2006-06-20 22:36:19 · 7 answers · asked by whitemusk5647 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Lah is just a part of the Singlish (Singapore Colloquial English).
No idea how this word came into the picture. This word is most likely combination of a chinese dialect + english combination.
Most singlish is form as a result of a combination of different language such as the Chinese dialects, English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Singlish is used commonly among all Singaporeans.
Lah, lor, meh are generally use for punctuating sentences such as, eg Don't be like that lah. -- I'm like that lor. Cannot meh?
2006-06-20 23:02:11 · answer #1 · answered by Stellvia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here, lah is used as standard punctuation replacement :)
e.g. as a comma
It's ok lah, I ok with it.
e.g. as a full stop
This is how we say it lah.
e.g. as an exclamation
Get lost lah!
2006-06-21 06:12:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are similar utterances at the end of sentences in the Cantonese dialect of Chinese; lah, wo, meh. So it may be that these have entered into the Singlish tongue from the Chinese influence.
2006-06-21 13:48:46 · answer #3 · answered by psicatt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a space filler. Sort of like how others would use umm or errr to fill a space while they sort out their thoughts.
Or maybe it's just cos we can't help oursleves lah.
2006-06-21 10:10:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Similar to Malaysia.. I think because the English is combined with Chinese, Indian, and Malay...But not for Indonesian english..although there are Indonesian, Chinese and Indian
2006-06-22 12:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by cunhon9 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who say we use 'lah' lah? I don't lah.
2006-06-21 11:20:23 · answer #6 · answered by Melvin C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok lar..what liao..
2006-06-22 06:50:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋