On language and colonialism in Singapore – Reading Bang My Car by Ann Ang
Ann Ang may feel that there are many views on Singlish, even within the Singaporean community. She shows this clearly in “Bang My Car” and “Everybody uses English” (the short stories).
Bang my car:
The Uncle in BMC has an inferiority complex against the younger man since the younger man uses Speak Good English rather than Singlish, which is what the Uncle uses. The “Speak Good English” (each word capitalised in text) is a reference to the Speak Good English Movement (SGEM). Where the Singaporean government tries to convince Singaporeans to learn Standard English. Though at first glance, the website of SGEM may seem like a normal English tuition center, the language it uses can come off as patronising, and very Eurocentric. “Let’s be understood from Lakeside to London… from Eunos to Edinburgh…” as if there is some need Singaporeans to become like Europeans/English people.
Everybody uses English:
The speaker/character in this short story features a person who is Singaporean (assumed from “to us benighted locals”) and is against the use of Singlish. They view Singlish as inferior, pointing out that the name of the language itself is condescending.
Their arguments main points are:
– Language shouldn’t be just used for science but for literature and the arts
– Language should have a history “you really mean to establish your identity without a history?”
– Lets use English better than the English to outwit them
This may seem like it makes sense, until you realise that the character is against colonialism yet wants to speak the language of the colonisers. The character isn’t proud of Singlish and so shuns it. Singlish is an amalgamation of many languages, which is unique and so saying it has “no history” doesn’t sit right with me.
Macaulay’s minute:
The piece of text Macaulay’s minute mocks the intelligence of “Indians” (everyone not Chinese from Asia), saying that the medical practices found are so pathetic that even a horseshoe-fixer would laugh and Astronomy so ridiculous that English girls (seen inferior to boys then) couldn’t hold their laughter.
Right after it ridicules Asians, it continues with “class of persons Indian in blood and colour, but English in tastes, in opinions, in morals and in intellect.”. It’s quite clear that the colonisers see their language; and by extension, as superior. The text even refers to Asians as “vehicles”. Mere tools for the colonisers.