So 26, lah

Last month, John Simmons went off to Singapore to spread the word about words. Here, in his own words, is what happened.

It seems to me that the whole purpose of Singapore is to do with shopping. It’s what the Singaporeans do really well and much of their life seems to revolve around it. It’s all about buying and selling, but without the British embarrassment. And because the heat and humidity can discourage some people from shopping, enormous air-conditioned shopping malls have been built. If you’re a canny shopper you need never feel the sticky outside atmosphere, you just wander under cover from mall to mall.

I was not absolutely in tune with this. I’m not a great shopper. In a couple of hours I felt I’d bought all the bargains I could handle for one trip.

So I had to concentrate on selling. I had two things to sell, both closely related. First the new editions of my books We, Me, Them & It and The Invisible Grail. Second, the whole idea of 26.

The trip had come about because Marshall Cavendish (who, with Cyan Books, support 26 and publish my books) are based in Singapore. It seemed a good idea to go there, build relationships with Marshall Cavendish, talk to people about words in business and the role of 26, and sell some books. After all, English is the first language, certainly of business there, and Singapore ranks No. 3 in the list of the world’s heaviest book-buying populations.

So it turned out a busy 5 days, involving TV and radio interviews, and set-piece talks at three big events. First, a breakfast meeting for the Singapore-German chamber of commerce (strange but true). Second for 150 people at the Singapore Civil Service College. And third for the British Council at Singapore Management University.

The British Council event, with 250 people in the audience, felt most like 26. People were intrigued, amused, stimulated by the potential of words in business. The event was part of the British Council’s Knowledge Network, which brings people together around a subject of interest. Extraordinary when you think that 3 years ago 26 did not exist – and now here I was talking about it to a big audience in South East Asia.

There’s interest in 26 there and we now have useful contacts with many people, particularly the British Council. Singaporeans are thirsty for knowledge. If any 26ers are planning a trip out there, let us know – we now have a possible 26 chapter in the making. And, if it’s what you like, the shopping is great.

Thanks too to Andrew Gurnett of the British Council for the Coxford Dictionary of Singlish. I’ll brush up mine if I ever go back:

“Why you so loh soh one?” loh soh = longwinded
“Got food must eat, lah!” lah is everywhere, like a full stop in a sentence
“I decided to pontang” pontang = skive

posted by jim @ 10:49 AM