Strawberrypink Neutral Newbie June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 our simple, short, concise, straight-to-the-point, effective 'english' . 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. ours: No stock. RETURNING A CALL Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone call for me a few moments ago? ours: Hello, who call? ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY Britons: Excuse me, I would like to get by. Would you please make way? ours: S-kew me. WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY Britons: Hey! Put your wallet away, this drink is on me.. ours: 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? ours: (pointing at the door) Can ah? WHEN ENTERTAINING Britons: Please make yourself right at home. ours: No need shy shy one lah! WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money. ours: Where got? WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER Britons: I would prefer not to do that, if you don't mind. ours: 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. ours: 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. ours: 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? ours: See what, see what? WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION. Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment. ours: Die lah!! WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened? ours: 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. ours: Like that also don't know how to do! So which would you prefer? have a laugh & Good day! ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forhod Clutched June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 Nice one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumb 4th Gear June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 I was at my daughter pri sch for a school function. Little girls were sitting on the assembly floor and waiting for instructions and were chipping away happily. Then a teacher found it too noisy and came over. She put her hands at her waist and shouted "Can you all stop tok tok tok". Best part is all the children understand what it means. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1l0v3you Clutched June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 I was at my daughter pri sch for a school function. Little girls were sitting on the assembly floor and waiting for instructions and were chipping away happily. Then a teacher found it too noisy and came over. She put her hands at her waist and shouted "Can you all stop tok tok tok". Best part is all the children understand what it means. hehe so cute. tok tok tok tok tok! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkk Clutched June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 Ours is a xin-glish island Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karu 6th Gear June 17, 2009 Share June 17, 2009 My K1 boy also starting to pick the lahs & lehs... Not sure if they're from the teachers or his fellow classmates?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hensony Clutched June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 My K1 boy also starting to pick the lahs & lehs... Not sure if they're from the teachers or his fellow classmates?? I sometimes wonder, is it really a bad thing that we have lahs, mehs and other truly-Singapore speech endings? I just feel that including them in our conversation adds a unique characteristic. So long as our message to the intended listener is clear and understood, what's wrong with a bit of local flavour? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drive_carcar Clutched June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Another not really short cut Singlish but commonly heard: Britons: I give up! Singlish: Aiyah! F88k lah! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcoloured 1st Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 we are all singaporeans ma. so no matter what the young ones will definatly pick up this unique language. i think it all boils down to the school or parents to them when to speak proper english and when they can use singlish... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackyv Turbocharged June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 last night, my sils was chatting about primary school, blablabla... then we mentioned that xxx school good, her reply was like "that school very hot",, hard to get in"".... our 7 yrs old niece heard that and replied "that school has aircon classroom, not hot"... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolicense Turbocharged June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Another common mistake made by teachers, especially the chinese ed ones who converted to teach subjects in english... "can you all keep shut up!??" Make up your mind, its either "shut up" or "keep quiet". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickster 5th Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 I sometimes wonder, is it really a bad thing that we have lahs, mehs and other truly-Singapore speech endings? I just feel that including them in our conversation adds a unique characteristic. So long as our message to the intended listener is clear and understood, what's wrong with a bit of local flavour? I think the lahs n lehs an mehs are not juz singlish, but malaysians also speak like that.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kotila Clutched June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Anything also can lah! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceracer 1st Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Haha nice one. Straight to the point! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidklt Supercharged June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 face it..singlish would always be there.. its just passed down from generation to generation. can see so many parents speaking bad english to kids. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wish1719 1st Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 it's good to get straight to the point.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolecnal 2nd Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Nice on thks for sharing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamstart 1st Gear June 18, 2009 Share June 18, 2009 Maybe many years ago...when one uses pager Briton: Hi, I just received a page, anyone's looking for me? ours: Hello, di'an kar pager? ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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