Greek on the Equator (S-E Asia)

Names are hard in this republic. After independence the understandable decision to leave untouched the former colonial imprint. (Can of worms.) Therefore Somerset, Grange, Ascot, Victoria, Belgravia, Admiralty, Lavender, Regent, Rochester, Saint Andrews, Versailles, Petain & Clemenceau roads, MRT stations, condos, malls and schools. The Western inheritance and aspiration remains, nowhere more evident than in the remarkable project to institute and uphold English as the national language. Again, perhaps understandable in the nation-building project where various languages and cultures were forced to share a small island. Occasional faux pas (one example must suffice): a few years ago local entrepreneurs opening a bar thought the most fetching ring was provided by AUSHWITZ (sic.). Enterprising investor had heard something somewhere, schooldays maybe… Recent times some little controversy over the naming of a new Junior College. After exhaustive consultations with all stakeholders the unanimous decision fell on EUNOIA. Greek root denoting "beautiful thinking" and "goodwill toward others". Difficult to surpass for an educational institute for serious-minded students with anxious, ambitious parents. Some of the Windsor accents one heard here was completely bewitching: the MRT announcer possibly narrowly outdoes the Minister of Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a clear head in front of the Minister of Justice, Mr K. Shanmugam, with the PM Lee in the same leading pack possessing impeccable enunciation, phrasing and even some measure of creativity. The prospective students at Eunoia just entering the race would need a great deal of support and encouragement to carry through. At present some struggled with the colliding vowels and uncertain syllables of the newly named JC. From the relevant department stout defence against accusations of pretentiousness, top-down dictate and disregard for local character and culture. Linguists meanwhile stood at odds over pronunciation. In the case of the college itself, it had settled for "yoo-noh-iea"