新加坡确立英语为双语教育共同语的因素分析-《集美大学学报（教育科学版）》

文章信息/Info

Title:: Main Factors for Singapore to Establish English as Lingua Franca in Bilingual Education

Author(s):: HUANG Ming; (School of Foreign Languages, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China)

摘要:: 短短三十年间，新加坡由一个贫穷落后的小岛国一跃成为发达国家，以英语为共同语的双语教育发挥了重要作用。行动党政府最初决定以马来语为共同语，独立建国后改英语为共同语，主要是基于三大因素：首先，历史因素。历史上英语是各类学校教育中的主要科目，是殖民地政府和劳工阵线政府早期双语教育蓝图中的共同语，也是新加坡历届政府的工作语言；其次，政治因素。英语是唯一中立的语言，有利于各民族之间相互沟通，统一国家意识；最后，经济因素。新加坡的主要经济支柱是国际贸易，英语能协助新加坡跟发达的西方国家接轨并从中获取巨大经济利益，同时也为国民的事业前途带来一片光明。

Abstract:: Singapore’s rapid development from a poor country into a developed one in about 30 years is due to bilingual education with English as the lingua franca. Malay was once the lingua franca, which was changed into English by the PAP government after Singapore became independent for three important factors: 1) Historical. In history English was a main subject, the lingua franca in the bilingual blueprint of the colonial government and the Labour Front, and working language in governments. 2) Political. English was the only neutral language which was helpful for all the nationalities to communicate with each other and have the same national consciousness. 3) Economical. Singapore’s pillar economy was international trade and English could help it get integrated to the Western economy and bring a bright future for its people.