Shaun Lee Yi Xian (Mr)

Proposed Thesis Title: Contesting Chinese: the Evolution of Chinese Languages in Singapore before 1979
Advisor: Dr Kung Chien Wen

My interest lies broadly in the social history of the Chinese overseas and in global history, and my MA programme aims to explore both these interests. For my MA thesis, I am studying the history of Mandarin and other Chinese languages in Singapore prior to the Speak Mandarin Campaign of 1979. I am also learning about the historiography of Chinese communities elsewhere in the world, expanding beyond my previous exposure to the Chinese in Southeast Asia.

I recently completed my undergraduate education in History at NUS, writing an Honours Thesis entitled “Disinfected places, disaffected people, disrupted foods: The forced re-siting of cooked food hawkers from streets to hawker centres, 1970-86” which received the Wong Lin Ken Memorial Medal and Prize for the best Academic Exercise in History. I was also awarded the Geoffrey SK Yu History Prize for best essay, and the Benjamin Batson History Prize for best student in the History (Honours) examination.

In my free time, I support the Singapore national football team and Balestier Khalsa FC, attempt to rewrite both teams' fortunes on Football Manager, and listen to Mandopop.

I can be contacted at shaunleeyx@u.nus.edu