SINGAPORE – For decades, Singapore’s debate over Chinese dialects centred on their perceived competition with Mandarin, which the Government promoted as the common language among Chinese Singaporeans under its bilingual policy.
That framing has now shifted.
The parliamentary debate on July 7 over the use of dialects in films suggests that dialects are no longer being viewed through the same policy lens that shaped decisions in the past.
Instead of being seen as a threat to the bilingual policy, these heritage spoken forms are now being recognised as part of the country’s shared cultural inheritance.
The debate attracted MPs from both sides of the aisle, showing a broad political consensus that dialects should be preserved. The House was not arguing so much about whether dialects deserve support, but how far media restrictions should be relaxed.
Recent data shows clearly how far dialects have shifted away from being a working language to being a connector to one’s culture and roots.
An online survey by Nanyang Technological University Assistant Professor Chow Pei Sze found that roughly half of some 600 respondents, aged 18 to 82, described dialects in terms of “roots”, “heritage” and “identity” when asked what they mean to the community.
She had sent out the survey between March and June 2026, ahead of the end-June release of Dear You, a Chinese movie filmed almost entirely in Teochew, that had ignited public debate around language policy.
The survey showed that 95 per cent agreed that the Government should loosen restrictions on Chinese dialects in Singapore media. About 87 per cent disagreed that exposure to dialects impedes the learning of Mandarin or English, and 84 per cent rejected the idea that broadcasting dialects more widely would damage the standing of Mandarin or English.
A total of 92 per cent prefer to watch dialect content in its original, undubbed form, with the actors’ own voices.
Signs of potential change
Several developments from the past few weeks and the parliamentary debate point towards a shift in how the Government intends to implement the policy.
Since IMDA’s June 16 statement explaining its decision to have the Mandarin-dubbed version of Dear You be the one for general release, it has approved a total of 272 screenings of the Teochew version, up from the original 10. It is prepared to approve more should there be demand.
These screenings have been approved in batches, with tickets selling out fast each time.
On July 7, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How in Parliament responded to calls from MPs – both PAP and WP – who had called for a review of the guidelines.
He announced that the authorities are indeed reviewing the film guidelines, specific to the use of dialects in films.
But he also set out some parameters for the review.
There is scope to consider how the Government can expand the space for dialects, he said – but this would be in tandem with efforts to continue to uphold the importance of Mandarin.
Tan also said the Government will take into account the different media platforms in its review. Most of the public discussion so far has centred on rules for cinemas, given that there are no restrictions on their streaming platform competitors.
Another aspect of the debate in Parliament surrounded the Speak Mandarin Campaign, launched in 1979 to promote Mandarin use here in the Chinese community.
IMDA’s first statement on June 16 had said that its decision on Mandarin-dubbing was to support the bilingual policy.
This sparked discussion from various quarters, including veteran filmmakers Eric Khoo and Jack Neo, on the relevance of the campaign in today’s context.
When it was first launched, policymakers feared that the widespread use of multiple Chinese dialects would undermine efforts to establish Mandarin as a common language among Chinese Singaporeans.
Nearly five decades later, however, the linguistic landscape has changed dramatically. Today, English has become the dominant language among younger Singaporeans.
The percentage of Chinese households using Chinese dialects as their primary language dropped from 76 per cent in 1980 to 7 per cent in 2025. The use of English as their primary language increased from 10 per cent in 1980 to 50 per cent in 2025. As for Mandarin, it was 13 per cent in 1980 and 44 per cent in 2025.
Against that backdrop, dialects are increasingly seen less as competitors to Mandarin and more as repositories of cultural memory.
This shift was made explicit during the parliamentary debate.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said the campaign itself has evolved from promoting Mandarin as a common language to strengthening appreciation of Singapore Chinese cultural identity and making the learning of Mandarin fun and enjoyable.
He added: “The use of dialects in Singapore has continued to decline, and we increasingly see dialect artistic materials not as competing against the use of Mandarin, but as part of our heritage and cultural practices that deepen Singaporeans’ appreciation of our cultural heritage.”
This move away from competition can already be seen in how institutions approach dialect programming.
At the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, most of its exhibitions, festivals and programmes are presented in English and Chinese. But through the years, SCCC and its partners have introduced programmes in dialects to reach older audiences, foster intergenerational bonding or document local Chinese heritage, said its chief executive officer, Alvin Tan.
Other organisations, like non-profit Teochew philanthropic organisation Ngee Ann Kongsi, regularly run events emphasising the cultural aspects of the dialect. It is organising a Teochew Cultural and Food Festival in October, while many clan associations around Singapore hold dialect classes and heritage events for those who wish to reconnect with their heritage.
Selective recalibration, not sweeping rewrite
Looking forward, this review will take some time, MDDI’s Tan has said.
Those keen for change should expect a measured and selective recalibration rather than a sweeping rewrite.
Tan, in his reply in Parliament, was careful to stress that Mandarin remains the mainstay of free-to-air television and radio. Nor did he signal any broader liberalisation beyond reviewing cinema guidelines.
Those caveats suggest that the Government is seeking a careful balance between two objectives: to preserve Mandarin as the common language among Chinese Singaporeans, and to create greater space for dialects as expressions of culture and heritage.
The July 7 debate in Parliament makes clear that the Government agrees that both objectives are not mutually exclusive now, and each is seen as having its own function in Singapore society.
The authorities have committed to getting feedback from a wide range of people for this review, and those who feel strongly will have a chance to say how they feel this balance should be struck.
As with IMDA’s gradual expansion of Dear You from limited festival screenings to more approved public screenings in response to audience demand, any changes are likely to be incremental and targeted to specific contexts.
Tan Ern Ser, adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser of the Institute of Policy Studies’ Social Lab, said the Government seems prepared to be flexible about the use of dialects in the media while prioritising its bilingual policy.
“It has, in fact, been doing so in recent years, in part to reach out to the older generation when informing them about government policies that affect them,” he said. “It also recognises that dialects constitute a part of the Chinese cultural identity, as well as a means for younger people to communicate and connect with the older generation.”
He noted that many of the popular local movies, such as those from home-grown filmmaker Jack Neo, have a high dose of dialect content for some time.
“I believe the Government has always been a pragmatic one and is prepared to re-invent itself so as not to be out of step with the times,” he said.
“It does factor in ground sentiments and the strong arguments they are pushing. For this reason, I am of the view that this will happen sooner rather than later.”
