新加坡现代化进程中国家认同的构建——以语言教育为例

The Construction of National Identity in Singapore's Modernization:A Case Study of Language Education

自20世纪60年代取得独立以来,新加坡政府为促进国家现代化进程,通过独特的语言政策试图构建新的国家认同理念以缓和国内各群体间的矛盾。政府遵循多元文化主义原则的指导,采取多种措施以确保各族群语言平等,并在此基础将英语作为新加坡各族人民必须学习的语言,使之成为构建国家认同的重要手段。这些举措在一定程度上缓和各族群间的矛盾、增进族群交流,但也造成了东西方价值观念的对立,从而引发了部分社会问题。

Since its independence in the 1960s,the government of Singapore has tried to build a new concept of national identity through a unique language policy in order to ease conflicts among different ethnic groups.The aim was to promote the modernization of the country.Specifically,following the creed of multiculturalism,the government took several measures to keep the languages of all ethnic groups equal.Based on this,bilingual education was carried out.And English became the language that all people in Singapore should study.Thus,English became an important instrument for building national identity.All the measures above eased the conflicts and promoted communications among all ethnic groups to a certain extent.However,they also increased the opposition of eastern and western value,which caused several social problems.