Sunday, March 1, 2009

No Can Do

So yeah, learning Chinese is hard, but so is learning English.  That's why, in the 17th century, they invented Pidgin English.  Basically a bastardized form of English with a limited vocabulary and a more flexible syntax, it was used by traders to get their point across.  Then the Chinese stopped using it because they realized people were making fun of them for using it.  Not surprising if you've seen what Pidgin English looks like (via Shanghaiist):

talesofoldshanghai.jpg


Chinese Pidgin English (there are all types of Pidgin English depending on where it was used) did, however have the unintended and somewhat amusing reverse effect of creating some now-common English phrases, such as:
好久不见: word for word, "long time no see"
看见: word for word, "look-see"
不能做: word for word, "no can do"
不行: word for word, "no-go"
那去: word for word, "where to?"
Turns out the Chinese have been teaching you Engrish speakers your own language for years.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

hahaha , hey geoff this is jun here. this is actually how singaporeans speak, adapted from generations of speaking this way since the first chinese sailors came into town. conversation with my dad goes like this,

me: "papa, did you buy anything at Ikea?"
dad: "no lah, went to look-see-look-see only."

;)

Geoff Ng said...

Haha, that's awesome. I'm not sure whether it makes Singlish more or less comprehensible though...

Geoff Ng said...

ps. Why can't I read your blog?

Unknown said...

just invited you into my super secret locked-up-with-a-lock blog. have fun navigating thru the wad of my b.s.!