Singaporean Mandarin
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Singaporean Mandarin (Simplified Chinese: 新加坡华语) is the dialect of Mandarin Chinese spoken in Singapore. It is one of the 4 official languages of Singapore along with English, Malay and Tamil.
The official Standard Mandarin of the Republic of Singapore, known in Singapore as 华语 (Huayu), is based on the phonology of the Beijing dialect and the grammar of Vernacular Chinese is almost identical to the standard of Mandarin used in the People's Republic of China, known in mainland China as Pǔtōnghuà (普通话); Singaporean Mandarin became widely spoken by the Chinese community in Singapore since the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 1979.
Singaporean Mandarin had preserved some aspects of the classical Chinese and early vernacular Mandarin (baihua) during early ROC period. But a break of contact for over 20 years between Singapore and China since 1949 meant that Singaporean Mandarin did not have the influence from Putonghua. Instead, influence came mainly from Taiwanese Mandarin (through Taiwanese entertainment media) and to a large degree the English language, after English was adopted as the lingua franca of Singapore in 1965.
Like its English variant (Singlish), Singaporean Mandarin also has a creole when spoken colloquially. It tends to be mixed with many English, Malay and other Chinese dialect words
[edit] Usage
[edit] Differences from Standard Mandarin
Vocabulary
The major differences of Huayu from Putonghua lie in the vocabulary used. A lack of contact between Singapore and China from 1949-1979 meant that Singaporean Mandarin either had to invent its own new words OR to borrow certain words used by Taiwanese Mandarin (Guoyu) or other chinese dialects. As a result, new mandarin words proprietary to Singapore were invented.
Uniquely Singaporean Mandarin Words - Words specific to living in Singapore
There are many new terms that are specific to living in Singapore. These words were invented as there were no equivalent words in putonghua.
- 红毛丹 Hong Mao Dan (rambuttan - a kind of South-East Asian fruit)
- 奎笼 Kui Long (a place for fishing)
- 清汤 Qing Tang (a type of clear soup)
- 嘉年华 Jia Nian Hua (a form of celebration and gathering)
- 固本 Gu Ben ("coupon" used in car-parking)
- 组屋 Zu Wu (flat built by Housing Board)
- 拥车证 Yong Che Zheng (car ownership-license)/ Zhou Mo Yong Che 周末用车 (using car at weekend)
- 财路 Cai Lu ("GIRO" - a system of payment through direct bank account deduction in Singapore)
- 巴刹 Ba Sa ("bazaar" or market)
- 民众俱乐部 Mingzhong Julebu /联络所 Lianluo Suo(community center)
- 叻沙 La Sa ("laksa" - a type of curry noodle)
- 垃圾虫 La Ji Chong ("litter-bug" - someone who violated the law for littering)
- 排屋 Pai Wu (Terrace house)
Same Meaning Different Words
There are some words used in Singaporean Mandarin that have the same meaning with other words used in putonghua or guoyu
- 乐龄 (meaning "old people") [putonghua - 老龄]
- 三文治(sandwich) [guoyu - 三明治]
- 德士 (Taxi)[putonghua - 出租车 ,guoyu -计程车; compare Cantonese 的士)
- 货柜 (Container)[putonghua - 集装箱]
- 火患 (Fire)
- 码头 (Dock) [putonghua - 港口]
- 手提电话 (mobile phone) [putonghua - 手机, guoyu - 行动电话]
- 客工 (foreign worker) [guoyu - 外劳]
