in three or four. The racial mix that exists within the country ensures that many children mix with other races early and soon pick up their languages. Singlish is a natural result of all this confusing information; it is a symbol of the melting pot that exists within the country.

Examples of Singlish:

. Don’t like that lah.
. How many rooms are there ah?
. I am not at home lah.
. Ok lah, bye bye lah.