MovieChat Forums > The Maid (2005) Discussion > Whats with the poor usage of english?

Whats with the poor usage of english?


I find it totally disturbing and insulting when such movie, which showcase modern Singapore, speaking in such unacceptable English language when most Singaporean no longer speak that way in real life. Is it so hard for local movies to speak in proper english instead of the embarrassing 'singlish' which makes us look dumb and silly? Its sad to see the actors struggling with the 'singlish' pronounciation accent and as a viewer, irritated having to read the english subtitle which in fact can be spoken by the actors themselves. Anybody else agree with me?

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Hi,

I beg to differ from your view. As the story presents us with Chen Shu Cheng and Hong Hui Fang playing old Mr and Mrs Teo, bear in mind that they come from a very traditional Chinese background, where Chinese dialects and Mandarin are the main languages spoken in their daily conversation. As they performs Chinese opera throughout their life, bear in mind that most of these opera performers are not well educated, or they are not even educated in the 1st place. So it sounds rather weird to hear them speaking perfect English in the show. Singlish, however, is more appropriate to these people as they do not use English in their daily conversation. Note that even some of the Singapore teens still could not speak proper English after years of education in English today.

The Maid is not a Hollywood or Western production. It is a Singapore production. Singlish has been used by Singaporeans for a long period, and it is still used today. Surely you don't expect someone who do not used English often to speak Shakespearian English in a Singapore production such as The Maid right?

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Singlish is appropriate in the movie since the family is Chinese-educated, not English. In fact, it's strange that they speak even a pidgin form of English, but I guess it's necessary for the plot.

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And here I thought they were all Eskimoes!

Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.

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I don't agree with you ... as much as 'Singlish' wasn't really something that can do us proud in the eyes of foreigners ... it was unique and it was part of the culture... its a mixture of english with some bits of dialect and at times, malay, slipped into it ... it doesn't make us look dumb and silly if more of us are willing to embrace the 'singlish' culture, not scorn or frown upon it, not the least bit to say we should all started talking in Singlish some day ... but to at least accept it ... try to understand it and have your share of fun with it ... there really is nothing embarassing about it ... every country has their way of communicating through their own ENglish mix with some other language jargorn ... nobody speaks perfect english all the time ... the film is trying to illustrate a typical S'pore family who stays in an old shop-house like bunglow, and who does wayang and chinese opera for a hobby and living ... it wouldn't have fit into the setting of the storyline if they were to speak and communicate in perfect english all the time ...

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I find it totally disturbing and insulting when such *a* movie, which showcase*s* modern Singapore, speaking *wah, movies speak, ah?* in such unacceptable English language when most Singaporean no longer speak that way in real life.

Your comment only proves that you are horribly dislocated from reality.

~*~*~
http://hydevil.blogspot.com

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A your English is "proper"?



I'VE FALLEN AND I CANT GET UP!
I REFUSE TO GET UP!

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I actually thought Tong was pretty bold to have them speaking English in a mandarin-accented Singaporean manner, despite knowing that this film will spread into foreign markets including western ones. Much better than those "westernized" movies full of ABCs. Yuck.

What's more worthy of note is the pitch-perfect Teochew dialogue. *beep* YEAH!

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yeah,agree with you...what's wrong with speaking Singlish in a local film like this?we are no longer in the colonial era...we won't let anyone dominate our choice of language spoken as long as the movie is good

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Take a chill-pill.

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Snob

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In the sence when she arives

"Don't be scared of her"

"Shes probally more scared of your english"

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You need to have respect an realize this movie was not made for american audiences. The proper term for the language being spoken is Singlish and is being spoken appropriately. Before you talk about the english language being used poorly. You need to rethink what you are saying. Because americans actually speak english very poorly. Yes it is how americans are taught to speak it. But most americans are taught wrong. There are many different versions of english, First you have the true proper english, then you have american english, australian english, singlish, and so on..... So next time before trying to critize a movie for using their own language in the appropriate way. Think about the fact that there is a whole world out there with their own adaptations of the english language.
~I want to die in my sleep like grandpa, Not screaming like his passengers as the plane crashed~

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I found the linguistics appropriate for the movie. Though english is the official universal tongue of Singapore, it is not their first language and these are not rich imperials or college-educated people but local working class Singaporeans and filipinas, who I'm sure speak their own languages quite fluently and correctly. As stated by nagoybog earlier, americans and even the British don't exactly speak perfect or even good english most of the time, and that's their native language.

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My wife (not from Singapore) has many relatives that do live in Singapore. When they are together that's how to speak. The mixture of Chinese dialects, Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese, Fujienese and of course English. "Singaporeans no longer speak that way in real life", how do you know that? I have been to Singapore and many still speak like that.

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i think everyone is missing the point here

the point is that the maid came from a different country and didnt speak the same language, thus isolating her self from the rest of the town, the family could only speak broken english which the maid prob found hard to understand at times. the major aspect of the film was about her lonelyness at being the only one unable to understand their native language. it wouldnt have worked so well if the family spoke perfect english coz then she would have been able to have better conversations with them instead of just simple sentences

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You are very correct. I will speak from experience here. Because my gf (born and raiesed in Philippines) moved to Singapore and her main problem was the differences in the way English is spoken. Mainly because the english taught to children in the Philippines is the American style and the english taught to children in Singapore is the British version. She pointed out that one time someone told her to go to use the Lift and she didnt know what they were talking about. Until she found out that Lift was the british way of saying elavator.

~I want to die in my sleep like grandpa, Not screaming like his passengers as the plane crashed~

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