A Teochew-language film titled 'Love Letter to Grandma' has ignited a national conversation regarding linguistic heritage and identity following its recent release in Singapore.
While the film saw significant success in China, its Singaporean theatrical run faced controversy as many screenings were replaced with Mandarin-dubbed versions. Despite Mandarin being an official language, many viewers argued that the original Teochew audio is essential for conveying the film’s emotional depth. The limited screenings featuring the original dialect sold out immediately, with additional sessions failing to meet overwhelming demand.
Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information stated it has acknowledged public calls for more flexibility in dialect film screenings and has committed to reviewing existing policies. The intensity of this debate has led some audience members to travel across the border to Malaysia to view the original version.
This incident has brought Singapore’s long-standing language policy back into the spotlight. Since the launch of the 'Speak Mandarin Campaign' in the 1980s, the government has encouraged Chinese Singaporeans to adopt Mandarin over dialects such as Teochew, Hokkien, and Cantonese to unify communication. Consequently, the proportion of Chinese Singaporeans speaking dialects at home dropped from nearly 70% to 8.7% by 2020.
Scholars note that dialects have historically served as the cultural roots for the Chinese community, whereas Mandarin was introduced as an academic and administrative necessity. Critics argue that dialect films should be treated as cultural assets similar to foreign-language cinema.
As public discourse grows, members of parliament are considering the possibility of relaxing restrictions on dialect films. While younger generations are showing renewed interest in learning dialects, experts warn that the lack of daily usage remains a significant structural barrier to language revitalization.
FACT BOX
- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: 文化・社会・政策