The causes of Chinglish

After the establishment of the Shanghai Concession, foreign firms originally located in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao and Nanyang, as well as domestic foreign firms, moved to Shanghai or set up branches in Shanghai. Due to the differences between Chinese and western languages, some Guangdong comprador who used to work in foreign firms and were proficient in English also entered Shanghai with foreign firms, acting as an intermediary for foreigners' translation or foreign trade. At the same time, local and foreign businessmen in Shanghai began to learn simple English conversation, so that they could communicate directly with foreign businessmen and become part of the upper class. Since then, China English, which has a strong accent but does not follow English grammar, has become popular in Shanghai, namely "Pidgin English". Mr. Yao Gonghe defined Pidgin English in Shanghai Gossip as: "Pidgin speakers use English pronunciation, but also use China grammar (Yao, P 18)." According to legend, there are 36 people engaged in this industry, named "open-air general affairs", mostly unemployed ruffians and grooms. When foreign sailors or foreign businessmen who have just arrived in Shanghai go out shopping, they recommend themselves as tour guides for foreigners to profit from them. In fact, the "open-air generalist" is called a hooligan. There is no official history to prove whether there are only 36 people. There are only 36 famous people like Zheng Ziming and Van Gogh, but in fact, there are countless other unknown rascals.

When foreigners come to Shanghai for the first time, China people can learn the pronunciation of the language when dealing with foreigners, but it is difficult to imitate foreign characters. Therefore, some smart people used Chinese radicals instead of the English 26 letters "丨丨両両両両". It is said that during the uprising of the Knife Association, the correspondence between the Knife Association and the concession was written in English with Chinese radicals, which really escaped the eyes and ears of the Qing government. This may also be called "Pidgin English", but it has changed from oral form to written form.

Li Ao also talked about Pidgin English in a letter "Pigeon Skinny Kai Zi-Selected Letters for Daughters in Prison", which is quite ironic: "Pigeon English, also known as Pidgin English, is a place near Shanghai. China people who were the first to do business with the British did not speak English well, so they used it themselves. For example, a sea of people should be a huge crowd in Britain, but it is a joke to say that people-mountains-people-sea. This is Pidgin English. "

The word "Pidgin" reflects the social and cultural characteristics of foreign colonies. Before the establishment of English specialized schools and universities in Shanghai, people from different countries and local residents generally used this language. In English, the so-called Pidgin is called pigeon English, which is also called pidgin, which is a mixed language developed by people of different languages in business communication. This Shanghai version of Piqin was widely used in Shanghai. Even a native Englishman has to learn Pidgin dialect for several months before he can pass the preliminary language barrier. For ordinary Shanghai residents, it seems not too difficult to master Pidgin English. There is a record of Pidgin songs in the Illustrated Shanghai Proverbs written by Wang Zhongxian of the Republic of China:

Come is "come", go is "go", and twenty-four brass cymbals are "twenty-four";

Yes, no, no, so "so so";

The physical object is "all good", boots are called "boots" and shoes are called "shoes";

The foreign firm comprador "river crossing" (comprador), while the small ship is called "streamer";

"Tea" and "Sit down" invited Nong to sit down.

Baked potatoes are called "potatoes" and Oriental cars are called "Ricksha";

Spanking is called "bamboo chop", and bastard is called "Duffy guy";

Mr. Namovin (No.1) is Ada, Mr. "shroff", the running agent;

"Mark" has a lot of money, and "Empty Fairy" has a lot of pawn tickets-{note: no money};

Red-haired third "gatekeeper" and his brother "teh tarik";

I want "father", my mother "mother" and my father-in-law "father-in-law".

There are also rhymes similar to the content of "one yuan", which are similar, but one thing is clear, that is, rhymes must be read in Ningbo people's Yong yin, which is more original. This also indirectly reflects the status of Ningbo businessmen in Shanghai. Generally speaking, the "Jiangbei people" who have a lower status in the concept of Shanghai residents have much fewer opportunities to use Pidgin in their lives. Even if rickshaw pullers bargain with foreign customers, sometimes it is enough to make a gesture. However, in some foreign-run factories, because many working terms and equipment and materials are imported, many old workers often mix some pidgin in their work. For example, in the old Zhabei power plant in Shanghai, it is often heard that "the valve needs to be repaired" and "make a mark", and sometimes it is necessary to work on the small stair platform in the workshop. People used to describe it as "Glandien", which means "going to land". This special context formed in Shanghai factory has nothing to do with whether the speaker understands the original meaning of English.

Most people who like to spit out some pidgin English words know nothing about English, so they will invent a few words to follow the fashion. For example:

When the foreign host came home and saw the broken glass window, he asked the servant why. The servant replied fluently in pidgin: "squeaking inside, meowing outside, and clinking glass!" " Foreign masters are happy when they listen. It turned out that the cat caught the mouse.

-The boss of the foreign firm asked the China driver to go to Daguangming Cinema to buy movie tickets. The driver returned empty-handed and told the boss, "There are a sea of people, so I won't see you today, see you tomorrow, see you tomorrow, the same!" " The boss also understood: there are so many people that I can't watch it today. Look at it tomorrow, look at it tomorrow. Still that movie!

According to recent research, Pidgin language has the following two characteristics: First, there are limited English words implanted, about 700, so the phenomenon of multi-use and polysemy is serious. For example, my can be synonymous with I, we, mine, ours, etc. , but also "shop, boat, foreign soap, sheep, soup, sample, less broken", that is, shop, boat. Secondly, English grammar is China's. Generally, prepositions are not used, such as "long time no see" as "long time no see".