BRINGING BACK DIALECTS FOR A NEW GENERATION
As much as I try not to think about the inevitable, I can’t ignore reality. I know my ability to speak my dialect will keep fading as fewer people around me speak it.
In another 10 to 20 years, when most of my grandmother’s generation have left this planet, perhaps my Teochew skills will have dissipated entirely.
Having no time to commit to formal classes, I’ve started trying other ways to brush up on my dialect skills in the midst of my busy schedule.
I tried listening to Teochew music, but despite my valiant efforts, listening to songs about frying flat noodles (char kway teow) and sitting on cool ground is really not to my liking.
Lately, I’ve been tuning in to online resources such as Learn Teochew to hone my skills as and when I can.
For instance, I’ve recently been refreshing myself on the intricate pronunciation differences between common words such as that of “five” (“ngou”) and “two” (“no”).
I do hope other young Singaporeans will consider getting back in touch with their families’ dialects, even if it’s just to remind themselves of their culture and heritage, or even learn something new about their forefathers’ values and way of life.
In addition to clan associations for different Chinese sub-groups, perhaps more informal social groups with no or minimal membership fees could attract more of the Chinese Singaporean youth to reconnect with their roots as well.
Such clubs may also consider being more flexible with the timing and type of activities to attract and accommodate a younger, busier generation. For instance, I’d be excited to join a board-games group where participants aim to communicate only in a dialect.
For now, though, this is me mourning the slow death of dialects in Singapore, beginning with myself.
Loraine Lee is a journalist at CNA TODAY.
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