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There's so much more to say about Singlish after last episode that we're saying some more of it this episode. Poet and academic Gwee Li Sui, author of Spiaking Singlish: A Companion to how Singaporeans Communicate, describes the resistance he received in Singapore when he published Singlish translations of literary works - and why they are important and celebratory for Singlish. And Stacey Mei Yan Fong, baker and author of 50 Pies, 50 States, explains how the language that used to be embarrassing for her is now a huge comfort.
EXTRA INFO:
Gwee’s new book is Kaka Farm, his Singlish translation of Animal Farm.
The Animal Farm animated film was part funded by the CIA. When George Orwell’s widow Sonia sold the rights, she didn’t realise the buyers were undercover agents.
Gwee’s op ed in the New York Times, ‘Do You Speak Singlish?’…
…and the Singaporean Prime Minister’s press secretary’s rebuttal.
Wow, there are HUNDREDS of translations of Le Petit Prince!
The refrain “steady pom pi pi!” has been trapped in my head all week.
It’s lovely reading about Stacey’s pies, and her eight-flavour Las Vegas buffet pie is particularly impressive.
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YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
jobbery, noun:
the practice of using a public office or position of trust for one's own gain or advantage.
CREDITS:
Gwee Li Sui is a poet, editor and academic, as well as the author of books including Spiaking Singlish and The Leeter Spiaking English, and translator into Singlish of The Leeter Tunku, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Winnie-da-Pooh, The Tale of Peter Labbit and Kaka Farm. Find his work at gweek.wordpress.com and he posts on Facebook and Instagram.
Stacey Mei Yan Fong is a baker and author of the very insPIEring book 50 Pies, 50 States: an Immigrant's Love Letter to the Country She's Chosen to Call Home. Find out more about her and her journey in pies at 50pies50states.com, and follow her on Instagram.
Many thanks to Y-Lynn Ong.
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.
Martin Austwick provided editorial assistance and the original Allusionist music. Get 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, TikTok @allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, @allusionistshow.bsky.social… Essentially: if I’m there, I’m there as @allusionistshow.
Back in two weeks with a new episode from the opposite side of the world - HZ.
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