Meh!

The Collins Dictionary has decided after polling the public for new words to include the word  "Meh" in its 2009 release.

According to the publisher, the origin of the word is unknown but I quote: 

"The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa.

"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV," said Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries.

The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh."

The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America, spread through the Internet and was now entering British spoken English."

I and many of us here will beg to differ.

Firstly, the word did not originate in North America but right here in Singapore. The defintion though is correct as in "Got meh?" or "Where got meh?" spoken by our many Ah Lians and Ah Bengs. In fact, the word "meh" has already been included in our very own dicitionary: The Coxford Singlish Dictionary

I suspect the script writer for the Simpson had a holiday in Singapore and during his/her time here got immensed in our local lingo and adapted it for the show and from there it somehow got spread out to the rest of the world.

Now the thing I don't understand is - while the world is falling over to embrace our lingo, our ERP, our water conservation etc why is our government forever putting down our own Singlish. I say, Stand Up for Singapore - be proud of our heritage - be it lingo or building or culture!