Deafening dialects

• Main Author: Chua, Valerie Jia Yi
• Other Authors: Wang I-Hsuan Cindy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Visual arts and music::Design
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/74378
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Dialects are not merely a form of communication, but also an important part of our ethnic roots and heritage. It functions as a cultural vessel that carries stories from the past, in the form of practices, rituals, prayers etc. Singapore is a vibrant and multicultural society; we are rich in heritage in terms of the various festivals celebrated and unique delicacies that we still consume today that are special to our ethnic roots. However, when it comes to preserving our dialects, there is a growing decline in usage of dialects over the years and we are faced with a very real problem of it eventually dying out. With language playing an integral role in preserving our heritage and also as an important component of our cultural roots, the loss of dialects would inevitably mean the loss of an important part of our cultural roots. Deafening Dialects is a project that seeks to highlight the importance of identifying our ethnic roots through our heritage language and preserving this cultural heritage. By drawing light and providing further understanding on the current situation of dialects in Singapore, this project aims to encourage younger generations of Singaporeans to start picking up and engaging in conversations using their own dialects, embrace their ethnic roots and recognise the importance of their heritage language.