Here are several funny youtube videos I want to share with you. They demonstrate varieties of English in Asia, merging mother languages and English into a localized one.
Chinglish(Chinese+English)
Features of Chinglish:
- Different Alphabets
- Pronounce every single letter EXTRA clearly with a weird tone
- Change pronunciation of certain letters - Replace English with
- Mandarin pronunciation
- Translate Chinese into English word by word, which distorts original meaning
- Spelling mistake
Singlish(Singaporean+English)
HK-glish (Cantonese+English)
Common sentence structure in HK-glish
“I am (very)…..”
Ruby's video demonstrates the negative attitude towards the nativised pronunciation of Hong Kong local English speakers but at the same time she behaved in the way she was mentioning.
“I am (very)…..”
Ruby's video demonstrates the negative attitude towards the nativised pronunciation of Hong Kong local English speakers but at the same time she behaved in the way she was mentioning.
Extra highlights =]
1. Speak English - in Hong Kong
(Conversation between 3 men in Cantonese first, then in Hong Kong English)
Features:
Vocalise Cantonese exclamations
“ar”; “~a~”
Direct translation in both grammar and pronunciation
“kou ban xi je” 溝 班 師姐”
->溝 = meet, 班= a group of, 師姐=policewomen
->溝 = meet, 班= a group of, 師姐=policewomen
“Mr.Za” = 人渣 -> Mr= man= “人”
Za = pronunciation of “渣” in Cantonese
2. Example of HK-glish...
Features (just focus on 2 very common mistakes among HK people):
Cantonese pronunciation
Hello = Cantonese pronunciation of “蝦佬”
Grammatical problem
Using look for instead of talk to
English: talk to him-> look for him in HK English
English: talk to him-> look for him in HK English
3.Adaptation in e-communication channels
Shortenings
nth = nothing
tgt = together
btw = by the wayReli =really
Ur = your
Repeat last letters to emphasize intensity of feeling (emoticons)
Omg -> Omggggggg
god -> godddddd
Omg -> Omggggggg
god -> godddddd
Formulate sentence in English structure
Ngo tonite will go to North Point eat ho ho may ge dinner ar
我 今晚 去 北角 食 好 好 味 既 晚飯 阿
= I will go to have dinner in North Point
4. Other characteristics of HK-glish:
Romanization in grammar adaptation (mixed)
Ngo dou sic gwo arrrr Nei gei si duk han
我 都 食 過 阿 你 幾 時 得 閒
= I’ve tried before = When will you be available
Romanization
sooooooo jiang = Cantonese pronunciation of “正”
-> 正 = good
Ngo = Cantonese pronunciation of “我”
-> 我 = I
Subject omission
ho ho mei =Cantonese pronunciation of “好好味”
-> omit the subject “I”
Vocalise Cantonese exclamations
“Wei” = 喂; “la” = 啦
Repeat last letters to emphasize intensity of feeling (emoticons)
ar -> arrrr; so -> sooooooo
Ngo dou sic gwo arrrr Nei gei si duk han
我 都 食 過 阿 你 幾 時 得 閒
= I’ve tried before = When will you be available
Romanization
sooooooo jiang = Cantonese pronunciation of “正”
-> 正 = good
Ngo = Cantonese pronunciation of “我”
-> 我 = I
Subject omission
ho ho mei =Cantonese pronunciation of “好好味”
-> omit the subject “I”
Vocalise Cantonese exclamations
“Wei” = 喂; “la” = 啦
Repeat last letters to emphasize intensity of feeling (emoticons)
ar -> arrrr; so -> sooooooo
Nativization of English
Dimsum–tidbits, delicatessen
Chongsam–a long lady’s dress with slit sides
Mahjong–a game
Fengshui–geomancy (lit. ‘wind and water’)
Kwailo–foreigner (esp. Caucasian)
Laisee –a red envelope containing money (as a gift, for good luck)
5. Interesting examples of Chinglish:
Careful Landslip Attention Security
小心 地 滑 注意 安全
-> Careful=小心 , Land=地, slip=滑, Attention =注意, Security =安全
English should be: Caution! Slippery Floor!
Sea Fucks Goods
海 乾(干) 貨
->海=Sea, 乾(干) = Fucks, 貨=Goods
English should be: Dry Sea Food
Source of photos:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265263,00.html
http://www.chineseenglish.com/tag/dry-food/
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