SCMP calls Singlish 'one of the best & most romantic language', explains how to use 'OK lah'

OK meh? OK lor.

Zhangxin Zheng | September 28, 2018, 01:03 AM

Singlish is definitely a part of any true blue Singaporean's DNA.

Once in a while, some people might share their opinions on Singlish (e.g. love it or loathe it), or how one can actually master the creole language.

Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP) went one step further by actually taking a stab at explaining Singlish with a tutorial on how to use "OK lah".

The very versatile "OK lah"

In the video, the host described Singlish as "objectively one of the best and most romantic and lyrical languages in the whole wide world" and recognised the birth of Singlish from Singapore's obsession with efficiency.

As a result, Singlish phrases such as "OK lah" can be used in various situations, even when the tone remains largely the same.

Despite demonstrating the use of "OK lah" with four scenarios, the host did not explicitly explain the differences in the "OK lah"s used.

But, nonetheless, we try to Singaporean-splain it out for you:

Example 1: "OK lah" to agree

https://giphy.com/gifs/4Q1BcThhgYAuBhdtUd

Example 2: "OK lah" to agree hastily

https://giphy.com/gifs/3JTwhyAr1FrPWbAd19

Example 3: "OK lah" to agree reluctantly 

https://giphy.com/gifs/PoG708MpWjhnfnoPLk

Example 4: "OK lah" to end the conversation

https://giphy.com/gifs/3mlfwy0YRZUezBBh8q

Still not too sure how this shows the lyrical and romantic side of Singlish though.

To watch the video in full:

[related_story]

Here's the transcript, in case you want to save some data.

Singlish is the colloquial language spoken by Singaporeans, which is a mishmash of English, of course, and Chinese, Malay and Indian influences.

It’s objectively one of the best and most romantic and lyrical languages in the whole wide world, but its true beauty, like that of Singapore as a country, lies in efficiency.

We have a way of condensing really long sentences into short ones that every single Singaporean understands, but with nuances that are hard to explain to anyone else.

But I’m going to try.

“OK lah” is one example of a phrase that has a bunch of different meanings when you say it differently. So here to help me demonstrate is my colleague Zen.

Ready Zen?

Yup.

Okay. Here we go.

[Example 1]

That was a mediocre and underwhelming experience, one that I would probably never repeat again.

OK lah.

[Example 2]

Fine, I am incredibly frustrated but it seems I have no choice but to do what you are proposing.

OK lah OK lah.

[Example 3]

I reluctantly accept whatever it is that you are saying.

OK lah.

[Example 4]

It seems our conversation has come to a natural end. I enjoyed our chat tremendously. Goodbye.

OK lah, bye.

Ironically, here’s not how at all you use “OK lah”.

[Example 5]

Can you do this task?

OK.

So if everyone else in the world can stop telling Singaporeans “OK lah” when they actually mean “OK”, that will be ideal.

So now that you know little bit of Singlish, go out and use it loudly and proudly.

OK lah, bye.

Top photo from screenshots from SCMP video