Posted by john on July 11, 2002 at 12:03:44:
In Reply to: Japanese English slogans and ads posted by giveawayboy on July 10, 2002 at 23:38:56:
If any of you remember Tomomi, who came to Crossover a few times, this is what he does. He writes English language advertising and slogans for Japanese consumers. He actually corrected me for making fun of the grammer last time I saw him, because really what they are doing is using Japanese grammer with English language. We do the same thing with Spanish and other languages here.
Now that I speak a little Japanese, I can see it more clearly. For example, in Japanese there are no plurals. Hence "we are fashion boy". Also many English phrases have been imported to Japanese and then translated back into English in these slogans, like "Let's skiing". The Japanese word for "to ski" is "sukingu wo suru" (derived from "skiing" [in english] and "to do" in Japanese.
...not that anyone really wanted to know any of that.
: Here are some slogans that T. R. Reid found on Japanese T-shirts using English words. They are quite unusual when read by native English speakers but have clearer meanings for Japanese people.
: You have to think differently to access it, but once you know how to read it from a different mindset, you'll see how they really aren't too off base, but you might also want to read Reid's book CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR to find out more. One last note, to anyone who thinks I'm doing this to disrespect Japanese English speakers--I'm not. This is not meant to make Japanese people look odd but to show how we use English words and phrases differently. I am not focusing on Japanese people for any reason beyond this--that Steve and Raul and I were all talking about this one night at La Teresita. That is all. All selections taken from CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR:
: Let's Get Vacation!
: Hope Today is Happy Day!
: Since Baby
: High Touch Town
: We Are Fashion Boy
: Slowing dance on snow stage. We love enjoying, to plays in active sportive Land with Fashion Girls! High sense since 1994!
: Snot House!
: I love you guitar to dying!
: The Moment Grace varies to sublime Hazard leads the way. Blooming ahead, Intensive Gelande Gaily.
: Elce Bird-Always and everyway, I want to be quick response. (Chinese)
: Let's Skiing!
: Let's Business Meeting!
: Let's Recreation!
: Fine Boys since 1987 says Let's Sex! (a fashion ad)