Evaluating Intercultural Behavior

Having been studying in Singapore for more than three years already, I must say that there are still times where I am amazed or surprised by the similarities and differences between the culture here and the culture of my home nation, Malaysia. The two cultures can be so similar and yet can also be so different at certain times.

Borrowing a common Tinglish/Thainglish phrase: Same same but different?

It was actually during my first week here in NUS that I managed to get a first hand experience of the unique differences between the culture here and Malaysia through a series of intriguing events. I still remember that fateful night when my new Singaporean friend, James, suggested that we go for supper at a nearby famous coffee shop. Being more curious about the coffee shop than hungry, I agreed to his suggestion. The place was quite crowded when we reached there but we luckily managed to get a table beside a couple of Malay aunties who were enjoying their supper. James then went to the toilet leaving me alone at the table. While waiting for James to return, I caught some parts of the conversation between the two Malay aunties sitting beside us. I was surprised when I found out that they were conversing in English instead of Malay. This was because it is almost impossible to hear Malay aunties using English to talk to one another in Malaysia. The Malaysian Malays would normally converse in Malay and yet, there I was listening to the two aunties gossiping merrily in perfect English. I then realized that this trait is truly unique of Singapore where English is the main language used by people across the races unlike in Malaysia where people of the same race prefer to speak to each other in their native mother tongue.

Gossiping or 'Networking" aunties :)

My 'eavesdropping' was interrupted when the person in charge of taking the customers' order approached my table. As James was still in the toilet, I did not know what to order so I just asked for the first thing that came to my mind. The following was more or less the conversation that occurred between me and the person taking my order:

Person taking order: So what would you like to eat?
Me: Er... Can I have a plain roti canai?
Person taking order: Roti canai? What is that? We don't have it here.
Me: But the two Malay aunties beside me are eating roti canai. What do you mean you don't have it here?
Person taking order: Oh. That is not roti canai, that is called roti prata. So you want one plain roti prata?
Me: Er... Yeah.
Person taking order: Ok. Wait 15 minutes.

It was then that I found out that
roti canai (in Malaysia) = roti prata (in Singapore)

After the person taking my order left, I was left to contemplate the events that just happened at the coffee shop. The coffee shop was just like any other coffee shop in Malaysia and yet the events mentioned above would not take place in a typical Malaysian coffee shop. Isn't it amazing that two countries with such a close history can have their own unique culture such as Manglish (Malaysian English) in Malaysia and the usage of colloquial terms such as "mugging" or "stoning" in Singapore? Another example is the fact that even though the roti canai/prata has different names in Malaysia and Singapore, both names are actually referring to the same food. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia may share certain similar cultural traits and yet in the end, each country's culture is distinctive on its own.

In conclusion, we are bound to experience intercultural differences in our lives one way or another. These differences can exist in many forms such as language and even the name of a food. As such, we always need to be sensitive towards the distinctive culture of each different country or place. Thus, only by understanding and being aware of the diverse cultures that we meet could the conflicts caused by intercultural differences be avoided.