Broken English facts for kids
Broken English, also known as Engrish, is a way of using the English language that isn't quite right. It happens when people who are still learning English make mistakes. This can be in how they speak or how they write.
Sometimes, in places like Japan, English words are used just for decoration or fashion. Even if the words don't make perfect sense, they are added to clothes or products because they look cool.
Where did the term "Engrish" come from?
The word Engrish first appeared in the 1940s. It was a way to describe how some people from Asia might mispronounce the word "English." Later, in the 1980s, it started being used more widely. It became a nickname for English that wasn't spoken or written perfectly, especially by people in Asia.
There's also a related term called "wasei-eigo". This means English words that Japanese people have made up. These words might sound like English but aren't used that way in English-speaking countries. They have become part of the everyday Japanese vocabulary.
Where can you find Broken English?
You can find examples of Broken English in many East Asian countries. It also appears in other places around the world where many East Asian people live.
It shows up in many different ways:
- On signs that are poorly translated.
- On menus in restaurants.
- In instruction manuals for products.
- In strange-sounding advertisements.
- On food packaging.
- On t-shirt slogans that don't quite make sense.
Broken English can also happen when a word or sentence is badly translated online. This often happens with automatic translation tools on the Internet.
Related pages
- All your base are belong to us
- Pidgin
