1. How is speaking properly advocated?
It is advocated for as the ‘citizens’ of the kingdom are having arguments and discussions where they are unable to understand each other due to the incorrect grammar, and they are all taking turns coming to the ‘queen’ of the kingdom to get help with their situation and to speak better english.
2. What techniques are employed? Use of costumes / celebrities / exaggerated scenarios / puns
They use comedy in the skits to make it more enjoyable to watch, but still, allow the message to be portrayed through it. Furthermore, as they are using slang/speech that is often used in Singapore, it allows the audience to connect more to the video and makes it more relatable, so they are more likely to understand it and learn from it.
3. What is the deeper social issue revealed in this discussion? (breakdown in communication? – is this merely between husband and wife or is this represented as an intergenerational conflict too?
The deeper social issues revealed may be how the royalty/upper classes are able to speak better English as they are more educated, and this allows them to be able to communicate with and help a wider range of people. Whereas the people who are coming to help are the citizens of the kingdom and considered to be lower class/ lower in the hierarchy compared to the queen. The other social issues may be how the older generations are unable to speak as well as the younger generations due to their use of Singlish and incorrect grammar, and the younger generations have access to more opportunities due to their ‘proper’ speaking.
4. What is the connective thematic thread between these skits and Boom?
I believe there is a connection between these and Boom as both texts are contrasting the themes of the need for progress in newer generations comparded to the traditional views of the older generations. This is shown in the skit as the royalty of the kingdom is trying to eduate her citizens on how to speak properly so that they are able to progress and move forward, whereas the citizens are not really aware that they are making mistakes. In Boom this is shown due to the mother-son relationship between Boon and his mother, as the mother speaks in much more singlish words and has traditional views (doesn’t want to move out of her house), but Boon is more in the younger generation and wanting to progress. It is also shown through how the propoerty agents and director act, and how they are shown less empathetically than the other characters to emphasise the theme of progress.
5. Are you able to identify a Global Issue that can be explored between these texts?
Both sustainable goals of decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reduced inequality (SDG 10) can be seen in both texts as it reviews how inequality is formed due to the differences in beliefs and values, and how for some people decent work and economic growth is prioritised, while other things are deemed less important. This value placed on progress has lead to a highly developed community in Singapore, however it has also created inequality and reduced inequalities for those who are unable to progress due to possible language or cultural barriers.