Singapore Views Mandarin as Its Future Mother Tongue
According to a report by Reuters on September 15, Singaporean leaders have stated that Mandarin Chinese will become the country's "dominant" language. Currently, they are actively encouraging citizens to learn to speak fluent Mandarin. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister and Minister Mentor, even stated that within two generations, Mandarin would become the country's mother tongue.
It is understood that in Singapore, both English and Mandarin are important, as people need to use different languages in different environments. However, a shop owner in Singapore's Chinatown noted that Chinese is becoming increasingly important.
The report stated that after being hit by the global financial crisis, strengthening relations with China has become a "strategic priority" for Singapore, as the country hopes to share in the benefits of China's rapid economic development.
The Chairman of the Promote Mandarin Council in Singapore stated: "As China's status on the world stage becomes increasingly important, ethnic Chinese Singaporeans who are proficient in the Chinese language and culture will possess a unique advantage in the workplace."
The Singaporean government's promotion and funding of Mandarin Chinese began in 1979. Today, according to government data, most Singaporeans speak Mandarin in their homes, and the current focus is on improving their writing and oral fluency.
Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated at the launch of the 2009 Speak Mandarin Campaign earlier this year: "In two generations, Mandarin will be our mother tongue." Lee Kuan Yew believes that as China expands its business interests in Southeast Asia, Singapore will become a hub for China to pursue its goals, and Singaporean companies will also strengthen their positions in China. Fluent Chinese will become a first-mover advantage for Singaporean companies competing with foreign firms.
Currently, Singapore is already the third-largest source of foreign investment for China. In 2008, the country's direct investment in China reached $6.5 billion, an increase of 40% compared to 2007. Trade between the two countries also grew 17-fold between 1991 and 2008, reaching $91.4 billion.
