Does Ethnicity Matter? Contesting Perspectives on Phonetic Variation in Singapore English

LMS_2025-08-29
29 Aug 2025 03.00 PM - 05.00 PM SHHK Meeting Room 3 (03-94) Alumni, Current Students, Industry/Academic Partners, Prospective Students, Public
Organised by:
Lai Yunfan
Register Here

It has been suggested in evolutionary models of World Englishes that one of the key features that mark Singapore English as one of the most developed of Englishes in the world is the presence of ethnic variation. When it comes to ethnic ‘subvarieties’ in Singapore English, phonetic variation is the one area that has received the most attention, given that it is not only the most salient feature, but it is also tied most closely to the construction of identities. One of the first observations on ethnic variation in the sound system of Singapore English dated as early as 1974, and thus far, there have been differing perspectives offered on the topic – be it in terms of its segmental or suprasegmental properties, or in terms of phonetic production and perception. In this talk, we aim to provide an overview of the research of the topic, and offer differing (and contesting) perspectives on the question of ethnic variation in the sound system of Singapore English today. Our goal is to be able to synthesize both our bodies of work on this topic and offer a perspective that may provide some clarity to some of the existing questions on ethnic variation in Singapore English, and at the same time, challenge some assumptions that have been made in the various fields in Linguistics. 

Tan Ying Ying is Associate Professor of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies in NTU. Depending on her mood, the days of the week, and who’s asking, she can either be a phonetician or a sociolinguist. 

Ying Ying’s slogan for this battle is: “Every punch, every takedown, every victory”.

Jasper Sim is Assistant Professor in the English Language and Literature Department at the National Institute of Education, NTU. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, he uses sociophonetic methods to examine child language. On all other days, he helps Ying Ying decide if she’s a phonetician or a sociolinguist. 

Jasper’s slogan for this battle is: “The fight is won before it’s even fought”.

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