Broken English

Broken English, or EngrishThe name "Engrish" comes from the fact that some languages, such as Japanese, do not have separate sounds for "R" and "L". is a variant of the English language by people who do not speak English very well.

The term may refer to spoken English, and it can also describe written English. In Japan, it is common to add English text to items for decorative and fashion purposes.

The term Engrish first appears as an Asian mispronunciation of the word English in the 1940s.  It was not until the 1980s that it began to be used to as a byname for defective Asian English.Lambert, James. 2018. A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity. English World-wide, 39(1): 12. DOI: 10.1075/eww.38.3.04lam The related term "wasei-eigo" means made-up English words that have entered into everyday Japanese.A helpful overview on the Japanese language is: DeFrancis, John 1989. Visible speech: the diverse oneness of writing systems. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, p131143.

Broken English can be found in East Asian countries, and also many places in other places where a lot of East Asians live. Broken English has been found on many things from poorly translated signs, menus, and manuals to strangely worded advertisements, food items, and strange t-shirt slogans. Broken English also sometimes happens when a word or sentence is badly translated on the Internet.

 Related pages 
 All your base are belong to us
 Pidgin

 References 

Category:English language
Category:Pidgins and creoles
Category:English-based pidgins