I think people are too hard on her. Out of jealousy?
If you think about it, I don't think her English is to be laughed at. Lest we forget, the average Singaporean on the street speaks like her. So if anyone takes issue with her poor command of English, might I say that implies many Singaporeans actually don't speak good English. Which is true!
If you listen to impromptu interviews with the typical Singaporean on the street, you will know they speak no different from Ris, or even worse. And some of them are supposedly from good schools or educated adults. Don't ask me how these people got A's or even pass their English exams.
I've encountered many foreigners whose first language is not English and they can speak much better than many well-educated Singaporeans, in terms of diction, flow of language and expression of thoughts. The typical Singaporean when speaking, will often mispronounce words, construct sentences with grammatical errors, and sound jerky when they express their thoughts, most likely because they are trying hard to form the sentences in their heads before speaking out. So when we laugh at Ris, we are actually laughing at ourselves.
Why is she still around? I think it's nothing more than the mass media (advertising especially) that want to capitalize on the sensational standing that she has created. In the entertainment industry, no one cares about your past records or how controversial you are. As long as it's not a big criminal record. Think Fann Wong's husband who committed a serious traffic offence, infamous William Hung of "She Bangs" who can't sing to save his life, and Susan Boyle who everyone thought initially looked old, horrible and could not sing.
You get the picture. These are the people who will bring in the $$$. You think FHM did a recent shoot for her if they had thought the magazine would not sell???
Let's face it. She doesn't look that bad by the typical female Singaporean standards. And if you read enough of the local forums, there are "chi-ko-pek" guys who will wish they could bed her. Minus the way she talks (which as I've said is typically Singaporean) and her past criminal records, if she had been portrayed as a law student or accountant, say, I think there would have been many more guys who would go ga-ga over her.
So... will everyone give her a break? She deserves a chance. Welcome to the world of entertainment!
If you think about it, I don't think her English is to be laughed at. Lest we forget, the average Singaporean on the street speaks like her. So if anyone takes issue with her poor command of English, might I say that implies many Singaporeans actually don't speak good English. Which is true!
If you listen to impromptu interviews with the typical Singaporean on the street, you will know they speak no different from Ris, or even worse. And some of them are supposedly from good schools or educated adults. Don't ask me how these people got A's or even pass their English exams.
I've encountered many foreigners whose first language is not English and they can speak much better than many well-educated Singaporeans, in terms of diction, flow of language and expression of thoughts. The typical Singaporean when speaking, will often mispronounce words, construct sentences with grammatical errors, and sound jerky when they express their thoughts, most likely because they are trying hard to form the sentences in their heads before speaking out. So when we laugh at Ris, we are actually laughing at ourselves.
Why is she still around? I think it's nothing more than the mass media (advertising especially) that want to capitalize on the sensational standing that she has created. In the entertainment industry, no one cares about your past records or how controversial you are. As long as it's not a big criminal record. Think Fann Wong's husband who committed a serious traffic offence, infamous William Hung of "She Bangs" who can't sing to save his life, and Susan Boyle who everyone thought initially looked old, horrible and could not sing.
You get the picture. These are the people who will bring in the $$$. You think FHM did a recent shoot for her if they had thought the magazine would not sell???
Let's face it. She doesn't look that bad by the typical female Singaporean standards. And if you read enough of the local forums, there are "chi-ko-pek" guys who will wish they could bed her. Minus the way she talks (which as I've said is typically Singaporean) and her past criminal records, if she had been portrayed as a law student or accountant, say, I think there would have been many more guys who would go ga-ga over her.
So... will everyone give her a break? She deserves a chance. Welcome to the world of entertainment!
