SQ Crew's Poor English?

[astroboy]

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Mar 29, 2010
My Point


MISS LIM POH SUAN: 'Singapore Airlines should ensure that their crew, including their captains, speak proper English. On a recent flight, when I asked if I there were any empty seats available, an SIA stewardess replied, 'OK'. I was puzzled. It took the fourth crew member, a steward, to finally understand my question and reply that they had to wait until the gates were closed. On my return trip, the captain welcomed us to 'SQ fRight...'. As a Singaporean on board an SIA flight, I felt embarrassed about the improper pronunciation and inability of the crew to communicate the basics.'



In the first place, should it be empty seats, or unoccupied seats?

[sabian]

flied lice?

[scooby5]

I think the term "emtpy seats" is fine.

[jjpb3]

I've never had any issues with the English communication skills of SQ crew.

Also, accents are, IMO, part of the charm of travelling and using a global language. Accents don't necessarily entail communication issues, unless the issues are the recipient's . English would be poorer if it were spoken only with the sounds and tones of RP and GA* (cornfield Midwestern, my Ohio friend calls it ).


(*Sorry, dunno the terms for the benchmark accent for Oz, Canada or NZ.)

[vincent0720]

In my opinion, SQ Crew's english is great when comparing with other Asian carieers (JAL, CHINA AIRLINES..etc)

[viraj735]

I don't believe that Singapore Airlines cabin crew have flawed english. However, I have had a pretty tough and rude time communicating with the women at the ION office. I think their english is scattered. "You want Lufhansa ah? I get foh you ah, wait ah."

[flyguy]

cant really compare our SQ boys n girls enlish to other foreign carriers - as Chinese airlines, Japanese Airlines n Korean airlines for example, English is not their first language taught unlike SIN.
Just ask the SQ crew what they did before they join the airline and see if u can hear their answers clearly.

[viraj735]

cant really compare our SQ boys n girls enlish to other foreign carriers - as Chinese airlines, Japanese Airlines n Korean airlines for example, English is not their first language taught unlike SIN.
Just ask the SQ crew what they did before they join the airline and see if u can hear their answers clearly.

I find that ANA cabin crew are surprisingly talented in English and despite the accent barrier, I was able to engage in a discussion with a member of one of the crew regarding their 777s and Chicago. Nice to communicate with people from other ethnicities, one of the advantages of living in a multicultural society such as Singapore.

[TerryK]

Accents aside, I found SQ crew to have the best command of English amongst Asian carriers.

[concept|infinit]

I've never encountered poor English on SQ flights and its hard to imagine since English is our first language. I'm sure they'd ensure their foreign crew speak good English as well.

[MAN Flyer]

I think they should speak more Singlish, it's much more fun. One of the best things about 14A/K on the 77W and 17A/K on the A380 is listening to the crew in the galley.

[phaleesy]

I think they should speak more Singlish, it's much more fun.

Agreed. SQ is a Singapore carrier. What else should they be speaking except Singlish?!

I would find it embarrassing and cringe-worthy if the SQ crew starts speaking in affected and pretentious American or Aussie accents. I have not been watching Singapore TV for years but do the MTV wannabes still speak with such unnatural accents? Always puzzled by the affected American accents of some local Starbucks staff as well...

BUT Miss Lim might have a point about pronunciation. I did have problems understanding what the FAs were saying a couple of times and I am a Singaporean myself! The most recent incident involved a welcome drink which was 'Apple something'. I couldn't make out the 'apple' bit, all I heard was something that sounded vaguely like 'happy' despite asking her to repeat it twice. Anyway I happily agreed I would have the 'happy something'. I found out what it was later from another FA.

I think some of us Singaporeans tend to vary the way we speak depending on company and whether we're at work or at play. Sometimes I just want to speak very fast and can't be bothered with diction and pronunciation. But we can't do that at work because it sounds gibberish to untrained ears!

One of the best things about 14A/K on the 77W and 17A/K on the A380 is listening to the crew in the galley.

Not sure about that. I was seated in 17A once and all I heard were strands of conversation punctuated with exclamations of 'Wah lan'. (I think I mentioned this incident before ) I do tend to swear at work but only amongst work colleagues in the office. I think it's unprofessional to swear within earshot of your customers when you're in the service industry.

[jjpb3]

I would find it embarrassing and cringe-worthy if the SQ crew starts speaking in affected and pretentious American or Aussie accents.

I notice you left out 'British' on that list. I'm curious why.

[phaleesy]

I notice you left out 'British' on that list. I'm curious why.

I always wonder why no one in Singapore tries to put on a British accent. Maybe it's not a cool and hip thing to do?

[jjpb3]

I always wonder why no one in Singapore tries to put on a British accent. Maybe it's not a cool and hip thing to do?

Oh I've heard it on my SQ flights.

As for British not being a cool accent, I've no ideas there. I agree with you, MTV hosts tend to have American accents, but I've always attributed that to where they might have gone to school.