Ah, what would Singapore be without our unique brand of English, or Singlish as it is more commonly, and affectionately, known? This aberration of the English language, complete with an amalgamation of the Malay language and the Cantonese and Hokkien dialect, has been such an integral part of our lives so much that it has become part of our national identity and heritage.

It is hard to imagine getting by a day without hearing any lahslors being uttered on the streets. Anyone who happens to be heard or overheard speaking the Queen’s English is readily dismissed as ‘chiak kantang’, which according to TalkingCock.com, refers to a “ or pejorative expression used to describe an Asian who speaks with a Western accent” and which “literally means ‘eating potatoes’”.

While it is good to be proud of who we are (right down to the very last Singaporean colloquialism), it is also easy to see why the government is so insistent on us speaking better English. Singlish is very colourful and interesting, no doubt, but it is peppered with so many grammatical inaccuracies that it really doesn’t reflect well on us at all in the international arena. And so, the Speak Good English Movement (SGEM) was born.

This year, to coincide with the launch of the SGEM 2007, The Straits Times has put together a book titled English As It Is Broken, a compilation of the weekly columns of the same name (as found in The Sunday Times), which sees English language specialists from the Ministry of Education answer queries from the public with regards to the language.

The book is split into 3 sections, namely the Usage, Grammar and Vocabulary sections, each dealing with that specific aspect of the Language. The selection of questions and answers are very entertaining, in addition to being educational, and it sure drew more than a few laughs from me as I made my way through the book.

Particularly entertaining are the pictures of grammatically incorrect signs that readers have spotted in and around Singapore. For example, one said “Out of bounce to students” and another that says “Dead Slow Live Children”, whatever that means. It is hard to imagine that our standard of English is really that poor, but there you have it, with all the nasty evidence pointing to it.

What I really like about the book is the fact that it’s not too wordy, making it easy for the average layman to digest the useful bite-sized pieces of information. Unlike other language books, the tone used is not condescending and the entertainment factor is definitely a huge draw not only for Singaporeans seeking to improve their mastery of the language, but also for people just out for a good read.

And in just 3 weeks after its launch, English As It Is Broken has become the best selling book in Singapore, replacing The Secret by Rhonda Byrne in the top spot, a testament indeed to the appeal of this particular book.

All in all, a handy book to have if you are concerned with the finer points of the English language.

My only grouse? The inside of the book would have looked much better if it was printed in colour, not to mention more stimulating to the eye. Other than that, at just $7.50, this book is a steal.

UrbanWire gives English As It Is Broken  4 out of 5 stars.

Proceeds for the sale of English As It Is Broken will go towards The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund to help needy students pay for food in schools.