Image source: Engrish.com
The term “Engrish” refers to “grammatically incorrect variations of English, often found in East Asian countries. Spelling may also be incorrect. While the term may refer to spoken English, it is more often used to describe written English, for which problems are easier to identify and publicize. The term arises from an ambiguity between the ‘r’ and ‘l’ sounds in the Japanese language which means Japanese people frequently pronounce ‘English’ as ‘Engrish’. Engrish has been found on everything from poorly translated signs, menus, and instruction manuals to bizarrely worded advertisements and strange t-shirt slogans.”
At MadSilence we’ve had a few chuckles poking fun at Engrish phrases found in Japan, including a t-shirt slogan stating “Nectar Ralatable Cheerfulframe,” an advertisement for Janat Earl Gray tea assuring the consumer “You may think it is perfect, my cat feels the same,” and an anti-smoking campaign slogan: “If it were anything but a cigarette, it would surely be crying.”
There is, however, a more serious side to the Engrish phenomena, as Michael Erard of Wired Magazine relates in a recent article. The English language is no longer the sole domain of the native English speaker. Non-native English speakers now far outnumber those born to the language. Indeed, by 2020, native speakers will make up only 15 percent of the estimated 2 billion people who will be using or learning the language. And as the popularity of English continues to grow in the world community, the flexible and organic nature of the language will encourage it to evolve and change into a form that native speakers may not easily recognize. According to Ian Lahey:
“The result of this [globalization of the English language] might be surprising and, for the purists, rather unsettling. If there ever will be a common world language, it won’t look or sound much like English anymore. Current trends might produce a language with simplified grammar, she look chair, phonetic spelling ther is a tendansy to bad wether and foreign words Hungry kya ‘Are you hungry?’ a mixture of English and Hindi found in a recent ad for Domino’s pizza in India.
Being a living language, the de-evolution of English seems unstoppable, in a certain sense this is a signal of its good health and of its massive usage in today’s world. Only dead languages never change.”
“If you are stolen, call the police at once.”
“Please omnivorously put the waste in garbage can.”
“Deformed man lavatory.”
Examples of Chinglish (Chinese Engrish) from Wired Magazine
Does the globalization of the English language and evolution of a new hybrid language provide insights into trends in contemporary art? There has been much written in the literature concerning the impact of globalization and homogenization on the contemporary art world. Will regional distinctions and local creativity be lost in the rush to a common global culture? Or will international cultural exchange and cultural hybridization add vigor and encourage creative expansion?
According to CNN.com:
- Globalization and technology are forcing artists, curators and museum directors to rethink the world of American art.
- New art collectors are emerging from different parts of the globe and have pulled the art world away from the traditional centers of gravity in Europe and the United States.
- The lines between high art versus popular culture and who consumes them seem to be blurring.
- Contemporary art is becoming an anarchic mix of media, techniques and ideas.
- Artists are moving around the world with an ever greater fluidity. This fluidity has created a complex network of communication and artistic exchange that refuses to be contained by geographical borders.
- International collectors are helping fund an art boom, and the Internet is allowing artists to showcase their work to a broader audience.
All of us are involved in an unprecedented trend in human history: the globalization of world culture. There are few certainties but the surety that the ride will be exciting. So hold on and enjoy the ride!
Related links:
How English Is Evolving Into a Language We May Not Even Understand by Michael Erard. Wired Magazine. 06.23.08
The (de)Evolution of the English Language by Ian Jahey
Globalization, technology changing the art world by Manav Tanneeru. CNN.com. April 2, 2007.
Related MadSilence posts:
Your Engrish for the Week
Holy Engrish, Batman!
A New Anti-smoking Campaign
~MadSilence
5 Comments
July 16, 2008 at 10:48 am
Really enjoyed your post.
Reminded me of some of my husband’s phrases…One of my favorites is,”I came to know…” which I think is a very accurate way to phrase things. He grew up speaking English as his first language, but grew up mostly in India.
July 17, 2008 at 12:24 am
Heh. I was going to write this post — you beat me to it!
July 17, 2008 at 6:11 am
I have always enjoyed exploring the many variations of English, so this was a fun post to read. Love the loo sign.
another excellent blog entry.
As far as Globalization and technology “forcing” artists, I think I would have to disagree as force seems too strong a word. I do think it is having an influence however.
July 24, 2008 at 3:30 am
Unfortunately, English is a highly flawed language. It lacks grammatical gender and adjectival agreement. I prefer French a lot more; it’s a more complete language.
September 9, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Really worth reading. helpful to me for my projects on language study. thank you.