Languages of Singapore

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/languages-of-singapore

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the official languages?English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, Tamil
2. What is the national language?Malay is constitutionally recognized as the national language, symbolizing indigenous heritage
3. What are the four official languages of Singapore?Singapore’s official languages are English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Malay is the national language, honoring the country’s indigenous roots.
4. Why does Singapore use English for most government and daily conversations?English was chosen because Singapore was a British colony and it helps the country connect with the world as a global trade hub. It makes it easier to talk with people from many different countries.

Lingua Franca: A common language used by speakers of different native languages, facilitating communication.
Creole: A stable language developed from a mixture of languages, becoming the native language of a community.
Bilingualism: The ability to proficiently use two languages, often a result of educational policy or environment.
Language Attrition: The process by which a language speaker's proficiency in a language decreases over time.