If the one specific language is your native language, how much effort is needed to become better at it?
Granted, that applies only to people who grow up in unilingual environments where the native tongue has no rivals. Maybe multi-lingual environments do make for a half-assed grasp of all the languages available. But- enh- the Swiss seem to cope OK.
Besides, if I may be a Canadian here, with the English I speak under daily onslaught from the simplified TV-derived English the Americans speak, to the point that we'll all be reduced to a vocabulary of 1000 words some day, I'm all for other flavours of English developing. Singlish isn't a bastard incorrect language, it's a naturally developing one, exactly like American and Australian. If I must read non-standard English, at least let it be non-standard because it embodies Chinese words and usages. That's just as legitimate as the 'where I come from the past tense of drag is drug so drug is *right*.' (You may guess I have no problem with Black American English either for exactly the same reasons.)
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Granted, that applies only to people who grow up in unilingual environments where the native tongue has no rivals. Maybe multi-lingual environments do make for a half-assed grasp of all the languages available. But- enh- the Swiss seem to cope OK.
Besides, if I may be a Canadian here, with the English I speak under daily onslaught from the simplified TV-derived English the Americans speak, to the point that we'll all be reduced to a vocabulary of 1000 words some day, I'm all for other flavours of English developing. Singlish isn't a bastard incorrect language, it's a naturally developing one, exactly like American and Australian. If I must read non-standard English, at least let it be non-standard because it embodies Chinese words and usages. That's just as legitimate as the 'where I come from the past tense of drag is drug so drug is *right*.' (You may guess I have no problem with Black American English either for exactly the same reasons.)