I don't agree with many of the reasons given at the petition site.
Here are 3 examples:
1. It says "Huge amount of linguistic research has shown that it is possible for young children to be multilingual. We also have living proof – Youths from Hong Kong and Malaysia and fluent in not just English and Chinese but also in dialects."
These are superficial reasons. There is also a huge amount of research that shows otherwise. And I think there are also many HK youths who are fluent in Cantonese but speak awkward Mandarin and English.
2. It says "Singaporean youths may lose out from the ever increasing global economic competition and rise of China as well as it’s dialect-speaking states."
I think it is just the opposite. If Singapore youths speak dialects but could not master Mandarin, they will lose out.
3. It says "Disallowing dialects on local radio and television programs also marginalize the elderly from being in touch with current affairs, having access to entertainment and even communicating with their own grand children."
This may be a good reason decades ago when the ban took effect but I doubt it is the case now. Most elderly people I know are comfortable watching TVB shows in Mandarin or watching the news in Mandarin.
2 comments:
Sign a petition to help the elderly poor of SG:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/312/814/814/support-the-reintroduction-of-dialects-on-local-tvradio-programs/
I don't agree with many of the reasons given at the petition site.
Here are 3 examples:
1. It says "Huge amount of linguistic research has shown that it is possible for young children to be multilingual. We also have living proof – Youths from Hong Kong and Malaysia and fluent in not just English and Chinese but also in dialects."
These are superficial reasons. There is also a huge amount of research that shows otherwise. And I think there are also many HK youths who are fluent in Cantonese but speak awkward Mandarin and English.
2. It says "Singaporean youths may lose out from the ever increasing global economic competition and rise of China as well as it’s dialect-speaking states."
I think it is just the opposite. If Singapore youths speak dialects but could not master Mandarin, they will lose out.
3. It says "Disallowing dialects on local radio and television programs also marginalize the elderly from being in touch with current affairs, having access to entertainment and even communicating with their own grand children."
This may be a good reason decades ago when the ban took effect but I doubt it is the case now. Most elderly people I know are comfortable watching TVB shows in Mandarin or watching the news in Mandarin.
Post a Comment