Haiti Earthquake

Multilingualism is also beneficial in crises. In emergencies, although skill is important, communication is even more crucial. In the recent Haitian earthquake, Creole speakers were needed to assist in rescue operations to speak with the natives (Garamone, 2010). Apart from that, multilingualism is increasingly acknowledged as a need for defense personnel to interact effectively with the diverse population in the world. It also gives defense operations an edge in a multilingual society. The United States defense department is now encouraging its defense operation personnel to study a foreign language so that they can be more equipped in understanding the other culture that may be involved in the battlefield as well as in negotiations (Garamone, 2010).

                                           SARS

In the Singapore context, Chinese vernacular languages were used in radio and television announcements, while Singlish was used in a song commissioned by the Government to alert citizens to take note of hygiene precautions during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pandemic in 2003 (Wee, 2010). Although the Chinese vernacular languages are usually banned in media platforms, an exception was made during SARS, on the basis that broadcasting using these Chinese vernacular languages was necessary in order to reach the elderly who can only speak and understand the Chinese vernacular languages (Wee, 2010). Also, although Singlish is usually frowned upon and discouraged by the Government, Singlish was intentionally used in this instance on the basis of reaching out to the “less educated Singaporeans” (Wee, 2010). Therefore, the use of these languages during the pandemic show the importance for the Government to know the linguistic practices of the nation in order to communicate effectively and to reach every member of the public so that no one would be neglected.