The Impact and Implications of Language Policy and Its Evolution on Nation-Building in Singapore

Shaoze Hu

2025

Abstract

Singapore has promoted English as the lingua franca and inter-ethnic language since independence. Simultaneously, Mandarin has replaced several Chinese dialects as the common language of the Chinese community to achieve linguistic unity and ethnic identity. This paper explores the evolution of the language policy of Singapore and its impact on nation-building and analyses the promotion of collective identity by establishing of a neutral lingua franca to replace other languages. The study also examines how the Speak Mandarin Campaign influenced ethnic Chinese people’s sense of collective identity, arguing that language serves as a tool rather than a goal in fostering ethnic identity. The paper mentions that under the premise of no change in policy and social situation, the shrinking of the space for the use of the weaker languages, and even the gradual shift from a multilingual society to a monolingual one with the stronger languages, is a general trend.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Hu S. (2025). The Impact and Implications of Language Policy and Its Evolution on Nation-Building in Singapore. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD; ISBN 978-989-758-779-5, SciTePress, pages 408-414. DOI: 10.5220/0013998400004912

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iesd25,
author={Shaoze Hu},
title={The Impact and Implications of Language Policy and Its Evolution on Nation-Building in Singapore},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD},
year={2025},
pages={408-414},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013998400004912},
isbn={978-989-758-779-5},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD
TI - The Impact and Implications of Language Policy and Its Evolution on Nation-Building in Singapore
SN - 978-989-758-779-5
AU - Hu S.
PY - 2025
SP - 408
EP - 414
DO - 10.5220/0013998400004912
PB - SciTePress