ABSTRACT
The number of well-entrenched local characteristics in the children’s language once more reinforces the unique and independent character and status of L1 English. English is by far the most frequently indicated strongest language for the Singaporean children. In the Chinese group, Mandarin is the second strongest/dominant language; in the Indian group, this role is fulfilled by Tamil. Chinese languages do not play a role in the Indian group and vice versa. The chapter identifies a range of features that frequently occur in the child data. Most of these features are identical with the most prominent characteristics of adult SingE. The number of well-entrenched local characteristics in the children’s language once more reinforces the unique and independent character and status of L1 English. Processes and mechanisms of language contact and cross-linguistic influence have played a much stronger role in the context of Singapore.
