Perception of language variation in the speech of Singaporean political leaders

• Published in: World Englishes Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 397 - 414
• Main Authors: Lim, Sheryl W. X., Ng, Bee Chin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2025
• Subjects: Colloquial Singapore English; Dialect Studies; English varieties; Interviews; Language variation; Language varieties; linguistic capital; matched‐guise technique; political communication; Political discourse; Politics; Singapore English; Socioeconomic status; Speech perception; Speech styles; Speeches; Young adults; Singapore

Though politicians consciously or unconsciously vary their speech style to create a more positive response from the voting public, we have little empirical evidence attesting to its effectiveness. This study investigates the attitudes of 254 Singaporeans (aged 21–70) towards the use of two English v...