SoH Expert Voice: Asst. Prof. Luke Lu Discusses the Use and Misuse of Singlish in Societal Issues
An advertisement by Chinese hotpot brand Haidilao at Stadium MRT station drew flak online for its improper use of Singlish. Many Singaporean netizens pointed out that the ad's slogan of "Hungry sia?" was bad Singlish – the phrase does not make sense as a question in the syntax of Singlish.
Assistant Professor Luke Lu of Nanyang Technological University's School of Humanities told local media outlet The New Paper that typically, instances of misuse of Singlish draw mockery at most.
But this time around, reactions were much harsher as they were tied to broader societal issues, he noted, adding that this was likely a reflection of the current angst and anxiety over foreigners, the uncertain economy and volatile job market.
"Singlish became a convenient excuse to air other grievances," he said.
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Read more: Channel NewsAsia, 1 November 2025
