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Analysing Text: A Case of Resignation Letter from Singapore.

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Analysing Text: A Case of Resignation Letter from Singapore.

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Sources: The Red Book
http://xhslink.com/fub63u

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It was a resignation letter from Singapore that was widely discussed on social media. The reason our group analyzed this resignation letter is because it is a real example of the complexity of language in cross-cultural communication in today's digital age. Resignation letters are traditionally formal, but this article deviates from the norm, making it a compelling case study. At the same time, the subtle differences in the use of Singlish and traditional English in this letter can help us understand how English in different regions has been influenced by cultural, historical and social factors.

Questions & Discussion

1. How transcultural factors influence the ways of expressing emotion in formal language?

2. If you were to resign due to conflicts that occurred in the workplace, what issues tend to occur in transcultural interactions reflected on a registration letter?

Please leave your comments:)

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In linguistic practice, integrating paralinguistic elements(e.g., capital/bold letters) shapes a new communicative approach, elucidating different interpersonal and emotional positions(Taleghani‐Nikazm, 2012). It enhances the expressive power of language, especially in the professional communication between employees and supervisors. Based on the (in)politeness in transcultural communication(Scollon et al., 2012), it will be a new window for the subtle interplay between power and emotion.

Translanguaging can also improve multiliteracy skills, where people can employ different modes and codes of languages, thereby enriching their communicative and expressive capacities(Canagarajah,2007, 2013). The employee's use of Singlish in the resignation letter can be seen as a manifestation of their cultural and linguistic background, possibly aiming to communicate their dissatisfaction in a way that is more authentic and colloquial to them.

Although Issitt's (2022) explanation aligns with conventional understandings of formal business documents, the contradictory findings following Canagarajah (2013) and Taleghani‐Nikazm (2012) suggest a need for further studies. A better understanding of politeness is achieved when involvement and independence are considered in formal, institutional settings. Future research focuses on effectively combining translinguistic language and polite strategies.

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Canagarajah, S. (2007). Exploring Lingua Franca English, multilingual communities, and language acquisition. The Modern Language Journal, 91(4), 923-939.

Canagarajah, S. (2013). Developing a framework for translingual competence in contact zones. In The Multilingual Turn (pp. 78-102). Routledge.

Issitt, M. (2022). Resignation Letter. Salem Press Encyclopedia.

Ng, L. L., & Lee, S. L. (2019). Multilingual Malaysian university graduates' identity construction through translanguaging practices in digital media. English Teaching & Learning, 43(1), 105-123.

Scollon, R., Scollon, S. W., & Jones, R. H. (2012). Intercultural communication: An analysis from a discourse perspective (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

Taleghani-Nikazm, C. (2012). Politeness strategies in computer-mediated communication. In The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0918

Tan, Y. Y. (2017). Singlish: An assessment of its legitimacy in Singapore's language policies. European Journal of Language Policy, 9(1), 85-104.

Tracy, K., & Tracy, S. J. (1998). Rudeness in emergency communication: A reevaluation of face and face attack. Human Communication Research, 25(2), 225–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1998.tb00444.

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Language constitute mobile semiotic resources that can be freely adopted by people for their purposes and interest( Canagarajah, 2013 ).

Singlish is composed of English, Malay, Hokkien(Tan, 2017 ).

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From the perspective of the employee, a resignation letter should be a +P, +D and +or-W (depending on the cost to recruit a new employee for the company) activity that uses independence strategies (Scollon et al., 2012) (example of normal resignation letter using independence strategies  showed above with the texts in red), but this letter lacks in intention to retain the rapport and shows no sign of applying politeness strategies.

The content of “Thank you” is appropriate, but ends too abrupt that shows little politeness. The reason for the resignation is understandable, but the phrase used is too offensive as “Business writing experts warn against using resignation letters to voice grievances or criticize a former institution, since it is the last formal record of an employee’s time in a position, even when leaving the position due to conflicts.” (Issitt, 2022). Also, the language used was too colloquial to appear in a business document.

At the same time, a resignation letter is also required to show its desire for approval since its “a business document delivered to an individual’s superiors or manager stating that individual’s intention to leave a job or position.” (Issitt, 2022), rather than a merely a notification to inform the superiors, which lefts the recipient with no choice to negotiate or respond.

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Face attack: "communicative acts perceived by members of a social community (and often intended by speakers) to be purposefully offensive."(Tracey & Tracey, 1998, p. 227)

Two aspects of face and politeness (Scollon et al., 2012):

Involvement - “paying attention to others, showing a strong interest in their affairs, pointing out common in-group membership or points of view with them, or using first names.”

Independence – “making minimal assumptions about the needs or interests of others, by not ‘putting words into their mouths,’ by giving others the widest range of options, or by using more formal names and titles.”

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Singaporeans use Singlish is based on interests and benefits( Canagarajah, 2013 ). People use trans-language instead of a single language when efficient communication is required. ‘NIAO’ in Singlish is a common word, and people are already used to it daily. Singaporeans, as multilingual, emphasize the purpose of messages and communications ( Canagarajah, 2007 ). The word ‘NIAO’ can convey more intuitive meanings when compared to its English counterpart. As people who are familiar with Singlish, they also can realize what people express better. A trans-linguistic approach is more effective when expressing specific ideas, leading to enhanced communication outcomes.

The meaning of ‘NIAO’ is from social practice ( Canagarajah, 2013). Singlish comprises English, Malay, and Hokkien (Tan, 2017). In Singlish, the word 'NIAO' is translated to 'stingy and miserly', originating from the Minnan dialect in China, in which 'cat' symbolizes this trait. Cats, known for guarding their food while snatching, have influenced this perception of stingy behaviour among people. The meaning of 'NIAO' is similar to cats and human social actions. ‘NIAO’ in a resignation letter also represents a social action( Ng & Lee, 2019 ). The employee uses this word to express dissatisfaction with the stingy actions of employers.

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Analysis-Politeness: The Use of Capitalization

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Analysis-Politeness: The Use of Capitalization

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In formal communication, the correct application of capitalization is the way to express politeness, to convey meaning, hierarchy, and emphasis. Deviating from these norms can give the impression of lack of professionalism, or impoliteness.

However, in this text, the writer uses uppercase and bolded font for an entire sentence to explain the reason for his resignation,  which breaks established rules of formal communication writing, creating a sense of urgency and aggression.

In online communication the use of capital letters in communication is often used to signify intense attention to the recipient(Taleghani‐Nikazm, 2012).

In this case, the use of capitaling caught the reader's attention at first sight, is a straightforward expression and construction of the author's own emotions of dissatisfaction with the writer's job, clearly constructing the image of employees who work hard but are not rewarded accordingly.