Bilingualism and Identity Crisis <in English>
新加坡国立大学社会学系《新加坡的族群认同危机》的调查结果，笔者有几点想法。<Ref2*>
首先，从目前华族小一新生之中有多达43%<Ref3*>以英语做为家庭语言，而且这个百分比还会每年增加的趋势来看，该统计调查显然进一步证实了我国社会正在面对巨大文化变迁的事实。
这种变迁正如我国的人口老化问题及出生率发生的变动一样，是值得我们深入研究探讨的。因为唯有如此，我们才能及时有效的将各种可能的不利变动趋势纠正过来。
其次，由于我国选择了双语教育政策，以兼顾国家生存及文化传承的目标，因此，要探讨我国的文化变迁，一个可行途径是研究已经在我国推行了30多年的双语教育，以便了解它在文化传承功能上是否达到我们预期的效果。这样的研究相信对新加坡21的文化前景，对争取新一代家长对原有双语教育的文化和语文目标的认同与共识都会是有所贡献的。
再次，我们既然选择了双语教育政策，就有责任为后代建立一个注重双语的社会传统。因为使双语并重的概念成为生活的传统，才有可能代代传承下去。根据这个概念，双语的社会传统，不应只是在学校受十年或十二年双语教育的传统，而是新加坡人应终生努力，在家庭、学校及社会积极身体力行的传统。
从目前的语文情况看来，笔者相信，如果我们推行多年的双语教育，只局限于学校推行，而无法使整个社会向着这个目标迈进，以至成为大家的共识，就无法排除新加坡21的文化，很可能被西方文化取代之的可能。这是国人该共同深思的问题。
Bilingualism and Identity Crisis <Ref4*>
THE SURVEY by the
Sociology Department of the National University of Singapore on ethnic identity in
Singapore has set me thinking.<Ref5*>
At present, 43 per
cent <Ref6*> of the
Chinese Primary 1 pupils speak English at home. The percentage seems set to rise. This
survey has further affirmed that the Singapore society is undergoing major cultural changes.
These changes, like
the ageing population and the declining birth rate, should be studied if we are to arrest
any undesirable trends before it is too late.
One way to study the
cultural changes is by examining the system of bilingual education, which was initiated
over 30 years ago for the dual purpose of survival of the republic and preservation of
ethnic cultures.We should study whether the system succeded in preserving Singapore's
Chinese culture.
Presumably, this
scrutiny will contribute to the realisation of the Singapore 21 vision. It will also help
younger parents appreciate the merit of bilingual education in passing down their culture
and language.
Moreover, since we have adopted bilingual education, we are duty-bound
to create a tradition of bilingualism for the offspring.
Only when emphasis on
both English and one's mother tongue becomes part and parcel of life can the idea of
bilingualism be passed down through generations.
I believe that
bilingualism should extend beyond the 10 or 12 years of schooling. It should be a
life-long process and be part of our tradition, practised not only at school but also at
home and in society.
As it stands today, I
am afraid that Singapore's culture is in peril of being displaced by Western culture in the 21st century if
bilingualism remains confined to the school and if our society is unable to reach a
concensus on this issue.
Surely, this issue
warrants serious soul searching among Singaporeans.
(Translated by
ZaoBao)
Ref2:
1999年12月3日，新加坡国立大学社会学系高级讲师张汉音博士在东亚研究所的一个讲座上，公布了一项花了十个月，有关文化价值观抽样调查的部分结果。根据这项在1999年对800多名中学、初级学院和大学学生的抽样调查结果，将近四份之一的华族学生不想做回华人，其中11.8%想做洋人，8.2%想当日本人(详细数据请参阅以下的统计表--早报.04/Dec/99.第11版)。
如果有来生，我最希望... |
|||
华族学生 |
马来族学生 |
印度族学生 |
|
| ...是华人 | 78.4% |
2.9% |
5.1% |
| ...是马来人 | 1.5% |
91.9% |
1.6% |
| ...是印度人 | 1.7% |
0.0% |
82.1% |
| ...是白人 | 11.8% |
4.9% |
15.3% |
| ...是日本人 | 8.2% |
1.0% |
0.0% |
上述的调查结果发表后，引起华社广泛的关注，中英文报读者纷纷投函言论版发表意见，本文是其中之一。
Ref3:
[...新加坡人家中所用的语言迅速改变。现在，更多新加坡人在家中讲英语。较年轻的人比年长的人在家中更可能讲英语。在1988年，一年级的学生当中，只有大约20%家中讲英语。到了1998年，这数字上升到40%。在10年内，比例增加了一倍，并将继续上升...]---取自李显龙副总理关于华文教学新政策的部长声明第8a项 (早报.21/01/99 第6页)
[...“新加坡人都接受双语教育，都知道语言的工具价值，但对于语言的文化价值，却不一定完全理解与接受，这造成了说英语的家庭越来越多，是一个不容忽视的现象。尤其是华文教师使命感的减退，更令人担忧。”...]---南洋理工大学中华语言文化中心主任周清海教授在一个座谈会上的讲话 (早报.10/07/2000 第10页)
有关43%的数据，请参阅推广华语理事会所出版的书，<<华人.华语.华文>>.讲华语运动纪念特刊，第41及42页。
Except Ref1-Ref6,this article is the full text of my letter to ZaoBao's forum page(Viewpoint) which was published on 18/Dec/1999.
[...About a quarter of young Chinese Singaporeans do not wish to be Chinese, according to a survey by a National University of Singapore academic on ethnic identity...About 800 students from secondary to tertiary level were surveyed and they were representative of the population in terms of race and gender...Dr Chang Han Yin, a senior sociology lecturer, said the finding came out of a larger survey he is doing on the values of Singaporeans and the part they play in the country's economic success...The full survey is not ready but the finding on ethnic identity was mentioned by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Dr Ow Chin Hock, at a Singapore 21 forum...
| RACE PREFERRED | |||||
| What they would rather be | |||||
| Caucasian | Chinese | Malay | Indian | Japanese | |
| CHINESE | 11.8% | 78.4% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 8.2% |
| MALAY | 4.9% | 2.9% | 91.9% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| INDIAN | 15.3% | 5.1% | 1.6% | 82.1% | 0.0% |
...]---(The Straits Times 14/Dec/1999 Pg3)
After the above finding was released, many concerned readers wrote in to forum pages of Chinese and English news papers to express their views, my article was one among the many being published.
[...the language profile of Singaporean families is changing rapidly. More Singaporean homes are now English-speaking. Younger families are much more likely to be English-speaking than older ones. In 1988, only 20 per cent of the Primary 1 cohort came from English-speaking homes. By 1998, the figure was 40 per cent. In 10 years, the proportion has doubled. It will continue to rise...]---from Ministerial Statement On Chinese Language In School By BG Lee ( The Straits Times.21/Jan/99 Pg24)
For the 43 per cent figure, please refer to page 41&42 of the book <<Mandarin: The Chinese Connection, a commemorative book of Speak Mandarin Campaign>> published by Promote Mandarin Council.