I'm Cantonese. But growing up, I was never exposed to Cantonese in school or the mass media.
The government barred the use of dialect in radio, television and films. Schools and other government institutions do not use dialect either.
/1
The government barred the use of dialect in radio, television and films. Schools and other government institutions do not use dialect either.
/1
There's only one radio station that offers programmes in Chinese dialects. Even those are limited to news bulletins, targeted at senior Chinese citizens.
straitstimes.com/singapore/pres…
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straitstimes.com/singapore/pres…
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In movies, the use of dialect is limited to flavour.
In the film 'I Not Stupid', one character constantly uses 'lim pei'.
Hokkien for 'your father', it is a rough and arrogant way of referring to yourself.
In the entire film, these were the only dialect words allowed. /3
In the film 'I Not Stupid', one character constantly uses 'lim pei'.
Hokkien for 'your father', it is a rough and arrogant way of referring to yourself.
In the entire film, these were the only dialect words allowed. /3
The movie was adapted as a Chinese-language drama series.
TV had even higher standards than movies. That character switched to saying 'ni lao ba'. Or 'your old father'.
Hardly anyone uses that term in Singapore. It lacks the punch and arrogance coded in 'lim pei'. /4
TV had even higher standards than movies. That character switched to saying 'ni lao ba'. Or 'your old father'.
Hardly anyone uses that term in Singapore. It lacks the punch and arrogance coded in 'lim pei'. /4
But to comply with government regulations, the script required the actor to switch to 'ni lao ba'.
Which made his lines come off as artificial and inauthentic.
Every time he said 'ni lao ba', it's a reminder of onerous government regulations in the arts. /5
Which made his lines come off as artificial and inauthentic.
Every time he said 'ni lao ba', it's a reminder of onerous government regulations in the arts. /5
In Singapore, movies shot in Chinese dialects must be re-dubbed in Mandarin before being screened in theaters.
If you want to listen to the original dialogue, you need to go to parallel importers or foreign TV channels.
Which carry their own costs. /6
If you want to listen to the original dialogue, you need to go to parallel importers or foreign TV channels.
Which carry their own costs. /6
My first memory of a Cantonese-language film was John Woo's A Better Tomorrow. Set in Hong Kong, everyone spoke Cantonese.
My parents obtained a VCD with the original Hong Kong soundtrack. But it came with Mandarin subtitles.
As a teen, I watched the film obsessively. /7
My parents obtained a VCD with the original Hong Kong soundtrack. But it came with Mandarin subtitles.
As a teen, I watched the film obsessively. /7
It was a window into a world I didn't know.
Insight into the language of my ancestors.
A peek into how other people think, speak and act.
Eventually, I bought every John Woo movie I could find.
In Cantonese, of course.
/8
Insight into the language of my ancestors.
A peek into how other people think, speak and act.
Eventually, I bought every John Woo movie I could find.
In Cantonese, of course.
/8
Today the government has relaxed its restrictions in movies. Slightly.
In a Singaporean movie theater, the government allows you to hear background music in the original language. Even if it were in dialect.
The government also allows you watch blooper reels in dialect. /9
In a Singaporean movie theater, the government allows you to hear background music in the original language. Even if it were in dialect.
The government also allows you watch blooper reels in dialect. /9
The Ip Man series was originally shot in Cantonese. In compliance with government regulations, it was redubbed in Mandarin for the Singapore market.
But the rules for Ip Man 4 were relaxed slightly, leading to some jarring scenes. /10
But the rules for Ip Man 4 were relaxed slightly, leading to some jarring scenes. /10
Ip Man 4 takes place in Hong Kong and America. In America, younger characters tended to speak to each other in English, whereas older Chinese characters used dialect or Mandarin.
Every Chinese line was dubbed. The English dialogue was left intact. /11
Every Chinese line was dubbed. The English dialogue was left intact. /11
This created the surreal situation of having multiple voices for the same character.
The original actor speaks in English. (Or Chinese, as appropriate.)
A voice actor dubbed over every sentence spoken by every Chinese character who speaks in dialect.
/12
The original actor speaks in English. (Or Chinese, as appropriate.)
A voice actor dubbed over every sentence spoken by every Chinese character who speaks in dialect.
/12
As with I Not Stupid, the government allowed one phrase in dialect.
A line required the character to speak in dialect for it to make sense.
The character spoke in Mandarin, then switched to Cantonese halfway through.
The switch from VA to actor and back was uncanny. /13
A line required the character to speak in dialect for it to make sense.
The character spoke in Mandarin, then switched to Cantonese halfway through.
The switch from VA to actor and back was uncanny. /13
Singapore's government prides itself on pragmatism.
Learning Chinese and speaking Mandarin is pragmatic.
But this should not come with the cost of excluding dialects from public spaces.
Learning dialect does not take away from Mandarin. It adds to it.
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Learning Chinese and speaking Mandarin is pragmatic.
But this should not come with the cost of excluding dialects from public spaces.
Learning dialect does not take away from Mandarin. It adds to it.
/14
Singaporean Chinese aren't just an undifferentiated mass of Chinese people.
We are Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochews, Hakka, all of with our own unique traditions, culture, idioms, expressions.
The use of dialects connects us to our roots. Our culture, our history, our elders. /15
We are Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochews, Hakka, all of with our own unique traditions, culture, idioms, expressions.
The use of dialects connects us to our roots. Our culture, our history, our elders. /15
The government's policy on dialect smooshes us into a single homogenous mess.
It disconnects us from our elders and severs us from our roots.
It stifles the arts scene and forces artifice where there should be authenticity.
/16
It disconnects us from our elders and severs us from our roots.
It stifles the arts scene and forces artifice where there should be authenticity.
/16
I am Cantonese.
My government does not allow me to be Cantonese.
What shall it profit a people to gain the world, if they shall lose their souls?
/end
My government does not allow me to be Cantonese.
What shall it profit a people to gain the world, if they shall lose their souls?
/end
