I am an old man living in Singapore, and it saddens me deeply when I look at the young people of my beloved country.
It is not because of their lack of knowledge or intelligence, but because of the language barrier that is growing between generations.
People used to be able to converse in their different dialects
I remember when I was a young boy, my parents and grandparents used to speak to me in the dialect of our home town. I was able to understand and even speak dialects of other home towns a little.
It was nice to be able to communicate with my family in our own language. This way, I was able to learn more about our culture and heritage.
Fast forward to today, and the situation is different. Young people in Singapore now do not really speak their dialects anymore. It is rare to find someone who can carry a conversation in their dialect, let alone understand it.
This is especially true of the younger generation, who are more exposed to English and their Mother Tongue as their primary languages.
It is a shame that such an important part of our culture is slowly being forgotten. Our dialects are an important part of our identity and heritage, and it would be a tragedy if they were to completely disappear.
I understand that language evolves over time, and it is natural for some dialects to become extinct. However, I believe that it is still possible for young people to learn and appreciate their dialects.
I truly believe that it is not too late to save our dialects. With the right effort and dedication, young people in Singapore can still learn and appreciate their dialects.
After all, this is an important part of our heritage and identity, and it would be a shame if it was lost forever.