新加坡现代化初期(1965—1979年)语言政策改革及其原因探析

An Analysis of Language Policy Reform and Its Causes in the Early Stages of Singapore’s Modernization(1965-1979)

新加坡自1965年独立后便走上了一条现代化之路,但国内由来已久的族群冲突,使得新加坡的现代化建设困难重重。为帮助各族群有效沟通,李光耀开始对新加坡的多语言政策进行渐进式改革。一方面,从《1965年新加坡共和国独立法》来看,新加坡将在独立后继续采用以马来语为国语,马来语、华语、泰米尔语、英语四大官方语言一律平等的既定政策;另一方面,从1979年《吴庆瑞报告书》来看,新加坡将在教育领域践行双语政策,贯彻“凸显英语、保留母语”的教育模式。现代化初期,新加坡语言政策改革的原因有三:第一,李光耀对英语、母语教育的推崇是新加坡践行双语政策的直接动力;第二,协调各种族语言是化解国内外种族隔阂的有效途径;第三,普及英语、保留母语符合新加坡现代化建设的需要。

Since its independence in 1965,Singapore has embarked on a road of modernization.However,the long-standing ethnic conflicts in Singapore have caused numerous challenges to it.To help the ethnic groups communicate effectively,Lee Kuan Yew initiated a progressive reform of Singapore’s multilingual policy.On the one hand,from the Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965,Singapore would continue to uphold its established policy of treating Malay,Mandarin,Tamil,and English as equal official languages,with Malay serving as the national language after its independence;On the other hand,from the 1979 Goh Report,Singapore would also implement bilingual policy in the field of education and follow the education model of“highlighting English and preserving mother tongue”.In the early stages of modernization,there were three reasons for the implementation of language policy reform in Singapore:First,Lee Kuan Yew’s personal emphasis on English and mother tongue education was the direct driving force for Singapore to implement the bilingual policy.Secondly,the coordination of different ethnic languages was an effective way to dissolve the racial gap at home and abroad.Thirdly,popularizing English and retaining mother tongue met the needs of Singapore’s modernization.