Chapter 4 and FarrSong

Now that the book has established that there is a need for English in these different circles and the lengths that these expanding circle countries go to improve their citizens English competency, we see an even greater need for "good" English.   Singapore is an example of a country that struggles with its multilingual population.  Singlish is the result of their learning English.  This adorable video actually gave me a better understanding of what Singlish sounds like and how it might compare to Spanglish.  In the begining the little guys are trying to say that speaking Singlish can be confusing and is not ideal.  I think that this could have been a result of the Speak Good English Movement.  Just like in the previous chapters, English is a language of the "common working language...it provides a neutral medium, giving no one any advantage to the competition for knowledge and jobs."  As a result of this competition there is social stratification.  I watched Phua Chu Kang on youtube (at least I think that is the same thing they are talking about in the book) to see what it was like, and from my perspective I cannot see why there is a such a debate on this media influence.  It is funny, I can understand all of the humor because it is English basically, and even if it is not proper English it cannot have that much of an influence on the educators of Singapor.  Even so, if a native speaker of English like me can understand and enjoy an episode of this Singlish comedy, then why is it a controversial issue to use proper English?  Here is one of the episodes that I watched.

These movements that occur are the result of language politicking.  The book also mentions the English Only Movement in the United States.  The politicking holds all of these values and nationalist morals, but what it really effects is the classrooms and how children (the future of the countries) are taught.  Really I could care less if the official language of the United States was English, however, if the policy of the state was to have investigator who arrested those that are not teaching English Only or telling local vendors to have their signs in English, then I would have a problem.  I feel as though that policy goes against our first amendment in the constitution, you have the freedom of speech as long as its in English.