Comparing Konglish with Janglish: differences in usage
BY
Mafumi Yamada
A SHORT PAPER
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF
SEMINAR 1 (World Englishes)
Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department
English Course
SUPERVISOR: Judy Yoneoka
Kumamoto Gakuen University
Oe 2-5-1 Kumamoto
Japan
26/ 12/ 2005
This paper consists of approximately 961 words
Abstract
This paper compared Korean English with Japanese English about
differences in usage. It researches whether Korean English has the same
meaning as Japanese English. This paper explains these words, “sports
man”, “hiking” and “Fight!”, focusing on differences of use of words between
Janglish and Konglish. It was found that some words are completely same
meaning, others are a little different during the two languages.
1. Introduction
In Japan, there is a lot of Japanese English. Most Japanese think it
is the same meaning as English. However, this is not true. There are many
words that have a different meaning from English. For example, “cooler”,
“sharp pencil”,”after service”…etc. These are all “Japanese English”. These
are not understood by native English speakers. They say “cooler” is
“air-conditioner”, “sharp pencil” is “mechanical pencil”, “after service” is
“after-sales service”. Many Japanese people are mixing and using Japanese
English and English. Japanese English can be confusing sometimes.
However, it has become easy for Japanese to receive English through
Japanese English.
In Korea, too, there is a lot of Korean English similar to Japanese
English. It is called “Konglish”. A lot of Konglish actually comes from
Japanese English.
This paper will research whether Konglish has the same meaning as
Janglish or not. This paper will describe some examples of Japanese and
Korean English, focusing on differences of use of words between Janglish
and Konglish.
2. About Janglish
Janglish (Japanese-made English) is a Japanese word, meaning a
combination of Japanese and English. There are various aliases. It is called
“wasei-eigo”, “Japanese English”, “Janglish” and so on. This paper will use
“Janglish”. It sounds like English and is made from the combination of
English words, but it is not English. If Janglish is used between Japanese
native speakers, there is little misunderstanding often. However, if it is used
as English, it can cause misunderstanding. Foreigners studying Japanese
feel it is odd.
3. About Konglish
In Korea, there is a lot of Korean English similar to Japanese English.
It is called “Konglish”. Konglish is a combination of Korean and English.
However, there are some differences between the ways the two are used.
These differences will be discussed in the section 5.
4. Words with similar meanings
Janglish and Konglish has some words with the same meaning,
because a lot of Konglish actually comes from Janglish. Japanese loanwords
(Janglish) were taught Korean by Japanese when Korea was colony of Japan.
This explains is the similarity of vocabulary of prewar days. After the war,
Japanese-style was corrected to Korean-style. However, now we can see
about the similarity of postwar vocabulary and usage of affixes. The
influence of Japan of prewar days still remains into a part of Konglish. They
have affected Janglish and Konglish where they differ from US English, and
then it is the similarity of a general language to make the same form. This is
considered on linguistics, probably due to social and cultural similarity.
Following is some examples.
Janglish and Konglish
English
apartment（アパート）
apartment(US), flat(UK)
curry rice (カレーライス)
curry and rice
Infle (インフレーション)
inflation
5. Words with different meanings
This section will describe some examples of words with different
meaning between Janglish and Konglish. The first word is “sports man”.
Many Japanese think it is English. It is true. However, the meaning is a
little different. Second is “hiking”. This word is also Japanese English. Last
example is “Fight”. This word is frequently used in the scene of a sport in
Japan.
5-1. Sports man
In Janglish, “sports man” means that a man who likes to play several
different sports, and has a good motor coordination. In Konglish, however, it
means that a person who gets paid to do sports the same meaning as “pro”,
“athlete” in English. In native English, this term is not used at all.
5-2. hiking
In Janglish, “hiking” means an outdoor activity in which you take
long walks in the mountains or country. However, Korean say “hiking”
means to go to beautiful place by bicycle. It is same “cycling” in Janglish.
Native speakers use “hike” for “hiking” in Janglish, and “cycling” for “hiking”
in Konglish. Therefore, here Japanese and Native English are the same. It is
regrettable that I can’t find why there would be such difference.
5-3. Fight!
“Fight!” is Janglish. It is mainly used in the scene of a sport.
People shout the word so that they will win. In Korea, they shout “Fighting!”
Japanese and Korean use these words in the same meaning, but Japanese
don’t say “Fighting!” They only say “Fight!”
Gerund"-ing" is often omitted in both countries, but it is not
necessarily surely omitted. Konglish tends to use “-ing” more than Janglish.
For example, Konglish “training (sweatshirt)” stands for “trainer” in
Janglish. It is because additional marker results in one syllable in Konglish.
However, native English speakers don’t use either “Fight!” or
“Fighting!” in this meaning.
6. Conclusion
There are many Janglish in Japan. Japanese use many
Janglish in their daily life. This is the same thing as Korean. Janglish and
Konglish are useful to study English sometimes and to communicate among
people who live same country. However, we should take care when we talk
with other country’s people. Some words have same meaning between
Janglish and Konglish, but others are different. The cause is historical
background, and similarity of a general language to make the same form.
These differences are very interesting, but it may cause confusion.
Besides, there are same and similar pronunciation words, but meaning is
different. It is puzzling. So, we have to know it is original English or
produced English and need to be careful when we talk to foreigner.
.
7. Bibliography
ちょっと一言 10
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~y-japan/99/10.html
Kawaguchi, Kouzou. （2004）Wasei－Eigo ga Yakunitatu (Japanese English
help us when we study English, in Japanese). Tokyo: Bunsyun shinsyo.
Konglish-A Strange Linguistic Practice of Koreans
http://english.kaist.ac.kr/konglish/index.html
Nishimori, Mary. (1999) Gaijin wo Nayamaseru Eikaiwa (It is Difficult
Understand for Foreigner, in Japanese). Tokyo: The Japan Times.
Uematu, Tommy. (1997) Nihonjin no Fushigina Eigo (Strange English of
Japanese, in Japanese). Tokyo: Maruzen Library.
Wasei-eigo-Wikipedia, available
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%92%8C%E8%A3%BD%E8%8B%B1%E8%
AA%9E
Yoneoka, Judy (2005) The Striking Similarity between Korean and Japanese
English Vocabulary