Dissent

Sep 29, 2010

GOVT'S RESPONSE TO CENSORSHIP REVIEW COMMITTEES' PROPOSALS

Dialect content restrictions stay

By Lai Han-Wei

RESTRICTIONS on dialect content will stay as lifting them would undermine the Government's efforts to promote Mandarin.

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) on Wednesday explained that the dialect policy was premised on the need to promote a common mother tongue among the Singaporean Chinese community.

'Allowing full dialect content on all mediums would undermine our ongoing efforts to promote Mandarin,' said a Mica statement, in responce to recommendations by the Censorship Review Committee.

The panel has proposed that restrictions on dialect content be lifted entirely unless there is 'compelling evidence to support their continuation.'

Mica, however, said it recognised the needs of the elderly and has made dialect content available through several avenues, such as videos, free-to-air TV, radio and pay TV channels.

'We have taken a flexible and contextual approach in allowing dialect on both local and imported films,' Mica said, adding that there was no restriction on dialect films for film festivals.

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Seriously? While efforts should be made not to undermine the attempts to promote Mandarin as a foreign language, should it be at a cost of stifling attempts that play a part in keeping the rich and diverse dialects alive? One important aspect of our diverse culture in the Chinese aspect is of our multitude of dialects. They serve not only as simply alternate modes of communication, but as potential channels to bridge gaps between the elder and young.

"Mica, however, said it recognised the needs of the elderly and has made dialect content available through several avenues, such as videos, free-to-air TV, radio and pay TV channels."

Is dialect really there just to cater to the needs of the elderly?

Will we come to a day where the word dialect ceases to exist in the minds of us Singaporeans.

We speak of keeping languages alive with the multitudes of Chinese promoting campaigns, but what of our age old dialects, the voice of the '60s, a heritage in its own right?