The standardisation of language, be it English or Chinese, is an issue which is widely discussed among Singaporeans of late. Time and again, when this issue is debated in the newspapers, the discussions that ensue are always highly spirited. This is a good sign. There is no grief greater than the death of the will. It wouldn't do if Singaporeans were indifferent to their own linguistic environment, and became bored with such issues. Truth can be gleaned from lively debates, and consensus is usually formed in the midst of discussions and arguments.
As mankind's communication tool and information transmitter, language, like the air we breathe, is something which society and its members cannot do without, not even for a short period of time. Whether or not a language is standardised has direct bearing on the efficiency of both the exchange of ideas and the transmission of information. Only with standardisation can the function of a language be utilised to its limit. Therefore, the teaching and the usage of languages must be standardised. This should be the consensus shared by every member of the society. Everyone should adopt this outlook on language and its usage.
Singapore is a modern city-state where information technology is highly advanced, and the government is devoting itself to developing the country as an intelligent island. Major media players in Singapore like the press, radio and television have all gone on-line. The era of a“new media” has arrived.
The “new media” refers to a mass media, such as the computer or the Internet, other than the traditional print media and broadcast media like radio and television. The emergence of the “new media” transforms the way people know the world, understand the world, receive information and communicate with one another.
A global playing field with vast communication networks demands the standardisation of language. It is pushing language towards greater uniformity, a trend that is all but irreversible. If we still hold dearly to our localised English or localised Chinese, revelling in their vivacity, intimacy and local flavour, how then are we able to keep abreast with the times?
Lianhe Zaobao has shown great foresight by not missing the Internet bandwagon. Since it has gone online, between one and two million readers all over the world surf its website every day. In addition to its printed version which are circulated locally and overseas, its total monthly readership numbers nearles 40 million. It is said that its influence in the international arena is comparable to China's People's Daily, which has a daily circulation between two and three million. Singapore is a tiny country, but the fact that the homegrown Zaobao Online is on par with the People's Daily is something Singaporeans should be proud of.
Under these new circumstances, should suitable adjustments be made to Singapore's linguistic environment?
Should the mass media take the lead, and provide society with the proper guidance in the area of language? The answer to both questions is in the affirmative. We should look ahead and spare a thought for future generations. The mass media and the educational departments should cooperate and work towards a positive linguistic environment, where our children can have more opportunities to listen to and read standardised languages.
What is the result of the tussle between standardised and mixed languages in Singapore? I hope it will be a win-win situation, but my mind is not at ease. In fact, sometimes I feel downright anxious.
(Translated by Wee Kek Koon)
應(yīng)用規(guī)范語(yǔ)言與世界溝通
語(yǔ)言規(guī)范,無論英語(yǔ)還是華語(yǔ),都是新加坡人津津樂道的話題。
這個(gè)話題不時(shí)在報(bào)上提出來,每次討論總是非常熱烈。這是個(gè)好現(xiàn)象。哀莫大于心死。要是新加坡人對(duì)自己的語(yǔ)文生活漠不關(guān)心,對(duì)這類話題興致索然,反倒不妙了。真理越辯越明,共識(shí)往往是在討論或爭(zhēng)辯中逐步形成的。
語(yǔ)言作為人類交際的工具和信息的載體,對(duì)社會(huì),對(duì)社會(huì)全體成員來說,簡(jiǎn)直跟空氣一樣,是須臾不可缺少的。使用語(yǔ)言是否規(guī)范,同思想交流和信息傳遞的效率直接有關(guān)。只有使用規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言,才能限度地發(fā)揮語(yǔ)言的職能。因此,語(yǔ)言教學(xué)和語(yǔ)言應(yīng)用都必須規(guī)范化和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化。這應(yīng)當(dāng)成為社會(huì)每個(gè)成員的共識(shí),成為社會(huì)每個(gè)成員的語(yǔ)言觀和語(yǔ)用觀。
新加坡是一個(gè)現(xiàn)代化的城市國(guó)家,信息科技十分發(fā)達(dá),政府也致力于把新加坡建設(shè)成為一個(gè)智慧島。新加坡的主要媒體報(bào)章、廣播和電視都已經(jīng)上了網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò),一個(gè)“新媒介”時(shí)代已經(jīng)來臨了。
所謂“新媒介”是指除了傳統(tǒng)的印刷媒介、廣播和電視等電子媒介以外的電腦與網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò)等傳播媒介?!靶旅浇椤钡某霈F(xiàn),改變了人們認(rèn)識(shí)世界、了解世界、獲取信息、相互溝通的方式。這種全球性的大范圍、大規(guī)模的溝通,迫切要求語(yǔ)言規(guī)范化、標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化,它正促使語(yǔ)言趨向大同。這個(gè)發(fā)展趨勢(shì)是人們難以逆轉(zhuǎn)的。要是我們還緊緊抱住本土英語(yǔ)或本土華語(yǔ)不放,念念不忘本土英語(yǔ)或本土華語(yǔ)怎么傳神,怎么親切,怎么富有地方特色,試問,又怎樣跟上時(shí)代的潮流,與時(shí)代同步前進(jìn)呢?
《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚,不失時(shí)機(jī)地上了網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò)。自上網(wǎng)以來,除了每天在本地和海外發(fā)行印刷版外,遍布全球的讀者每天有一兩百萬人次上網(wǎng)瀏覽電子版,每月累計(jì),將近4000萬人次,其國(guó)際影響力,據(jù)說與中國(guó)每日發(fā)行量達(dá)兩三百萬份的《人民日?qǐng)?bào)》不相上下。新加坡是個(gè)蕞爾島國(guó),可是生長(zhǎng)在這片土地上的《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》電子版卻能與《人民日?qǐng)?bào)》并駕齊驅(qū),新加坡人應(yīng)為此而感到自豪。
在這種新形勢(shì)下,新加坡人的語(yǔ)文生活是否應(yīng)該進(jìn)行適度的調(diào)整呢?大眾傳播媒介是否應(yīng)該站在時(shí)代的前列,在語(yǔ)用方面充分發(fā)揮自己的正確的導(dǎo)向作用呢?答案是肯定的。我們應(yīng)該向前看,應(yīng)該多為下一代著想。大眾傳播媒介與教育部門應(yīng)當(dāng)互相配合,共同努力,營(yíng)造一個(gè)良好的語(yǔ)文環(huán)境,讓孩子們多聽標(biāo)準(zhǔn)語(yǔ),多看用規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言撰寫和出版的讀物。
規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言和攙雜的語(yǔ)言仍在新加坡的舞臺(tái)上角力,結(jié)局如何?
筆者希望雙贏,但是心中并不踏實(shí),有時(shí)還捏著一把汗呢!
As mankind's communication tool and information transmitter, language, like the air we breathe, is something which society and its members cannot do without, not even for a short period of time. Whether or not a language is standardised has direct bearing on the efficiency of both the exchange of ideas and the transmission of information. Only with standardisation can the function of a language be utilised to its limit. Therefore, the teaching and the usage of languages must be standardised. This should be the consensus shared by every member of the society. Everyone should adopt this outlook on language and its usage.
Singapore is a modern city-state where information technology is highly advanced, and the government is devoting itself to developing the country as an intelligent island. Major media players in Singapore like the press, radio and television have all gone on-line. The era of a“new media” has arrived.
The “new media” refers to a mass media, such as the computer or the Internet, other than the traditional print media and broadcast media like radio and television. The emergence of the “new media” transforms the way people know the world, understand the world, receive information and communicate with one another.
A global playing field with vast communication networks demands the standardisation of language. It is pushing language towards greater uniformity, a trend that is all but irreversible. If we still hold dearly to our localised English or localised Chinese, revelling in their vivacity, intimacy and local flavour, how then are we able to keep abreast with the times?
Lianhe Zaobao has shown great foresight by not missing the Internet bandwagon. Since it has gone online, between one and two million readers all over the world surf its website every day. In addition to its printed version which are circulated locally and overseas, its total monthly readership numbers nearles 40 million. It is said that its influence in the international arena is comparable to China's People's Daily, which has a daily circulation between two and three million. Singapore is a tiny country, but the fact that the homegrown Zaobao Online is on par with the People's Daily is something Singaporeans should be proud of.
Under these new circumstances, should suitable adjustments be made to Singapore's linguistic environment?
Should the mass media take the lead, and provide society with the proper guidance in the area of language? The answer to both questions is in the affirmative. We should look ahead and spare a thought for future generations. The mass media and the educational departments should cooperate and work towards a positive linguistic environment, where our children can have more opportunities to listen to and read standardised languages.
What is the result of the tussle between standardised and mixed languages in Singapore? I hope it will be a win-win situation, but my mind is not at ease. In fact, sometimes I feel downright anxious.
(Translated by Wee Kek Koon)
應(yīng)用規(guī)范語(yǔ)言與世界溝通
語(yǔ)言規(guī)范,無論英語(yǔ)還是華語(yǔ),都是新加坡人津津樂道的話題。
這個(gè)話題不時(shí)在報(bào)上提出來,每次討論總是非常熱烈。這是個(gè)好現(xiàn)象。哀莫大于心死。要是新加坡人對(duì)自己的語(yǔ)文生活漠不關(guān)心,對(duì)這類話題興致索然,反倒不妙了。真理越辯越明,共識(shí)往往是在討論或爭(zhēng)辯中逐步形成的。
語(yǔ)言作為人類交際的工具和信息的載體,對(duì)社會(huì),對(duì)社會(huì)全體成員來說,簡(jiǎn)直跟空氣一樣,是須臾不可缺少的。使用語(yǔ)言是否規(guī)范,同思想交流和信息傳遞的效率直接有關(guān)。只有使用規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言,才能限度地發(fā)揮語(yǔ)言的職能。因此,語(yǔ)言教學(xué)和語(yǔ)言應(yīng)用都必須規(guī)范化和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化。這應(yīng)當(dāng)成為社會(huì)每個(gè)成員的共識(shí),成為社會(huì)每個(gè)成員的語(yǔ)言觀和語(yǔ)用觀。
新加坡是一個(gè)現(xiàn)代化的城市國(guó)家,信息科技十分發(fā)達(dá),政府也致力于把新加坡建設(shè)成為一個(gè)智慧島。新加坡的主要媒體報(bào)章、廣播和電視都已經(jīng)上了網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò),一個(gè)“新媒介”時(shí)代已經(jīng)來臨了。
所謂“新媒介”是指除了傳統(tǒng)的印刷媒介、廣播和電視等電子媒介以外的電腦與網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò)等傳播媒介?!靶旅浇椤钡某霈F(xiàn),改變了人們認(rèn)識(shí)世界、了解世界、獲取信息、相互溝通的方式。這種全球性的大范圍、大規(guī)模的溝通,迫切要求語(yǔ)言規(guī)范化、標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化,它正促使語(yǔ)言趨向大同。這個(gè)發(fā)展趨勢(shì)是人們難以逆轉(zhuǎn)的。要是我們還緊緊抱住本土英語(yǔ)或本土華語(yǔ)不放,念念不忘本土英語(yǔ)或本土華語(yǔ)怎么傳神,怎么親切,怎么富有地方特色,試問,又怎樣跟上時(shí)代的潮流,與時(shí)代同步前進(jìn)呢?
《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚,不失時(shí)機(jī)地上了網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò)。自上網(wǎng)以來,除了每天在本地和海外發(fā)行印刷版外,遍布全球的讀者每天有一兩百萬人次上網(wǎng)瀏覽電子版,每月累計(jì),將近4000萬人次,其國(guó)際影響力,據(jù)說與中國(guó)每日發(fā)行量達(dá)兩三百萬份的《人民日?qǐng)?bào)》不相上下。新加坡是個(gè)蕞爾島國(guó),可是生長(zhǎng)在這片土地上的《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》電子版卻能與《人民日?qǐng)?bào)》并駕齊驅(qū),新加坡人應(yīng)為此而感到自豪。
在這種新形勢(shì)下,新加坡人的語(yǔ)文生活是否應(yīng)該進(jìn)行適度的調(diào)整呢?大眾傳播媒介是否應(yīng)該站在時(shí)代的前列,在語(yǔ)用方面充分發(fā)揮自己的正確的導(dǎo)向作用呢?答案是肯定的。我們應(yīng)該向前看,應(yīng)該多為下一代著想。大眾傳播媒介與教育部門應(yīng)當(dāng)互相配合,共同努力,營(yíng)造一個(gè)良好的語(yǔ)文環(huán)境,讓孩子們多聽標(biāo)準(zhǔn)語(yǔ),多看用規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言撰寫和出版的讀物。
規(guī)范的語(yǔ)言和攙雜的語(yǔ)言仍在新加坡的舞臺(tái)上角力,結(jié)局如何?
筆者希望雙贏,但是心中并不踏實(shí),有時(shí)還捏著一把汗呢!