You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto...

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is right when he reckons that American English will eventually prevail over British English here. It is happening everywhere, including China where it has become more hip to use the Yankee version. But it will not happen overnight here.

Still, I'm already finding that many of our fresh-faced reporters are using American spelling such as "color" and "flavor". But it's more than just spelling. Watch out when restaurant wait staff start saying "Here's your check" (I've actually heard it) and traffic reports start to warn of "a massive fender-to-fender traffic gridlock".

Idioms too (a good barometer) are going the American way. More than one reporter has, in apologising over some error or carelessness in copy, used the phrase "My bad".

The link below explores the origin of this US "street phrase". It notes that Shakespeare (a Brit) had actually used it in his Sonnet 112! But it is generally accepted to be an American slang term:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/my-bad.html

Incidentally, this British website -- "The Phrase Finder" (http://www.phrases.org.uk/) -- is a superb source for improving one's English. Singapore's Speak Good English Movement, please take note. 

Back to LKY. In one part of his speech on Tuesday (6 Sept) at the official opening of the English Language Institute of Singapore (Elis), he referred to "potatoes" and "tomatoes" -- alluding to the supposedly different British and American pronunciations for these two produce. Here it is:

He said: "I think the increasing dominance of the American media means that increasingly our people, teachers and students will be hearing the American version, whether it is 'potatoes' or 'tomatoes'. They will be the dominant force through sheer numbers and the dominance of their economy."

Surprisingly, the local media did not pick up on this piece of a well-chosen gem. I am sure Mr Lee was showing off his knowledge of the 1937 popular hit song by George and Ira Gershwin, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off."

Here's the refrain from the song:

You say eether and I say eyether,
You say neether and I say nyther;
Eether, eyether, neether, nyther,
Let's call the whole thing off!
You like potato and I like potahto,
You like tomato and I like tomahto;
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto!
Let's call the whole thing off!
But oh! If we call the whole thing off,
Then we must part.
And oh! If we ever part,
Then that might break my heart!
So, if you like pajamas and I like pajahmas,
I'll wear pajamas and give up pajahmas.
For we know we need each other,
So we better call the calling off off.
Let's call the whole thing off!

For Channel News Asia's report on Mr Lee's speech, here's the link:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1151407/1/.html