Speak Mandarin Campaign - Motivation

Motivation

The Speak Mandarin Campaign (SMC) was launched in 1979 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The motivation was to discourage the use of various non-Mandarin Chinese languages by Chinese Singaporeans and to encourage the speaking of Mandarin as a common language among the Chinese population. The campaign aimed to:

• Simplify the language environment and understanding amongst Chinese Singaporeans.
• Improve communication and understanding amongst Chinese Singaporeans.
• Create a Mandarin-speaking environment conducive to the successful implementation of the bilingual education programme.

The initial goal of the campaign was for all young Chinese to stop speaking dialects in 5 years and in turn establishing Mandarin as the choice of language in public places in 10 years.

From 1979 to 1981, the Speak Mandarin Campaign was targeted at Chinese Singaporeans, in particular, specific groups such as hawkers, public transport workers, white-collar workers and senior executives, to encourage them to speak Mandarin instead of non-Mandarin Chinese languages so that they could better communicate with each other, especially among various dialect groups.

The Campaign continued in the 1990s as the country's second generation leaders, led by Goh Chok Tong, took over the government.

"For the Chinese community, our aim should be a single people, speaking the same primary language, possessing a distinct culture and a shared past, and sharing a common destiny for the future. Such a Chinese community will then be tightly knit. Provided it is also tolerant and appreciative of the other communities' heritage, able to communicate with them in English, and work with them for a common future, Singapore will grow to become a nation."

— PM Goh Chok Tong, 1991 Speak Mandarin Campaign Launch