Stop Abusing the language!

It's been bugging me how the people around me are downgrading the English language. I admit I am not one to judge because I do too sometimes use bad English. But some people just take "Bad English" to a whole new level. Disclaimer; I can speak proper English if I have to. I choose to use broken English while talking to friends. I know it’s not good. I’m trying to change. 

One of the main reasons why English is getting from bad to worse is simply because we are not trying! We are getting too lazy to piece together a proper sentence so we simply mix everything in. Typical teenagers nowadays just mix English with Chinese/Dialects and sometimes Malay and add in some 'le' 'la' 'hor' and call it ‘Singlish’. We have to keep in mind that ‘Singlish’ is just an excuse for bad language. Yes it may be a culture of Singapore but if you went abroad and use it, we will get laughed at.

From a young age, all of us were taught Proper English, some continue using what the teachers taught, others simply voice out whatever comes into their brain. This is what I do not understand. Why cut the slack on English? Why downgrade yourself by downgrading your command of the English Language? Remember the little saga over Ris Low's English? I am certain you won't want to make a fool out of yourself like her am I right? 

I have put together a list of common error that can be found everywhere in our modern society right now;

1) Anot / or not
Yup, the header says it all. There is no such thing as ‘anot’. “Have you eaten anot?” “Y’all together already anot?” It’s ‘Or Not’. “Have you eaten OR NOT?”

2) Your / you’re

This is two different words altogether. ‘Your’ and “You Are”

3) Le, Lo, La, Leh, Hor, Sia, Wor, dey, sial 

Totally useless words people put at the end of sentences.

4) Over-used of ‘s’ behind every word.

When one puts an ‘S’ behind a word, it either means there is more than one, Plural, or its words in the present tense

5) Then / Than

Simply put, ‘Then’ is when you are referring to time. ‘Than’ is when you are comparing two things.

6) Direct translations from other language.

a. Can you ‘open’ the light.

- Dude, it’s SWITCH ON. Like you want me to take apart the light bulb? Open?

b. ‘Best’ is go apologise to him.

- The correct sentence will be “It will be better if you apologise to him”

c. 'How to say...'

- “How can I put it?” “What’s the word I am looking for?”

d. "Buay Tahan"

- Can't you just use "I cannot stand it"?

7) “I need to go ‘draw’ money”

Draw money? I can spot you pen and paper if you need. Hello, its WITHDRAW. It’s just one more syllable. Don’t be lazy!

6) Lend and Borrow.

Huge mistake that is so very common around everyone. How shall I put it, if you want something from someone, you are borrowing it from them. They are lending you the thing. Nice and simple. No more mistakes now!

It pains me to know that some people don’t even know the difference between some of the examples I mentioned above. And this is not all. More to come in future post. In your free time, you should really go check out “http://www.goodenglish.org.sg/” You will be surprised at the amount of stuff you have been saying/writing/using wrongly! Check out their “English as it is broken” section, they actually answered my question on Lay and Lie. I am serious, go check it out now! Improve your English!