The Speak Mandarin Campaign was first launched in 1979 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, with the main objective of encouraging Chinese Singaporeans to speak Mandarin as a common language, instead of using dialects.
讲华语运动于1979年由我国前总理李光耀先生发起。这项运动的任务是要扭转华族新加坡人因各自不同的籍贯而使用不同方言这个根深蒂固的习惯,改用华语为沟通的共同言。
This proved to be very successful, and since the 1990s, the campaign shifted its focus towards encouraging professionals and young people to learn and speak Mandarin.
这个目标已经成功达成,但是调查显示,华语在受英文教育的华族新加坡人当中却有“失去阵地”的趋势。而运动在90年代初便开始将焦点转向受英文教育的华族新加坡人– 尤其工作人士以及年轻的一代,鼓励他们学习以及多讲华语。
Apart from promoting Mandarin as an avenue to understanding one’s roots and Chinese culture, the campaign also highlights the importance of Mandarin for economic and business competitiveness.
华语除了是解华族文化的桥梁,讲华语运动也强调了华语在提高经济竞争力的重要性。
A lifestyle-oriented approach – with the tagline ‘华语 COOL’ – is being used to reach out and engage more English speaking Chinese Singaporeans, particularly those in the ‘post-65 generation’, to speak and use Mandarin in their daily lives.
通过生活化的方式,讲华语运动以“华语COOL” 的口号来鼓励平时一般以英语为沟通桥梁的华族新加坡人,尤其是独立后出生的华族新加坡人,在日常生活中多讲华语。