Attempts to impose so-called ‘proper English’ reached another level in Singapore. The national government tried to suppress dialects known as ‘Singlish’. But Singlish prevailed largely because, for many Singaporeans, it’s not just a language but a way of life.  Written and produced: Nicola Brayan Supervising Editor: Lea Redfern Sound design and audio editing: Josh Dowton Artwork: Veronica Lenard

We start our exploration of non-standard English by looking at dialects spoken by First Nations people in Australia. As Nicola Brayan found out, the many versions of Aboriginal English are more than just ways of speaking – they provide people with an identity that connects them to communities. And to ignore or dismiss these dialects amounts to cultural and language dispossession.  Written and produced: Nicola Brayan Supervising Editor: Lea Redfern Sound design and audio editing: Josh Dowton Artwork: Veronica Lenard

In the final episode of Standard Deviations, we explore the rich history of African-American English. Nicola Brayan looks at attempts to make African-Americans conform to so-called ‘proper English’ and the profound effect this has on the way they view themselves and are treated by others.By the end, we realise the frivolity of judging others by the way they speak.  Written and produced: Nicola Brayan Supervising Editor: Lea Redfern Sound design and audio editing: Josh Dowton Artwork: Veronica Lenard