The use of Singlish in the teaching of Islam

Abstract

ABSTRACT Singlish is used in many ways in the Islamic classroom in Singapore. Singlish softens the effect of introducing English instead of Malay and Arabic as the medium of instruction, helps the teacher to evoke camaraderie and fellowship, and is a means of scaffolding. It can be used to signal a change of footing, to attend to latecomers in a less threatening way, to humanize, to solicit students’ contribution, and to negotiate task instructions; in brief to generate a warmer, friendlier atmosphere all round. The data for this paper is organized under four themes: the use of I (international) and L (local) Englishes, the use of L Englishes together with L Malay, the simultaneous use of both L and I forms of English, Malay and Arabic; and last but not least, the style‐switching between I and L Malay, an activity which parallels the style‐switching observed between I and L English.

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