If you think the Singaporean has finally escaped the curse of controlling international screens, think again. The latest perpetrator? It is called American crime drama the countdownIt is now flowing on the main video, which was able to make Singaporeans spit collectively for them T -Ping In disbelief.
In the eleventh episode, the LAPD investigators played by Jensen Ackles play (yes, supernatural Fans, to him again) and Jessica Kamacho, a Singaporean businessman named Kiran Teo, who was played by American actor Brian Yang. Interesting voices – with the exception of Hollywood, apparently decided that this “Singapore” could not speak the word English. Instead, he shakes only in the Malay (interview) and needs a translator, played by the Singaporean actress Valerie Lu.
One nation braid is very confused by viewers.
Singapore, but make it confused
Now, let’s be clear: Malay He is The national language of Singapore. It is printed on our coat of weapons, and we sing it during the national anthem, and you can find road names such as Gallan Bisar and Bocate Tema, which reminds us of our linguistic roots. But is the ordinary Singaporean businessman really conducting shaded real estate transactions in the Malay and requires a translator when speaking to foreigners? This is probably like a person who brings Dorian to MRT without getting the side in forgetfulness.
The moment that was broadcast, the Singaporeon collectively knew what should happen in the writer’s room: Someone wrote “What is the national language of Singapore?” In Google, I watched “Malay” a popup, and immediately relied on the decision of the entire text program on this individual research result. Search: Done.
Enter Bear Holdings
As if the language problem was not enough, the plot is intensifying. The fictional company is called “Beruang Holdings”. Yes, “beruang” translates into “Bear” in Malay, which makes us wonder immediately: Was “Merlion PTE LTD”?
But to you Kicker – the exhibition claims that Beruang Holdings is owned by the ruling political party in Singapore, the People’s Work Party (PAP). This leads to a government representative storming to stop the investigation. Because nothing screams an early drama like dragging the Ruler’s Party in Southeast Asia into a sub -plan for killing.
Some of the Singaporeans were more entertaining than insulting. On Redit, Mockery“Maybe he is a Singapore citizen but he was born in Malaysia?” While the last fatal, “in the end, Singaporean speaks their national language.” However, the biggest concern was how the exhibition made Singapore seemed to be a driving system that uses the political force of covering up crimes. It is not exactly the sparkling, theme, it is for everything, usually we market it to tourists.
Anyone has already seen?
If this is familiar, it is because Singapore was here before. The international pictures of the city of Lion are a strange cocktail of lazy research, stereotypes, and explicit imagination.
Take Crazy wealthy Asians (2018). The film was praised internationally to display Asian wealth and magic, but at home, Singaporean scratched their heads. Where were the Malay and Indian characters? Where was Kopitiams, HDB apartments, the waiting list smells of sweat for Pak Chor Mi at one in the morning? Singapore was a shiny, luxurious and varied visualization like the yacht club only for members. This may have been a relationship with another representation (MIS) Singapore in Artcher (S12 EP7), with billionaire Sherrill’s heir to fear how poor in Singapore.
Or consider a snowstorm Overwatch (2016), who presented the Singapore Robot champion that Singlich speaking embarrassing, seemed as if someone had copied and operated phrases from the travel code during three rounds of Google translation. The result was “authentic” in the same way as the instant pasta, Ramin Aseeh.
Why are they still mistaken?
Part of the issue is the gap between Singapore’s global reputation and its actual cultural complexity. For strangers, Singapore is often reduced to its incredibly rich (B), (b) strict nanny states, or mysterious (Asian “(Asian) in a mysterious way in a way that leaks to Malaysia, Indonesia or Hong Kong. Add in the convenience of Google, and Foula: a Singaporean Chinese figure speaks only Malay and has a shaded company linked to politics.
The paradox? Singaporean are among the most efficient English in Asia. In fact, the English language is Lingua Franca – we are studying in it, we work in it, we complain about our superiors in it. If anything, LAPD letters should have been confused with phrases like “can LAH, no single problem,” and not by the need for a translator.
Should we care?
Therefore, Singaporene should be upset the countdownfilming? On the one hand, yes-it is frustrating that we see Hollywood, the distortion of a modern world city with a “dodging of alley” directly from dust to spying the Cold War. On the other hand, this is not new. When a Reddit user sighed, “Hollywood considers a distortion A (inserting anything here) an old story at the time.”
Perhaps, instead of anger, a healthy response is humor. After all, Singaporeon are experts in laughing at ourselves. Junters have turned Erp into the memes, HDB Void Trasfs into Tiktok background, and even long queues in honor badges. Why not adds, “Hollywood thinks we need instant translators” to the list?
The final ruling
At the end of the day, the countdownFaux Pas may say more about Hollywood than he says about Singapore. However, if Hollywood wants to try again, then Singaporeans will be more than happy with help. Just do not forget to include MRT, Hawker Center, a person saying “Alamak”, and Long Leaues outside the Mac store for the latest model of iPhone.
Until then, the next time “Singaporene” appears in an American show, we will closely monitor – dependent on popcorn and mockery, and know that if things get worse, we can always roast it online. Because in fact, if there is a single global truth about Singaporene, this is: our distortion of everything you want, but at least get our right to the English language. Lah.
