The Aspectual System of Singapore Colloquial English and its Theoretical Explanations with Regards of Language Contact

Abstract

My dissertation focuses on the off-stage mechanism of the aspectual system formation in Singapore Colloquial English. The aspectual system in Singapore Colloquial English contains unique features that distinguish itself from Standard English. It is argued in this thesis that such uniqueness is caused by the constant and tense contact and competition between the superstrate language English and the major substrate language Chinese (including three major Chinese languages) in the unique linguistic ecology in Singapore. I propose that due to the differences between new English variety SCE and creole, Lefebvre‟s Relexification Theory fails to account for the mechanism of SCE aspectual system since it neglects the fact that the superstrate English ranks higher than the substrate Chinese, and this hierarchy exerts fundamental influence on the process of the formation of SCE aspectual system.