Singaporean Youth Struggle with Dialect Preservation

Many individuals in Singapore and the surrounding areas have been captivated by the popular Thai film 'How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies'. The movie revolves around a grandson, M, who decides to care for his terminally ill grandmother with the expectation of inheriting her assets. Although the film is predominantly in Thai, there are instances where the grandmother, Amah, converses in Teochew, a language that poses a challenge for M to comprehend. Teochew is strategically utilized in a poignant scene towards the movie's conclusion, where M tenderly sings a Teochew lullaby to Amah as she draws her last breath.

The issue of younger generations like M struggling to grasp Teochew or other Chinese dialects is not an isolated concern. Singapore is grappling with a similar, if not more severe, decline in the usage of these dialects. Data from the 2020 census reveals that merely 1.4% of Singaporean Chinese individuals aged 5 to 34 primarily or secondarily speak Chinese dialects at home, in stark contrast to the 31.6% of older Singaporean Chinese aged 60 and above who do so.

This language erosion in Singapore prompts reflection on the underlying causes and the cultural heritage that is at risk of being lost as a consequence.

The dwindling use of Chinese dialects in Singapore poses a threat to the rich cultural tapestry of the nation. As younger generations veer towards predominantly speaking Mandarin or English, the unique nuances and traditions embedded in dialects like Teochew face the risk of fading into obscurity. Efforts to preserve and promote the learning of these dialects among the youth are crucial in safeguarding Singapore's diverse heritage for future generations.