MP3 • APPLE PODCASTS • RSS • GOOGLE • TRANSCRIPT
"If you grow up being told that one of your first languages, Singlish, is actually a bad version of an already existing language, you kind of get this sense that “I'm just bad at language,” says Bibek Gurung, a former linguist who grew up in Singapore speaking Singlish with his family and friends, while schools and the government tried to quash it. "Language is a fundamental human skill. And to just have this sense that you're bad at this very fundamental skill really does a number to your self esteem and your abilities to communicate in general."
Content note: this episode contains references to corporal punishment of children. And there is one category B swear.
Come to the Allusionist meetup in Vancouver BC on 20 October 2024! Information is at theallusionist.org/events.
Come to the Allusionist meetup in Vancouver BC on 20 October 2024! Information is at theallusionist.org/events.
EXTRA MATERIALS:
About the Speak Good English Movement.
“Gurmit, who said he had received prior notice that the government wasn't too happy with the use of Singlish in the show, revealed that he was actually really afraid then. ‘My mind frame was that I am ready to migrate [right now]. That was how scared I was,’ he confessed.”
The Speak Good English Movement’s list of ‘common English mistakes’.
Otherlusionists: there’s some Singapore history in Emergency, and Oot In The Open discusses the impact of people’s first languages being oppressed out of them. And Podcast Podcast talks about portmanteau words.
I was also on 50 Shades of Tayyy’s show talking about the origins of No Title, as well as finding a surprising teapot-shaped connection between the host Taylor Gonzales and me.
To help fund this independent podcast, take yourself to theallusionist.org/donate and become a member of the Allusioverse. You get regular livestreams with me and my collection of reference books, inside scoops into the making of this show, and watchalong parties - this month we're enjoying Merchant Ivory films, the current seasons of Great British Bake Off and the Canadian version, and Taskmaster featuring my brother Andy. And best of all, you get to bask in the company of your fellow Allusionauts in our delightful Discord community.
YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
opsimath, noun: poetic/literary: a person who begins to learn or study only late in life.
Origin 19th century: from Greek opsimathes, from opse 'late' + the stem math- 'learn'.
CREDITS:
Bibek Gurung is a former linguist and, among other things, current performer - he has a live show coming up on 16 October! Follow Some Pulp Fiction for more shows.
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, on the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The original Allusionist music is by Martin Austwick. Download his songs at palebirdmusic.com and listen to his podcasts Song By Song and Neutrino Watch.
Find the Allusionist at youtube.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, TikTok @allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow, @allusionistshow.bsky.social… Essentially: if I’m there, I’m there as @allusionistshow.
Back in two weeks with a new episode - HZ.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:
• Quince, high quality clothing and homewares at prices 50-80% lower than comparable brands. Go to Quince.com/allusionist for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
• Rocket Money, the personal finance app that helps find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and monitors your spending. Go to rocketmoney.com/allusionist to save money and lower your outgoings.
• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online empire/new home for your cryptic puzzle that takes months to solve. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothing essentials, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase.
