COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATION IN THE CHINESE DIASPORA: A STUDY OF MULTI DIALECT GROUP COOPERATION IN SINGAPORE

Many Chinese people have moved to different parts of the world since the 16th century, looking for a better life. They formed groups based on their family names or the languages they spoke. In Singapore, some of these groups joined together, even if they spoke different languages. This study looks at two examples of this, Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng and Fong Yun Thai Association. It uses ideas from famous thinkers like Durkheim, Pierre Nora, and Avtar Brah to understand why these groups worked together. The study examines old records, like inscriptions on plaques and historical books, as well as what other researchers have written and notes from visits to these sites. It finds out why these groups collaborated and where they came from, tracing their roots back to common beginnings like Cheng San Teng and Loke Yah Teng. This shows that even back then, Chinese immigrants in Singapore were willing to work together across language barriers. The study also compares this to similar collaborations in Penang. It is found that while shared rituals helped people from different language groups work together in Singapore and Malaysia, the cemeteries and ancestral halls that were built served as reminders of their shared culture and identity, bringing people together across language lines. The way these groups worked together was shaped by the specific history, population, and politics of each city. Keywords: Chinese diaspora in Singapore, multi-dialect group cooperation, Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng, Fong Yun Thai Association, Hakka