'Chinsumer' got you puzzled? Your 'sexetary' might know
Source: Xinhua |
March 25, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IT might be confusing for a native English speaker, but many young Chinese will immediately know the word "Chinsumer" - a Chinese consumer who spends lavishly on luxuries when traveling abroad.
English words or phrases, altered slightly to give them a new Chinacentric meaning, have been dubbed "postmodern Chinglish" by China's Internet users.
For example, "sexetary" serves to satirize moral corruption characterized by businessmen and executives who have close relations with their "secretaries."
"Togayther" reflects the increasing tolerance among young Chinese toward gay lovers who live together.
But other words are more difficult to comprehend by those who do not know China well.
"Don' train" is the combination of "don't" and "train." The first part bears the same pronunciation as the first word of Chinese phrase "dong che," or high-speed train.
The term is used to describe high-speed railways, widely promoted but too expensive for many Chinese.
"Suihide" derives from a major controversy last year involving the death of a man who mysteriously died in a detention center in the southwestern Yunnan Province. The police explanation that he died after hitting a wall while playing hide-and-seek with other inmates was widely ridiculed.
Matthew Deal, an American teacher of writing at Peking University, said, "To be honest, when I first encountered the Chinese satirical wordplay combination (CSWC - his own description), I deplored it greatly since I believed it might reinforce English misspellings.
"After the concept of CSWC was explained to me, I think CSWC is great for China, since we as humans must have an outlet to release our frustrations and discontent," he said.
Cai Junmei, an English teacher in the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai International Studies University, regarded it as an evolution of English language.
"English is becoming a global tongue and bearing new fruit when transplanted to another land."
According to the British Council, the number of English speakers in China increases by 20 million annually. China may already have more English speakers than India.
"Given that so many people are involved, it is natural that Chinese like to blend their own culture and linguistic traditions into English," Cai said.
Lei Yuxiao, a junior at the Renmin University of China majoring in English, said: "Young people definitely use more English in daily life than the older generation. When something interesting happens, I will not only seek a Chinese way to express it, but also want to say it in English."
English words or phrases, altered slightly to give them a new Chinacentric meaning, have been dubbed "postmodern Chinglish" by China's Internet users.
For example, "sexetary" serves to satirize moral corruption characterized by businessmen and executives who have close relations with their "secretaries."
"Togayther" reflects the increasing tolerance among young Chinese toward gay lovers who live together.
But other words are more difficult to comprehend by those who do not know China well.
"Don' train" is the combination of "don't" and "train." The first part bears the same pronunciation as the first word of Chinese phrase "dong che," or high-speed train.
The term is used to describe high-speed railways, widely promoted but too expensive for many Chinese.
"Suihide" derives from a major controversy last year involving the death of a man who mysteriously died in a detention center in the southwestern Yunnan Province. The police explanation that he died after hitting a wall while playing hide-and-seek with other inmates was widely ridiculed.
Matthew Deal, an American teacher of writing at Peking University, said, "To be honest, when I first encountered the Chinese satirical wordplay combination (CSWC - his own description), I deplored it greatly since I believed it might reinforce English misspellings.
"After the concept of CSWC was explained to me, I think CSWC is great for China, since we as humans must have an outlet to release our frustrations and discontent," he said.
Cai Junmei, an English teacher in the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai International Studies University, regarded it as an evolution of English language.
"English is becoming a global tongue and bearing new fruit when transplanted to another land."
According to the British Council, the number of English speakers in China increases by 20 million annually. China may already have more English speakers than India.
"Given that so many people are involved, it is natural that Chinese like to blend their own culture and linguistic traditions into English," Cai said.
Lei Yuxiao, a junior at the Renmin University of China majoring in English, said: "Young people definitely use more English in daily life than the older generation. When something interesting happens, I will not only seek a Chinese way to express it, but also want to say it in English."
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