I went for a coffee break just now, and discovered a little, oft-forgotten quirk in our coffee shops.
As I was preparing to pay for my kopi-o, I wasn’t sure if the price had gone up from 50c to 60c or 60c to 70c, so I laid my coins out on the table for the auntie to collect.
She told me it was only 60c, and then asked, ‘ä½ æœ‰ shilling å•Š?‘， pointing at the coins on the table, and asking, “can change shilling for me?”
What she meant was, she wanted to give me a $2 note in exchange for the two $1 coins I had on the table.
Fair exchange, I thought, but it struck me strange that so many decades after we’ve stopped being a British colony, and even more decades since the British started using decimal denomination in their oddly named currency, the coffee shop auntie still refers to small change as ‘shillings’.
Podcast: the mrbrown show 1 May 2006: the persistently non-political podcast no. 6
(MP3, Filesize: 1.5mb, Time: 00:02:58)
Technorati Tags: coffee, podcast, podcasting, prisongotnobroadband, singaporeelections
I was laughed by an aussie in Singapore when I used that word. I never used it since.
I was laughed by an aussie in Singapore when I used that word. I never used it since.
is the pillar really referring to the music from the person basking??
is the pillar really referring to the music from the person basking??
Well, coins are called “syiling” (shilling) in Malay, so I guess some of us still use the word.
Well, coins are called “syiling” (shilling) in Malay, so I guess some of us still use the word.
Most of the coffee shops these days, particularly those run by the older generation, still term “coins” as “shillings”. Or if you look Chinese, then you’ll know that other term they use, “doon kia”. :p
Most of the coffee shops these days, particularly those run by the older generation, still term “coins” as “shillings”. Or if you look Chinese, then you’ll know that other term they use, “doon kia”. :p
shillings ok mar! i still say it what. wahliew… young kids nowadays… tsktsktsk. if like that, words like ‘basket’ and ‘blooming’ can put in history books liao :
shillings ok mar! i still say it what. wahliew… young kids nowadays… tsktsktsk. if like that, words like ‘basket’ and ‘blooming’ can put in history books liao :\
Old habits die hard. Same thing when some members of our Malay community still say “ringgit” and not “dollars”.
Old habits die hard. Same thing when some members of our Malay community still say “ringgit” and not “dollars”.
Actually, Singapore independence came earlier than decimalisation, which was in 1971: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillings
Actually, Singapore independence came earlier than decimalisation, which was in 1971: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillings
Thank you, I stand corrected.
Thank you, I stand corrected.
*slaps head*
Your post made me realize that I’ve been unconsiously saying things that REALLY reflect my age…
Examples :
“shillings”, as you’ve mentioned.. “function”.. was having a chat with some kids… and I was asking them if they had “functions”.. *blank stare*.. and what about this.. was talking about the “Banana Split Show”… *ultra blank stares*
*sigh*
*slaps head*
Your post made me realize that I’ve been unconsiously saying things that REALLY reflect my age…
Examples :
“shillings”, as you’ve mentioned.. “function”.. was having a chat with some kids… and I was asking them if they had “functions”.. *blank stare*.. and what about this.. was talking about the “Banana Split Show”… *ultra blank stares*
*sigh*