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Abstract
Humour plays an important role in making and mediating human relationships. While scholarship on workplace humour is voluminous, there is scarce literature on interactional humour in non-Western yet culturally diverse settings. This article looks at humour in multi-ethnic Singaporean workplaces employing both citizens and temporary migrants, with a particular focus on blue collar and service workers. We argue that Singlish forms a linguistic and aural humour template for workers to bridge significant language, racial and cultural differences through language play that is devoid of the aggressive disparagement humour that frequently characterizes shop-floor humour in the Anglosphere. What evolves is a humorous metrolingua franca (Pennycook, A., and E. Otsuji. 2015. Metrolingualism: Language in the City. London: Routledge.) that is specific to the way everyday multiculturalism operates in diverse Singaporean workplaces.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 911-929 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Ethnic and Racial Studies |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 21 May 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Apr 2020 |
Keywords
- conviviality
- Everyday multiculturalism
- interaction humour
- Singapore
- Singlish
- work
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- 1 Finished
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Everyday Diversity at Work
Velayutham, S., Wise, A., PhD Contribution (ARC), P. C. & MQRES 3 (International), M. 3.
1/01/12 → 31/07/17
Project: Research