Don’t Spoil but Enhance Our Mother Tongue System[^0]

<Chinese Version>


I refer to the letter, “Don’t restrict students’ second-language choice” by Mdm Tang Siew Ngoh (The Straits Times 31/Dec/2005). [^1]

Mdm Tang had raised a few questions which I would like to share my thoughts on them.

Firstly, on her request to Ministry of Education (MOE) not to restrict students’ second-language choice. I think we should look at the full picture in order to understand the fact. That is, since late 1960s, MOE have implemented the Bilingual Policy which forces everyone, regardless what languages they speak at home, to study English and (Ethnic) Mother Tongues in our school system. All Singaporeans, although the majority of them were non-English speakers in the old days, were open-minded and supportive of the policy because it has guaranteed a fair and win-win result for all.

However, the request by people like Mdm Tang is in fact trying to change this policy to, continue forcing everyone to study English (with higher standard???, and harsh punishments for failure???) but not our own Mother Tongues. Why should fair-minded Singaporeans agree to such an un-fair change which will only result in a win-lost situation in long run? Instead, we should request for an amendment of our Constitution to protect our Bilingual Policy and the effectiveness of Mother Tongues Education.

Secondly, Mdm Tang has questioned the effectiveness of learning Mandarin to transmit culture. Here, again, we should look at another fact. That is, we have reduced our Mother Tongues standard to second language level or lower (in the case of Chinese B), and teach them as a single subject in all schools for most students up to secondary four/five or junior college level only. With so little resources given, any fair-minded Singaporeans would know that, they must help to enhance, not spoil, the learning of Mother Tongues in order for them to be effective in transmitting cultures.

Thirdly, Mdm Tang has pointed out that The Speak Mandarin Campaign has marginalised older dialect speakers and hindered the inter-generational transmission of culture. The truth about The Speak Mandarin Campaign as revealed in 1979 has always been about three languages. That is, choose English and Mandarin and let go Dialects, or, choose English and Dialects and let go Mandarin. In both cases, either Mandarin or Dialects (but not English[^2]) will demise gradually after the choice is made.

Therefore the fact since 1979 is, in order to make room for English and ease the learning of Mandarin, we have decided to let go Dialects. The subsequent demise of Dialects is therefore due to the combine responsibility of English and Mandarin.

Unfortunately, the painful sacrifice by Chinese to let go their Dialects did not encourage their young to concentrate on Mandarin for long, more than 50% of young parents have shifted to use English at home in recent years. Hence, large number of Dialect-Mandarin speaking grandparents have to learn English if they want to have a proper chit-chat with their grandchildren. Therefore it is very un-fair and disgraceful for us to blame the failure of inter-generational transmission of culture solely on The Speak Mandarin Campaign.

Fourthly, Mdm Tang has questioned whether the learning of one’s mother tongue the only way to acquire a ‘cultural ballast’ (Asian values) to counteract the Western ‘decadence’ that comes with the use of the English language?

The answer to this question is always very clear. In bilingual policy, we enforce everyone to learn English (not any other foreign language) as common language and allow most of its Western influences on Singaporeans. We also enforce everyone to learn their own Mother Tongue (not any other race’s language) so as to ensure our traditional multi-racial cultures and Asian values will have fair chances to remain flourish and influences on Singaporeans.

Of course, to further enhance inter-racial harmony, besides mainly using English as common language for all races, we also encourage Singaporeans to learn other race’s language as third language.

Fifthly, Mdm Tang has rightly pointed out that, the equation of Western values with ‘decadence’ is not entirely defensible. For this issue, I think we should look at a vivid fact which has always existed but overlooked by many people. That is: whether Western cultures or values contain ‘decadence’ or not, our bilingual policy will still embrace English as a common and commercial language.

In other words, although we have talked about the ‘decadence’ issue of the West for many years (which we seldom do so now), but we have never use it as an excuse to shut out or marginalise English.

And that shows the true spirit of our bilingual policy. We will embrace, tolerate and sometimes criticise the short comings of English and Mother Tongues for good cause, but we will never use those short comings or other excuses to try shutting out or marginalised any of the two languages.

It is therefore always a regret to read forum letters written by some Singaporeans in local newspapers, whose intentions seem to try finding out all sorts of excuses to shut out or marginalise our Mother Tongues.

Lastly, Mdm Tang was right to point out that religion plays a part in shaping one’s moral values. But for any religion like her Christian belief to be effective and able to last for a very long period of time, an important factor is the existence of a proper religion system and tradition to support it.

Similarly, for long term consideration, the survival of our Mother Tongues will also require a proper system and tradition to support it. Bilingual policy is the last proper system we have for Mother Tongues. It is also the last system for those children who are only or mainly taught to speak English instead of the traditional way of learning Mother Tongues at home.

Therefore, all fair-minded Singaporeans must be aware not to allow anybody (be it a MP, an elite or a normal citizen), trying to use any excuses to marginalise the effectiveness of our Mother Tongues education or contemptuously declared our Mother Tongues as sacred cows waited to be slaughtered.



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