Who does these translations? And yes, I am game.

And whoever is updating this page, god bless your hearts.

 

Singapore is just fascinating. From the Ministry of Manpower, to the “promote mandarin council”, to the “华语COOL” slogan to promote mandarin, they clearly are on to something. I’m waiting to discover the “be good committee” or the “Like government more program”. America should have committee’s titled in the form of commands, maybe then more people will listen or do the things the committee is supposed to be supporting. Compare:

 

The Campaign for Healthy Living

vs.

Be skinnier and more fit! council.

The style mostly makes me think of things like the The New York Times or the The USA Today.

 

It’s hard picking a favorite, I’m stuck between:

 

华人讲华语，合情又合理
Mandarin’s In. Dialect’s Out

(I like the whole, if we assert it, maybe it’ll become true theme going on here, combined with the utter disinterest in attempting a translation. )

and

华人•华语
Mandarin is Chinese

(Because it says so little, and what little it says is so unclear, yet ultimately undeniable, and not what they meant in the first place.)

Which allows the dark horse to win, mostly because it makes life sound life a dish to be enjoyed:

多讲华语，亲切便利
Better with more Mandarin, less dialect

That’s how I always feel about my 水餃.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_Mandarin_Campaign

Slogans for Past Movements

• 1979 (Target Audience: Chinese Community)
  多讲华语，少说方言
  Speak More Mandarin, Speak Less dialects
• 1981 (Target Audience: Chinese Community)
  学华语，讲华语
  Learn Mandarin, Speak Mandarin
• 1982 (Target Audience: Work Place)
  在工作场所讲华语
  Speak Mandarin while at work
• 1983 (Target Audience: Markets & Food Centres)
  华人讲华语，合情又合理
  Mandarin’s In. Dialect’s Out
• 1984 (Target Audience: Chinese Parents)
  请讲华语，儿女的前途，操在您手里
  Speak Mandarin. Your children’s future depends on your effort today
• 1985 (Target Audience: Public Transport Workers )
  华人•华语
  Mandarin is Chinese
• 1986 (Target Audience: Food and Drinks Establishments)
  先开口讲华语，皆大欢喜
  Start with Mandarin, not Dialect
• 1987 (Target Audience: Shopping Centres)
  会讲华语，先讲常讲
  Start with Mandarin, speak it more often
• 1988 (Target Audience: White Collar Workers)
  多讲华语，亲切便利
  Better with more Mandarin, less dialect
• 1989 (Target Audience: Chinese community)
  常讲华语，自然流利
  More Mandarin, Less Dialect. Make it a way of life
• 1990 (Target Audience: Senior Executives)
  华人•华语
  Mandarin is Chinese
• 1991 (Target Audience:English educated Chinese Singaporeans)
  学习华语认识文化
  Mandarin for Chinese Singaporeans: More Than a Language
• 1992 (Target Audience: English educated Chinese Singaporeans)
  用华语表心意
  Say it in Mandarin
• 1993 (Target Audience: English educated Chinese Singaporeans)
  讲华语•受益多
  Speak Mandarin. It helps
• 1994/1995 (Target Audience: English educated Chinese and business professionals)
  华语多讲流利
  Mandarin. Use It or Lose It
• 1996/1997 (Target Audience: English educated Chinese working adults)
  讲华语开创新天地
  Speak Mandarin, Explore New Horizons
• 1998/1999 (Target Audience: English educated Chinese working adults)
  讲华语.好处多
  Speak Mandarin, It's An Asset ^[12]; ^[13]
• 2000
  讲华语？没问题！
  Speak Mandarin? No problem!
• 2006/ 2007 (Target Audience: Post-1965 English Speaking Chinese Singaporeans)
  华语COOL
  Mandarin Cool!
• 2007/ 2008 (Target Audience: Post-1965 English Speaking Chinese Singaporeans)
  Speak Mandarin - 讲华语, 你肯吗?
  Are You Game?
• 2009/ 2010 (Audience : Youths)
  华文？谁怕谁！
  Be Heard in Chinese