* Singlish is a largely spoken creole, and as such descriptivism (recording forms that reflect actual pronunciation in spoken language, or as appearing in the linguistic corpus) is more pertinent than strict prescriptivism. Nevertheless, the use of more standard forms (or for words originating in languages with Latin script, such as Malay, accurate to the original spelling) is recommended and encouraged.
also can:
no spee-yak
no spiak
definitions
interjection
- (humorous) used to convey that one has been left speechless and dumbfounded
verb
- (humorous or ironic) to not speak
It isn't broken English - God forbid that citizens of a former Crown Colony "no spiak English" - it's just English of a different sort, like American slang generously laced with local oomph and zest.
— 1997 July 27, Cyntbia Chung. The Oklahoman, "Singapore Home To Gourmands, Many Cultures". https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1997/07/27/singapore-home-to-gourmands-many-cultures/62307412007/
expression
- (idiom) nothing special to discuss; nothing to write home about
What OCS dished out to us during Junior Term was "no spiak" to us from Echo Company Platon 17 (ITD Sembawang Camp). Because of our "Mad Dog" PC, we cruised through it without sweat!
— 2014 May 5, TC Lai. Doing-National-Service, "OCS Stress". https://doing-national-service.blogspot.com/2014/05/ocs-stress.html