Singapore Mandarin

[Luoman]

I found that Singapore Mandarin is not that different from the mainland putonghua as Taiwan guoyu. But still there is some very interesting usage, and I would like everyone to add more to my list.

1。 Using 喉 for 管 (pipe)。What is the origin of this? Maybe some dialect? The two-syllable variant for "a pipe" would be 喉管 in Singapore. 水管，弯管 become 水喉，弯喉。

2。The measure instrument 卷尺 becomes 拉尺 in Singapore. Is there a similar usage somewhere in the Mainland?

3. 洋灰，洋人 for 混凝土，老外 are not considered archaic and still used commonly in Singapore.

Are all those variants fixed in Chinese dictionaries printed in Singapore?

[amego]

I found that Singapore Mandarin is not that different from the mainland putonghua as Taiwan guoyu.

Sorry but Singapore Mandarin is closer is Taiwan's in terms of speaking, both have little accent, and I think Singapore Mandarin is even more "diluted". Vocab-wise, I'm not sure =p

1。 Using 喉 for 管 (pipe)。What is the origin of this? Maybe some dialect? The two-syllable variant for "a pipe" would be 喉管 in Singapore. 水管，弯管 become 水喉，弯喉。

We say 管 or pipe, 喉 is only used in news, hmmm I was wondering whether it has anything to do with "hose"

2。The measure instrument 卷尺 becomes 拉尺 in Singapore. Is there a similar usage somewhere in the Mainland?

I've have no idea, sorry..I plead guilty

3. 洋灰，洋人 for 混凝土，老外 are not considered archaic and still used commonly in Singapore.

Yes we use 洋灰 and 洋人, 老外 is used in media, and i've heard of 混凝土...anyway 洋灰 and 洋人 is 红毛灰 and 红毛人 in Hokkien respectively just for ur info.

But still there is some very interesting usage, and I would like everyone to add more to my list.

We say 锁匙 and not 钥匙. 锁匙 is from Hokkien I think.

When we say something is hot, we use 烧 and not 烫. 烫 is more like scald. Again from Hokkien.

汤太烧，我的舌头被烫到。

And iron, as in for pressing clothes is 烫斗 and not 熨斗.

[Luoman]

Sorry but Singapore Mandarin is closer is Taiwan's in terms of speaking, both have little accent, and I think Singapore Mandarin is even more "diluted". Vocab-wise, I'm not sure =p

Yes, i meant vocabulary. For example there is often great difference between technical terms (especially those of electronics) in Mainland and Taiwan. I don`t think it`s like that in Singapore.

We say 管 or pipe, 喉 is only used in news, hmmm I was wondering whether it has anything to do with "hose

"

Anyway, when i worked with Singaporeans they always said 喉 and never 管.

We say 锁匙 and not 钥匙. 锁匙 is from Hokkien I think.

Yes, i also heard that myself

Thank you!

[amego]

HiHi again

Yes, i meant vocabulary. For example there is often great difference between technical terms (especially those of electronics) in Mainland and Taiwan. I don`t think it`s like that in Singapore.

Hmmm I see, well in those instruction booklets i'm always puzzled as to why the Traditional and Simplified Chinese versions always differ, haha, i was even thinking whether the Traditional version sounds better in dialects like Cantonese as Hong Kong uses Traditional Chinese.

Anyway, when i worked with Singaporeans they always said 喉 and never 管.

I see, it must had been a very formal setting.

Thank you!

不客气 再见!

[Luoman]

Remembered something more. When assembling the machine they always called different types of screws something like 拉跑 (foundation screw)，拉扣 (rivet,clinch) etc. (not sure if I write the proper characters). Maybe it was the mixture of Mandarin and Cantonese.

And about 喉。They used it in everyday informal speech.

[amego]

And about 喉。They used it in everyday unformal speech.

Really??!! I myself didn't know that...

[Luoman]

They still say 戏院, not 电影院.

[calibre2001]

Is 读书 considered archaic?

[owshawng]

I find spoken Singapore mandarin easier to understand then Taiwan or Mainland mandarin. Has anyone else experienced this?

[calibre2001]

Yes, I agree with you on that.

Put it simply, mainland and taiwanese mandarin seems to me way deeper to singapore on average. But that's expected since Singapore uses english as it's working language. Furthermore mainland /taiwan have plenty of slangs/expressions/chengyus thrown into 'normal' conversations on average while being capable of swinging between simple chinese to complex chinese in an instant. Singapore mandarin, while containing influences from other local languages doesn't usually get too complex on average.

Whenever I feel down due to not being able to understand mainland/taiwan tv shows properly , I switch to singapore shows. Instant relief. But seriously, no pain no gain.