Chanced upon this cartoon while scouting for sources for the coming SA2 SBQ exam. Hint: Marists should read the newspapers and blogs on current issues as you might chance upon the same sources that we are using for the exams.
[Published on 28 Nov, 1997] Taken from http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com
Point a finger at any Chinese Singaporean and you are likely to get someone named Tan. According to the Department of Statistics, one in 10 Chinese here is a Tan.
Just take a look at the Humanities Department and count the number of "Tans" or related "Tans"
The Tans are the most numerous. Next in line are the Lims, with the Lees coming third. But because figures are based on anglicised surnames, it does not take into account that a surname spelt as Chan may well be the same as Tan - but spelt differently due to different pronunciation of dialects.
Tans and Lims are very common in Singapore because they are common surnames in China's Guangdong or Fujian provinces, where most Chinese immigrants here originated.
Li, spelt Lee here, on the other hand, is the most common surname among the Chinese in China and Taiwan. Traditionally, Chinese observe a strict rule of not marrying
someone of the same surname. It also makes sense in terms of genetics. But a Tan need not worry that a tenth of the Chinese here are already ruled out as potential marriage partners. Couples may have the same surname but are probably very distant in blood ties after hundreds of years, especially those in different dialect groups.
2 comments:
dang,
i have a common surname.
But that's okay.
RIGHT MISS TAN?!
AND MRS TAN-CHIN?! oh, i just realised, if you give birth to a few more, you'll be increasing the number of Tans in Singapore! Whoots.
Now why on earth would I want to populate Singapore with more Tans? That makes me even more common. Geesh.
By the way, you left out 3 more 陈 in the Humanities department. Ms Yvonne Chin, Mrs Mandy Tan-Goh, Mr Omar Chen. So the 陈s rules the departments by our majority presence. The one and only Wong is an Emperor in name only.
Now I am beginning to sound paradoxical. Should there be more 陈s or less?
And to add on to your confusion, I am actually a bonafide "Tan". I am a fake "Chin" but in conclusion, an authentic 陈!
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