There are a multitude of languages spoken in Singapore that reflect its multi-racial society. The Singapore government recognises four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. The national language is Malay, while English is mainly used as the business and working language. The colloquial patois spoken on the streets is a creole called Singlish amongst the locals, but is also known amongst academics in linguistics as Singapore Colloquial English.

The use of English as a common language serves to bridge the gap between the diverse ethnic groups in Singapore. The government of Singapore has actively promoted the use of English as a unifying language between the three major races in the country. As the global language for commerce, technology and science, the promotion of English also helps to expedite Singapore's development and integration into the global economy. English is the main language of instruction in Singapore's education system.