Rooting for our mother tongues in Singapore

Your mother tongue can also be your super power - that’s what our three guests on The Usual Place tell us.

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

In this episode, Zhang Xi Ying, a content producer at HeyKaki, C Aishwarya, a branding and promotions executive from Tamil Murasu and Rabiatul Adawiya Binhan, deputy audience and growth editor from Berita Harian, share their views on what it takes to be bilingual.

Beyond acquiring another language, your mother tongue helps shape some sense of your identity, and preserve culture and connections with your roots.

For one, it’s no longer passe to be fluent in your mother tongue, say Xi Ying and Aishwarya. But sometimes, the struggle to pick it up can be real, adds Rabiatul, who is trying to get her two children to learn Malay.

Learning our mother tongues came up at the National Day Rally (NDR) in August 2024.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, said in his Mandarin speech, that he understood that the Chinese community is “very concerned” about the standard of Mandarin in Singapore.

In an effort to spur on students who are strong in their mother tongue, Mr Wong announced that those who do well in these languages at primary school will be able to study it at a higher level from Secondary 1.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:59 Why learning your mother tongue brings you closer to culture

10:48 Clinging to their culture when they can’t speak their mother tongue

13:42 Mixing English and mother tongue languages to appeal

21:23 Hating on your mother tongue

27:26 Connecting with your mother tongue starts at home

Check out the full vodcast here: https://str.sg/sfG2

Follow our guests on HeyKaki, Orang Muda Gitew and இன்னொரு day இன்னொரு slay

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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