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Biography/use of foreign dialect

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Expert: - 12/3/2011


Question
Hi , i am from singapore. Here we have an unofficial recognized spoken language called 'singlish' which is a mix of local dialects and english .I have been recording down dialogue that have this element of 'singlish 'in my journal and wondering can i use them for my future memoir.My concern is that readers from other countries like the american will not understand our ' singlish'.

Answer
Thanks for your question, Timothy.

It would fine to use "singlish" in your memoir. At the front of the book, perhaps in your introduction, you could explain what you have done. Then, from time to time throughout your memoir consider putting a brief explanation of a "singlish" phrase in parentheses, but not each time. Readers will catch on quickly.

Best wishes for lots of success.

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Wayne Groner

Expertise

I can answer questions on just about anything regarding writing and researching biographies, memoirs, corporate histories, and family histories including handling sensitive issues, interviewing, editing, self-publishing, and setting up a business as a memoir writer.

Experience

I have more than twenty-five years of experience as a radio and television news reporter, author, freelance writer, and workshop presenter. I present a free monthly class, "Writing Your Life Story." I'm a member of two speakers bureaus: Missouri Writers' Guild and Missouri Center for the Book. I have had three books published and I'm writing a fourth. My articles and book reviews on a variety of topics have been published in national magazines and on the Web. I was a senior-level college administrator for twenty-seven years, including nine years as a vice president, during which I wrote newsletters, brochures, magazine articles, and published and edited an alumni magazine.

Organizations
Missouri Center for the Book, Missouri Writers' Guild, Springfield Writers' Guild, Greene County Historical Society, Christian County Historical Society.

Publications
Books: Dumb Luck or Divine Guidance, The Pastor's Guide to Fund-raising Success, Levell-Drew Family History. National magazines including CASE Currents, Congregations, Ozarks Mountaineer, Your Community Hospice, Power and Light series of Sunday-school curriculum for adult learners.

Education/Credentials
Graceland College

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