May 17, 2007
Singapore - Day 12
In this morning's lecture, Yeow-Tong, a PhD student from the University of Toronto, gave the class a mini lecture on how race works in Singapore. He wrote down a formula that went like this:
Language = Culture = Race
In a gist, there are four categories of race in Singapore: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others. There are also four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. The government assigns all citizens to a race category that appears on their personal identity card. The way one is categorized depends on the language one uses, which in turn, depends on one's ethnic background.
This method of conceptualizing races is supported by the school system of Singapore. Since English is considered neutral, it is the language of instruction. Students, however, are required to take up an additional official language during their schooling years. The choice of language depends on their ethnic background. For example, if you were Chinese, you would be required to take Mandarin in school.
I find this method of dealing with race very interesting. The government is able to use language to promote two seemingly contrasting goals. They are able to help create a sense of equality among the races as well as help sustain the unique ethnic diversity of the country. It is an interesting method of dealing with the diverse communities that have established themselves in the area.
However, I wonder why people cannot simply be labeled as Singaporean. Why does the distinction of race need to be so obviously expressed?
After the morning lecture, the class embarked on a trip to the Singapore National Museum - by far the most interesting museum we've visited. Individuals are given personal, interactive audio players that act as a guide through the exhibits. In addition to simple narrative explanations, these players recreate voices of historical figures and narrate personal stories. I think it's a terrific way of teaching history and I quite enjoyed the experience. It was like walking into a storybook. The only downfall is that it's incredibly time consuming. I was only halfway through before I realized I had to go. Trevor, who finished early, gave a couple of us a speedy tour of the remaining displays as we rushed out to meet the rest of our group.
The Singapore National Museum
Inside
In the afternoon, a couple of us headed over to a mall by Ang Mo Kio station for a quick food court lunch. We intended to go to the Singapore zoo afterwards but a horrific (at least in the eyes of a Vancouverite) rainstorm delayed our plans. In the end, we only got a chance to visit the night safari where we saw a disappointingly small assortment of animals. My favorite was the statuesque-like elephants.
