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Notes -
What distinguishes Singapore English from other organic expressions of english as second language is in fact the multiculturalism in the population. Because everyone ended up thinking in their native tongue first before speaking in english there is a corresponding emphasis placement in the register and enunciation. However since an indian and a chinese have different emphasis points they both become information points for the other party to internalize and consider this is what english SHOULD sound like, and variation ends up being flattened. Maybe a similar case exists for penn/iowa/ohio/illinois accent convergence.
As an example, look at how Chin Han who played Lau in The Dark Knight speaks https://youtube.com/watch?v=os2EZeGlw7k&pp=ygUKYmF0bWFuIGxhdQ%3D%3D
versus a Singaporean Indian politician https://youtube.com/watch?v=JsXdBMV5zkY&pp=ygUHdGhhcm1uYQ%3D%3D
The tonal exaggerations and musicality of either mainland or subcontinent are absent. Chin Hans entire career was basically due to the golden period when there was a need for Chinese actors that didn't sound retarded or american when speaking english. Benedict Wong occupies that role now but he suppresses his British accent heavily.
Finally, SINGLISH is distinctly different from Singapore Accented English. Singlish is perversely abstract in its grammatical rules and expressive flexibility. Elite Singaporeans code switch as identity markers as mentioned, but also just to fuck with white people when funny.
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