The year is 1974. A song was banned by Radio Television Singapore – the state broadcaster at the time. The reason? Improper use of English.

Over the next few years, educational reforms swept through our young nation to fix what then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew called “distortions in Singapore English”. But a spontaneous series of events would stir the imaginations of Singaporeans and push Singlish into once forbidden waters.

Musician and host Shabir Tabare Alam discovers how our common tongue came to be and traces its journey from nationhood to the cusp of the new millennium.

Credit: Song at 24:27 performed by @thegohmedian

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0:00 Singlish: An introduction
2:58 How well do you know Singlish?
5:45 What is 'lah'?
10:12 Origins of Singlish
14:17 Banning of a Singlish song, Fried Rice Paradise
17:40 Why the rejection of Singlish?
21:36 Why I chose to document Singlish
24:30 How the army became Singlish incubator
28:56 Singlish phrases explained, with Annette Lee
31:35 'Why U So Like Dat' by Siva Choy
34:44 When Singlish was finally acknowledged
38:24 Singlish quiz with Gwee Li Sui
41:12 How Singlish connects us
43:13 Are we more giving to Singlish speakers?

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About the show: Award-winning singer-songwriter Shabir traces the genesis of Singlish and its journey from pariah to cultural phenomenon.
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