Ethnic Diversity

Ethnically Malaysia and Singapore are made up of the same stock, but the proportions are very different. While Malaysia still retains a high percentage of ethnic Malays (about half of the population), ethnic Chinese dominate Singapore, representing nearly three-quarters of the population there. The rest consists of Malays (about 14 percent), Indians (about 9 percent), and a small minority of Eurasians and Arabs. Four main languages are spoken in Singapore: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Singaporean English is unique. To the casual ear it may sound like standard English, but pay attention and you will hear the fascinating unique blend known as “Singlish,” which is an enticing mixture of an English accent, Chinese tonal clarity, and Malay slang.