Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Singapore

SingFirst apologises for Tamil slogan gaffe

This article is more than 12 months old
SingFirst apologises for Tamil slogan gaffe
Internet users noticed an error in the Tamil translation of SingFirst's slogan on the party's banner.PHOTO: ST

Gregory Loo
Reporter
Aug 28, 2015 09:28 pm
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

Restore our nation.

As far as slogans go, the Singaporeans First (SingFirst) party certainly had a clear rallying call that was easy to understand.

But for Tamil readers who saw the party's banner at their first candidate announcement at Tras Street on Friday (Aug 28), it made no sense at all.

The Tamil version of the slogan had been lost in translation. Some characters were not even part of the Tamil alphabet.

Images of the banner highlighting the error made their way onto social media, prompting criticism from Tamil speakers.


PHOTO: FACEBOOK/9GAGTAMIL

Mr Tamilavel, deputy news editor of  Tamil Murasu confirmed to The New Paper that the translated slogan was gibberish.

Singapore

PM Lee: Singapore needs a multi-racial elected president

Nov 09, 2016

Related Stories

Could one of them be our next President?

Ensuring security at Bukit Batok by-election

Best showing, but should Dr Chee be going?

He offered an explanation for what could have transpired leading up to the error.

"It's completely unreadable," said Mr Tamilavel. "Anyone who speaks Tamil can spot it.

"However, I think it is a font problem that we encounter all the time whenever we type something in Tamil and give it to a third party.

"I believe that the correct words were typed out and given to the printer, except that whoever printed out the banner didn't have the correct Unicode (a universal character set) downloaded to display the correct words."

When contacted by The New Paper, SingFirst secretary-general Tan Jee Say said they were aware of the error and confirmed Mr Tamilavel's theory.

Mr Tan said: "We apologise for the mistake and we'll be more careful next time.

"I was told it was a font problem and we did not realise until it was put up.

"We are correcting it now and for the next press conference, it will be okay."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

Singapore ElectionsSingFirstUncategorisedbannergaffesFonts

Gregory Loo

Reporter
gregloo@sph.com.sg
Read articles by Gregory Loo
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Naiise closes last store at Jewel, may wind up operations
Singapore

Naiise shutters last store at Jewel, may cease operations

Apr 12, 2021
HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high
Singapore

HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high

Apr 09, 2021
Gas blast during hotpot meal costs woman her new job
Singapore

Gas blast during hotpot meal cost woman her new job

Apr 05, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E