To mark the 90th anniversary of the NUS Department of English Language and Literature, the department, in collaboration with Centre 42, presents a panel discussion: “Snapshots into the study of Singapore English, Literature and Theatre.” Associate Professor Anne Pakir, Dr Gwee Li Sui and Associate Professor Robin Loon will share insights into Singapore English, its relationship with Singapore Literature and Singapore English language theatre respectively. All are welcome.
EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
From 1pm @ Centre 42 Black Box
Admission price: Give-What-You-Can
(Cash only, at the door)
Gwee Li Sui
Gwee Li Sui is a poet, a graphic artist, and a literary critic. He wrote Singapore’s first long-form graphic novel in English, Myth of the Stone, in 1993 and has published six volumes of poetry to date. His latest titles are Death Wish, the bestselling Spiaking Singlish: A Companion to How Singaporeans Communicate, and The Leeter Tunku, a Singlish translation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. A familiar name in Singapore’s cultural scene, Gwee has also edited several acclaimed literary anthologies and written and lectured on a range of subjects.
Anne Pakir
Professor Anne Pakir received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees, respectively, from NUS, UC Berkeley and University of Hawaii, Manoa and is with the Department of English Language and Literature at NUS. She was Director of International Relations at NUS (2008-2017) and Associate Vice President, University and Global Relations (2018 – 2019). She was recently conferred an Honorary Fellowship at the University . She was Vice President of the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE, 2016-2018). A Fulbrighter at Berkeley and Cornell, she served as President of the Fulbright Association (Singapore) from 2008-2011 and was a TOEFL Board Member (2005-2009). She was conferred The Ordre des Palmes académiques from the French Government and received the Public Administration Medal from the Government of Singapore (2014). She is an Honorary Life Member of AILA, the International Association for Applied Linguistics. Her primary research interest is in English-knowing bilingualism and World Englishes. She is currently working on a Routledge book project, “English in Singapore: Global Competence and Local Realities”.
Robin Loon
Robin Loon is an Associate Professor (Educator’s Track) of Theatre Studies at the Department of English Language and Literature, NUS. He is a practising playright and dramaturg and a co-founder of Centre 42. He teaches and researches in Singapore Theatre, playwriting, dramaturgy and theatre criticism.
Singaporean Literature: How We Got Here
By Gwee Li Sui
Singaporean literature has changed through the decades and, most radically and materially, in recent years. What are the challenges that contemporary writers face – and, by extension, the responsibility of academic study? Gwee Li Sui will address some of the most key developments and transformations in literary culture in Singapore.
English-knowing bilingualism in Singapore: Striking a New Balance for Future-Readiness*
By Anne Pakir
‘English-knowing bilingualism’ (Pakir, 1991) has gained ascendancy in Singapore and may become a core competency for the 21st-century world with the rise in status of English as a global language. However, the path to English-knowing bilingualism in the pluri-lingual and heterogeneous country was often marked by paradoxical debates surrounding the issues of language maintenance and shift, identity and the transmission of values, equity and meritocracy, as well as balancing between local versus global linguistic norms and standards. The debates continue unabated as new challenges arise, and in going forward, a new balance has to be achieved in language strategy, policy and management for a future-ready Singapore.
*This presentation is based on a co-authored publication in Asian Englishes, 2018, Vol 20, No. 1, 41-53, English in Singapore: Striking a new balance for future-readiness. Co-authors: Ee Ling Low, NIE/NTU Singapore and Anne Pakir, NUS.
Singapore English-Language Theatre
By Robin Loon
Robin Loon will discuss the relationship between Singapore English and Singapore English Language Theatre. He will trace the early developments of Singapore English Language Theatre in the 1960s and its struggle to legitimise the use of Singapore English. The 80s see the rise of Singapore English Language Theatre where the theatre and the audience begin to embrace Singapore English as an authentic language to express ideas, ideals and ideologies.
