Speech by PM Lee Hsien Loong at launch of Speak Mandarin Campaign 2014

推广华语理事会主席

萧作鸣先生  

前主席

黃昭虎教授

先生们、女士们

大家下午好。

“讲华语运动”已经推行了35年，我很荣幸能为这一届的“讲华语运动”主持推展仪式。

在1979年，建国总理李光耀先生为第一届的“讲华语运动” 拉开了序幕。在那个年代，华人之间多数只讲方言。碰到需要把重要的讯息传达给整个华族群体时，真的很不简单。还有，当不同方言籍贯的人聚在一起，不一定能理解对方在说什么，鸡同鸭讲。所以，在建立一个多元种族国家的过程中，寻找共同的沟通语言，成了一个很大的挑战。因此，我们选用英语成为我们的工作语言，让各个种族可以互相沟通。同时，我们也选了华语，希望让整个华族社群能够把关系变得更融洽，让不同方言群体更加团结起来。因此，新加坡在独立后的第14年，推出了第一届的“讲华语运动”。由于当时制定的政策是鼓励人们“多讲华语，少说方言”，这也成了运动的宣传口号。政府的最终目标，是希望不同的方言社群，能够以华语进行更有效的沟通，同时也希望借着华语的推广，让更多人对华族文化有更深的认识和了解，让华族文化能够在新加坡不断地发展起来。选择注重华语，也奠定了华语在新加坡社会的长期地位。

回头看，我们经过30多年的努力，讲华语运动可算是成功了，因为华语在新加坡已经相当普及，而且也达到了一定的水平。现在多数的年轻人都会讲华语。虽然不是每一个人都讲得非常流利，不过至少能听得懂、说得出。年长的国人当然有一部分依然觉得用方言更加亲切，也更容易表达自己，不过为了跟孙子沟通，他们也学会了一些华语。所以在这一方面，我们也取得了一些成就。

华语在本地能够普及起来，是许多人努力的成果。首先，我要向所有的华文老师致敬，你们的工作真的很不容易，老师辛苦了！第二，本地中文媒体也为推广华语作出不少努力，值得嘉许。中文媒体通过各大途径、各大媒体--报章、电视、电台、网站，使大家都很容易有机会接触到华语资料。另外，中文媒体也用不同的视角来分析新闻，解释华族群体的各种观点。这些题材多样化的报道，让我们对区域动态还有中国的发展，有更深一层的认识和了解。第三，华社的宗乡会馆也是推广华语的重要伙伴。各个会馆经常主办各种活动，加强人们对华族文化的认识。在此，我应该感谢宗乡会馆联合总会的蔡天宝会长和中华总商会的蔡其生会长出席今天的仪式。由宗乡会馆联合总会主办的新加坡华族文化中心，准备工作正如火如荼的进行，大家忙着筹款、策划，工作繁多，责任非常重。谢谢大家的努力。我担保，政府会全力以赴地配合，给大家全力的支持，所以希望大家继续努力。

现在，由于华语在我国已经相当的普及，相对于使用方言，在家中讲华语的家庭已经增加了。其实，年轻家庭讲方言的，数目很少。但是，就是因为取得这个成就，因此有些人认为，既然新加坡已经是一个双语社会了，现在大家可以讲华语了，那么大家可以放松一点，对方言的使用应该可以放宽一点，允许更广泛地使用方言。

但是，这个不是务实的想法。我完全可以理解这些人士希望让年轻人可以学方言。我也了解，他们希望保留珍贵的方言文化遗产的这种心态，这种热忱。不过，当初我们推行双语政策，正是因为我们经过仔细观察之后发现，如果要国人同时掌握好英语、母语和方言，对绝大部分的新加坡人来说，是一件非常艰难的事。

这个道理，35年后，并没有改变。我举个例子，把新加坡跟香港做个比较。香港实行三种语言--英语、普通话、香港话，可以说是方言，但是可能他们觉得其实也相当于一种语言。香港人香港话最强，华语次之，英语远远在第三位。在新加坡，我们放弃了方言，但是因为我们注重双语教育，让我们得以维持好英语水平，华语水平也不错。因此，这是在权衡利弊之后的取舍，而对方言这方面的牺牲是不得已的。如果我们要学生同时学好英语、华语和方言，这会影响到他们英语的水平，使他们升学、就业机会、经济能力都受到冲击，同时这也会影响他们华语的学习，以及华语在新加坡的长期地位。这是很沉重的代价。

不过，当然方言还是有运用的空间。例如在日常生活中，为了照顾年长者的需要，新传媒的958城市频道每天都播放方言新闻。而想进一步学习方言的国人，可以考虑参加各个宗乡会馆主办的语言课程。当然，也有人爱好广东大戏或者潮州剧等各种方言文化活动。他们可以到邻里联络所，或者牛车水人民剧场，与发烧友一起参与这方面的活动。

此外，在特殊的情况下，我们会破例，恰当的使用方言。我举一个例子：这次为了明确地把建国一代配套的内容，解释给建国一代的老人家听，我们特别制作了福建、潮州和广东话的短片，帮助他们更好的了解配套的内容。其他一些重要的政策，比如终身健保等，我们也会选择性地考虑用方言来向年长国人介绍政策的内容。不过制作方言短片的确不容易。除了在构想、题材、剧本各方面下了不少功夫，资源、时间也是相当多，三部短片就花了三个月的时间才完成的。沈颖部长付出了很多心血。努力之后，我们最后呈现给大家的，仅仅是三部每部不到四分钟的短片。不容易做，水平不错。今天我看不是恰当的场合（播出这些短片），回家上网点击看看。所以，如果要每一项政策，每一个公布都要用许许多多的方言来翻译、解释、阐述，这个是做不到的事情。所以，我们必须多讲华语，少说方言。

经过多年的推广，新加坡人已经开始更加重视中文的价值，也有更强的欲望和动力，想要学好华语。第一，国人希望能扎好根，保留自己的文化。第二，中国的崛起和经济的快速发展，也有相当大的作用。大家都了解，能够讲华语，在这样的大情况之下，是一个优势。无论是工作人士或者是家长们，大家都明白这一点。不少新加坡人已经在中港台成功地创业、闯天下。他们拥有基本的华语基础，所以浸濡在华语环境当中，他们的华语水平大大的提升了。我知道有些人认为，为了追求经济利益而学华语，似乎太过功利了，不符合追求崇高文化的理想。不过，我认为只要你愿意学华语，我不管你的动机是什么，学华语都是好的，尽力而为。现在，其实有许多非华族同胞也十分热衷于学习华语，他们华语讲得不错，而当中还有一些华语讲得甚至比我们更加流利，所以希望大家迎头赶上，加油，多讲华语！

我们的语言政策是正确的。我们必须让新加坡的孩子掌握好双语，协助他们跟国际舞台接轨，同时又扎根于自己的母族文化。想要让孩子的华语进步，首先就应设法在家里营造一个讲华语的环境。所以我建议家长们，有机会从小就开始教导孩子讲华语，用华语和孩子讲话交流。同时，我也向家长们推荐订阅早报的儿童华文报《小小拇指》给孩子们阅读。这份学生报通过生动有趣的漫画人物“小拇指”和“妞妞”，带领小朋友学习简单的华语。给孩子学，如果有孙子的话，给孙子学。

所以第一，在家里多讲华语。第二， 应该让学习华语充满乐趣。 在课堂上，老师们可以尽量发挥，利用灵活的教学方式和教材来带动学生的兴趣。在家里，我希望家长们不要用过于严厉的手段，勉强孩子去学华文，因为这样往往会带来反效果。家长可以在日常生活中，讲些华语。如果家长完全不用华语跟孩子沟通的话，孩子们就会觉得，我学华语有什么用呢？为了让大众以新鲜的方式接触华语，推广华语理事会也将同新传媒的音乐台933和双语音乐餐厅合作，介绍新加坡的一些华语创作乐团。这些音乐工作者将跟听众分享，他们如何以“华语”作为他们工作和生活的语言。

第三，大家可以借助科技来学习华语。学习华语的一个大挑战，就是华语不是拼音的文字，是象形的文字，所以要认生字和背词汇。科技可以帮忙减轻这个学习的负担。比如，我们可以利用电脑来做简单的翻译，了解句子的意思。只要安装一些软件，我们碰到生字时，轻轻用滑鼠点击，马上可以看到字的定义、发音、用词、造句等等，不用再翻又厚又重的字典，不用找部首，算比划，猜四角号码。年轻人根本就不知道四角号码是什么一回事。电脑的翻译不一定是完全正确的，或是最贴切的。我知道早报读者时常对谷歌翻译有各种激烈的意见，不过，电脑翻译方便快捷，随时在手。它可以让我们了解文章的大意，之后我们还有时间去找更详细的解释。科技不断的进步，我们必须与时并进，不能够停滞在二十世纪或者甚至是之前的古老的方法、环境。同时，我们还可以通过互联网，一点击就能看尽天下的中文材料和各地的华语节目等等。这样的学习方式，能提高我们的华语能力和对华文文化的的兴趣，让我们增广见闻。因此，教育部在这方面准备了一系列应用网络科技的母语辅助教材，上载到网上，方便学生使用。

我们的双语政策，经过35年的耕耘，取得了相当不错的成绩。有句话说：“学如逆水行舟，不进则退”。因此，我们不能满足于现状，而必须再接再厉，继续推行双语政策，贯彻到底，如刚才鼟乐团所说的，Go For It, Go On。

在这里，我要感谢今年推广华语运动理事会的萧作鸣主席和其他理事，把今年的活动搞得有声有色，多姿多彩，听说“吃的，听的，看的和讲的”，应有尽有。我希望国人会参与讲华语运动的精彩活动，进一步认识华文文化，同时在生活中多讲华语。让我们一起努力，共同将新加坡发展为真正的双语社会。谢谢大家。

***

Translation of Chinese Speech by PM Lee Hsien Loong at Speak Mandarin Campaign Launch 2014, 5 July 2014

Mr Seow Choke Meng
Chairman, Promote Mandarin Council

Professor Wee Chow Hou
Past Chairman, Promote Mandarin Council

1. Good afternoon. Speak Mandarin Campaign has been ongoing for 35 years. Honoured to launch this year’s Campaign

2. Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 1979

a. In those days, many Chinese spoke mainly dialects. It was difficult to communicate important information to Chinese from different dialect groups. Moreover, when they interacted with one another, they could not understand one another fully

b. This proved to be a challenge building a multi-racial society. Therefore, we chose English so that different races could communicate with one another, and Mandarin so that Chinese of different dialect groups could better integrate

c. After 14 years of independence, we launched the Speak Mandarin Campaign. We wanted to encourage Chinese to speak more Mandarin and less dialect. This also became the Campaign slogan

d. The objective was to help people from different dialect groups communicate with one another using Mandarin; deepen our understanding of Chinese culture; and promote its development

e. Our choosing Mandarin reinforced its importance in Singapore

3. After more than 30 years of hard work, we can say that the Speak Mandarin Campaign has been successful. Mandarin is now commonly used at a commendable standard

a. Majority of our young can speak Mandarin. Although not all of them speak Mandarin fluently, they are able to understand and speak it

b. Our seniors may still feel more at home with dialects, but many have also picked up Mandarin to communicate with their grandchildren

4. Many have contributed to the increasing use of Mandarin in Singapore

a. I would like to thank our teachers for their hard work in teaching Mandarin

b. Our local Chinese media deserves recognition too for their efforts

i. People can access Mandarin easily through the Chinese media

ii. The Chinese media also offer different perspectives and insights in their news reporting, analyses and coverage of community matters. This also gives us a broader and deeper understanding of developments in the region and in China

c. The Chinese Clans and Associations are important partners in promoting Mandarin

i. They organise many activities to do so

ii. Glad that Mr Chua Thian Poh (President, SFCCA) and Mr Thomas Chua (President, SCCCI) are here

iii. SFCCA is currently hard at work raising money to build the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, which will organise cultural activities to promote Mandarin and Chinese culture

iv. Thank SFCCA for its efforts. We wish SFCCA every success and will give it our full support

5. Today, more families speak Mandarin at home

a. Some hence feel that since many Singaporeans now speak Mandarin, we should allow dialects to be used more widely

6. But this is not a pragmatic approach

a. I fully understand the desire to let our young learn dialects, and to protect the use of dialects, which they consider an important part of Chinese culture

b. However, when we first introduced our bilingual policy, we did so knowing that it was very difficult for most people to master English, Mandarin and dialects at the same time

c. This principle has not changed

d. Hong Kong is a good example of how difficult it is to master several languages at once

i. The standard of Cantonese in Hong Kong is very good. However, they are not as fluent in Mandarin and less so in English

ii. In Singapore, we decided not to promote the use of dialects in order to emphasise bilingualism. This trade-off has allowed us to maintain good standards in English and Mandarin

iii. If we require our students to master English, Mandarin and dialects at the same time, it will affect their standards in English and affect their future opportunities. At the same time, it will also affect their ability in Mandarin, and the standing of Mandarin in Singapore over the long-term. This is a huge price to pay

7. But there is still room for dialect in Singapore, e.g.

a. Seniors can listen to the news in dialect by tuning in to MediaCorp’s 958FM

b. Those who are interested to learn dialects can attend classes run by clan associations

c. Those who are interested in cultural activities such as Cantonese or Teochew Opera can pursue their interests with like-minded Singaporeans at Community Centres and the Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre in Chinatown

8. In addition, we are prepared to use dialects under special circumstances

a. e.g. Government produced special video clips in Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese to better explain the Pioneer Generation Package to our seniors

b. We can also consider using dialects to explain other important policies like MediShield Life
c. But producing the three short video clips for the Pioneer Generation Package was not easy.

Each took a long time and many resources. Due to limited resources, we cannot do this for every single policy

9. After many years of the Campaign, Singaporeans now appreciate the importance of Chinese. They have a strong desire to learn the language well, for two reasons:

a. First, Singaporeans would like to grow deeper roots and know their culture better

b. Second, because of the rise and rapid economic development of China

i. Everyone understands that it is an advantage to be able to speak Mandarin

ii. Workers and parents understand this too. Many Singaporeans have succeeded in China. Because of the good foundation in Mandarin they built up in Singapore, they were able to improve their Mandarin quickly after immersing themselves in a Mandarin-speaking environment

c. I know some feel that it is too utilitarian to pursue Mandarin for economic gains, rather than as an end in itself

i. My view: So long as you are interested in Mandarin, whatever the reason, I will encourage you to learn it

ii. Now there are many non-Chinese learning Mandarin; several of them even speak more fluently than us

10. Our language policy remains sound. We need to help our children master the two languages, to help them connect to the global stage yet remain anchored to their culture

11. Several recommendations to help our children improve Mandarin

a. First, create a Mandarin-speaking environment at home

i. Parents should start teaching Mandarin to their children when they are young

ii. They can use publications like Zaobao’s Thumbs Up Little Junior 《小小拇指》 which uses lively comic characters to learn simple Mandarin

b. Second, learning Mandarin should be fun

i. In class, teachers are encouraged to find creative ways to teach and motivate the children’s interest in the language

ii. Hope parents will not be too strict at home when they teach their kids, as this would have the opposite effect

iii. Parents should try to use some Mandarin in their daily lives. If parents do not use Mandarin to communicate with their children, their children may question the value of learning Mandarin

iv. To provide a fresh way for the public to use Mandarin, the Speak Mandarin Council has partnered MediaCorp’s 933 FM and the restaurant Switch, to introduce Chinese through mando-pop. Musicians will share with the audience how they used Mandarin in their work and daily lives

c. Third, we can use technology to lighten the burden of learning Mandarin

i. One obstacle in learning Mandarin is learning new characters and memorising the vocabulary

ii. Technology can make it less onerous

(1) e.g. we can use the computer for basic translation and understanding. When we come across characters we do not recognise, we can find out its meaning, pronunciation, syntax etc. at the click of a mouse, instead of flipping through a thick dictionary

(2) Computer-aided translations are not always precise, but they allow us to better understand the key points of what we are reading. Besides, we can always find a more accurate translation later

iii. The Internet enables us to access materials in Chinese from everywhere

d. This way of learning can raise our interest in Mandarin and broaden our horizons

e. Hence, the Singapore Ministry of Education has developed many online tools to teach Mandarin and other mother tongues, for the convenience of our students

12. We have made significant progress in our bilingual policy over the last 35 years. But as the Chinese saying goes: “learning is like going against the tide; if you do not overcome it, you will be pushed back”. Therefore we cannot rest on our laurels.

13. I would like to thank Mr Seow Choke Meng, Chairman of the Promote Mandarin Council, and other Council members for their relentless efforts to deliver an exciting programme this year. There is something for everyone!

a. Hope Singaporeans will make time to participate, to learn more about the Chinese culture and speak Mandarin

b. Let us work together and make Singapore a better bilingual society

. . . . .