Singapore and its culture

Singapore is a small place where originally Malay population was prominent but in the third generation Chinese were majority. Some Indian and Arab immigrants are also there having some intermarriage between them. Eurasian and Peranakan communities are also there and famous as ‘Straits Chinese’. Because of the presence of these ethnic groups Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of cultural dispersion. This encourages a rich mixture of diversity in Singapore. One of the other cultural attractions of Singapore can be mentioned as its exotic cuisine. Tourists from various corner of the world come to enjoy in Singapore every year.

The English used in Singapore can be noted as primarily British English, with some influences of American English. In Singapore you will listen the local colloquial dialect of English and this is Singlish. This has many creole-like characteristics. They also incorporated vocabulary and grammar from various dialects e.g. Chinese, Malay, and also Indian languages. Singlish is spoken normally on the streets. The government usually frowns on its use in official contexts. English became far-flung in Singapore and it happened after it was implemented as a first language medium in the education system. It can be said that English is the most common language in Singaporean literature. Little Indian and Chinatown is Singapore’s ethnic neighbor.

Little Indian and Chinatown were constituted under the Raffles Plan to initially separate the immigrants. But now a day they have various benefactions whose one of the intention is to buy or eat something related to that particular culture. During the colonial era many places of worship were constructed. The Masjid Jamae Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple, and the Church of Gregory the Illuminator, all of these were constructed in the colonial era. The British has done this in order to promote religious tolerance. These religious sites are preserved as National Monuments of Singapore.