I just found an empty chocolate box on my desk, left over from Christmas. Printed on the front: "Ghana Mild Chocolate. Let's feel its richness of cacao mixed with the mild taste." I like how this command is given in the first person plural - it's very fuzzy and feel-good.
In the realm of other Engrish-y things, I saw the following printed on a sweater in an underground shopping center: "I (heart) Naked." Grammar confusion aside, does this strike anyone else as profoundly ironic?
Two of my students today have taught me a little bit about naming traditions in Korea. The first student told me that there is a tradition of consulting a certain type of fortune teller who tells the parents what they should name the child. There was one particular man (no longer alive) who was very well-known for it, and she hypothesized that more than half of the Koreans in Seoul her age (she's in her 40s) will have gotten their name from this man. My other student explained the practice of using the Chinese characters for Tree, Fire, Water, Iron, and Earth in names. It's sort of done in rotation - a particular man has Tree in his name, and his sons must have Fire in their names, and his grandchildren must have Water in their names, etc. But apparently this is only passed down through the men.
More amusing Konglish coming soon!
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Thought I would contribute something to your collection of interesting created English phrases. Today a little first grader came into the school office and was asked why he was late. He very confidently said, "My mom underslept."
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