I have been keenly following the thread of this topic in your opinion page. I would like to share a hilarious incident that resulted from the use of "Singlish" as I call it.

I had a relative who lived with us and attended a leading catholic convent in Colombo 7. When her mother who lived in Kandy visited the girl at our home she inquired as to where she had her lunch and was promptly told "In the bathroom".

Her mother understandably was horrified and once again asked her the same question and received the same reply. The now distraught and furious mother rushed to the convent and confronted the mother superior demanding to know why her daughter had to have lunch in the "bathroom".

Finally the truth came out. What the child had meant was "buth-room" for the lunch room which came across sounding like bathroom.