Frank was rather subdued today and was not inclined to engage in lengthy conversation. He did, however, have a short exchange with Kevin as he was waiting for his food to heat up in the microwave. Kevin had made a typical bachelor's meal of boxed KD Mac 'n Cheese and was enjoying it during our first coffee break (10 AM).
Frank: You makeuh by self? (Did you make that yourself?)
Kevin: Yeah.
Frank: Ooooh. You a gooduh cookuh - so great makeuh! (Oh wow! You are a good cook - you did such a great job!)
Kevin: Yeah, I spent all night on it. I made the pasta by hand. It was nasty getting that tube shape.
Frank: Lookuhsuh like delicious. You lookuh like the hungry. You should leffu some for the lunchee. (It looks delicious. You look hungry but you should leave some for lunch time).
Since I can't leave you with such a short diatribe today, I will recall some previous conversations that we have had. This particular one centered around natural disasters - a sensible subject considering disasters that have happened worldwide (Japan) as well as closer to home (Slave Lake) in the recent months.
Me: Did you see the videos online about the tsunami in Japan?
Frank: Yessuh. We see the japan the chewnami the car they look-uh like the toya. (Yes! The cars all looked like toys in the tsunami.)
Kevin: The videos of Slave Lake on the news were pretty dramatic too. I think they said 40% of the town has burned down.
Frank: Oh my goodness! Slave-oo lake-uh the tung is total gung! (Oh my goodness! The town of Slave Lake is totally gone!)
Me: I feel bad for the people there.
Frank: Yessuh - the people all have-uh to execute. (Yeah - all the people had to evacuate.)
Kevin: With so many things going on, it makes you wonder what is going to happen next.
Frank: Everysing could be happen - ertquake-uh, chewnami, toronto ... (Anything could happen - earthquakes, tsunamis, "toronto" ...)
Me: Toronto? It may not be the best city in the world but I would hardly classify it as a natural disaster ...
Frank: No, notuh the city. Toronto ... toronto .... you know .... windy .... windy ... ** draws a swirling conical shape in the air with his hand ** (No, not the city. Toronto ... toronto ... you know ... really windy)
Kevin: Oooooh, a tornado!!!
Frank: Yah yah Toronto! (Yes! A tornado!)
Well, there you have it! Chewnamis in Japan, Toronto's popping up everywhere ... what is this world coming to!!!
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Camping Trip ... the Aftermath
So our buddy Frank came home safe and sound yesterday after a successful camping trip. As I suspected, he had some interesting tales to tell .... and some interesting Chinglish in which to tell them!
Me: So Frank, how was the trip?
Frank: I am very enjoy. (I enjoyed it very much)
Me: That is great! Did the weather hold up for you?
Frank: There wasuh the bigguh raining on sunday the nightuh. (It rained heavily on Sunday night)
Me: Just one night? That's not so bad then. Did you see a lot of wildlife while you were there?
Frank: Yessuh. I saw the elkuh but no grizzabeh and no pobeh. I also see lotsuh of the ships on the low. Mustuh to be driveuh the carefir. (Yes. I saw elk but no grizzly bears or polar bears. I also saw a lot of sheep on the road. I had to drive very carefully).
Me: Speaking of driving, how was your truck on gas, what with having to tow the trailer?
Frank: The gasuh so expensivoo in Heaton. 127.9!! I haver to spenduh an extra twenty percentagee on gassuh. Not cheapuh! (The gas was really expensive in Hinton - 127.9!!. I had to spend an extra 20% on gas. It wasn't cheap!)
Me: Did you drive everywhere or did you bring your bikes along?
Frank:We roduh the bikuh to banfoo the tung. The banffoo the tung is so niceuh. (We rode our bikes to the town of Banff. The town is really nice).
Me: Yeah, it's a pretty scenic area. How was the campground? Busy?
Frank: The campsiteuh smelluh likeuh the shure. (The campsite smelled like the sewer).
Me: Oh, that's not very pleasant. But aside from that, it really sounds like you had a good time. I am glad that you enjoyed yourself!
Frank: Yessuh. My nexetuh camper trip is in the sous the albuhtah at the dinosaw parkuh. (Yup. My next camping trip will be in southern Alberta - at the dinosaur park).
Me: Oh the kids will like that for sure! Where else have you thought of going?
Frank: You know the Yellowstung National Parkuh? (Are you familiar with Yellowstone National Park?)
Me: Yep.
Frank: Havuh the bahlow there? (Do they have buffalo there?)
Me: I believe so.
Frank: Is very popular the fatefuh. (The "fatefuh" is very popular)
Me: I'm sorry, the what?
Frank: You know fatefuh fatefuh - lotsuh the water. (You know, "fatefuh", "fatefuh", lotsuh the water) ** while saying this, Frank is attempting to mime fountains of water using his hands **
Me: Oooooh, the geyser, Old Faithful!!!
Frank: Yah! Yah! Fatefuh! (Yes, yes! Old Faithful!)
Well, it certainly sounds like Frank and his family had a grand time over the long weekend. Thankfully they didn't come across any grizzabehs or pobehs but got some elkuh and ship sitings! I bet they are all looking forward to their next outing - maybe they'll get to visit the ever-so-popular Fatefuh down in Yellowstung!
Me: So Frank, how was the trip?
Frank: I am very enjoy. (I enjoyed it very much)
Me: That is great! Did the weather hold up for you?
Frank: There wasuh the bigguh raining on sunday the nightuh. (It rained heavily on Sunday night)
Me: Just one night? That's not so bad then. Did you see a lot of wildlife while you were there?
Frank: Yessuh. I saw the elkuh but no grizzabeh and no pobeh. I also see lotsuh of the ships on the low. Mustuh to be driveuh the carefir. (Yes. I saw elk but no grizzly bears or polar bears. I also saw a lot of sheep on the road. I had to drive very carefully).
Me: Speaking of driving, how was your truck on gas, what with having to tow the trailer?
Frank: The gasuh so expensivoo in Heaton. 127.9!! I haver to spenduh an extra twenty percentagee on gassuh. Not cheapuh! (The gas was really expensive in Hinton - 127.9!!. I had to spend an extra 20% on gas. It wasn't cheap!)
Me: Did you drive everywhere or did you bring your bikes along?
Frank:We roduh the bikuh to banfoo the tung. The banffoo the tung is so niceuh. (We rode our bikes to the town of Banff. The town is really nice).
Me: Yeah, it's a pretty scenic area. How was the campground? Busy?
Frank: The campsiteuh smelluh likeuh the shure. (The campsite smelled like the sewer).
Me: Oh, that's not very pleasant. But aside from that, it really sounds like you had a good time. I am glad that you enjoyed yourself!
Frank: Yessuh. My nexetuh camper trip is in the sous the albuhtah at the dinosaw parkuh. (Yup. My next camping trip will be in southern Alberta - at the dinosaur park).
Me: Oh the kids will like that for sure! Where else have you thought of going?
Frank: You know the Yellowstung National Parkuh? (Are you familiar with Yellowstone National Park?)
Me: Yep.
Frank: Havuh the bahlow there? (Do they have buffalo there?)
Me: I believe so.
Frank: Is very popular the fatefuh. (The "fatefuh" is very popular)
Me: I'm sorry, the what?
Frank: You know fatefuh fatefuh - lotsuh the water. (You know, "fatefuh", "fatefuh", lotsuh the water) ** while saying this, Frank is attempting to mime fountains of water using his hands **
Me: Oooooh, the geyser, Old Faithful!!!
Frank: Yah! Yah! Fatefuh! (Yes, yes! Old Faithful!)
Well, it certainly sounds like Frank and his family had a grand time over the long weekend. Thankfully they didn't come across any grizzabehs or pobehs but got some elkuh and ship sitings! I bet they are all looking forward to their next outing - maybe they'll get to visit the ever-so-popular Fatefuh down in Yellowstung!
Friday, 20 May 2011
Victoria Day camping trip
The format of the phrase translation is as follows:
Chinglish phrase (Commonly accepted English phrase)
I have written the Chinglish phrases using phonetic sounds in an attempt to make them sound as similar as possible to how my coworker pronounces them.
Our conversations are varied, so the phrases span many different topics. For added entertainment, I will include background information on the topic of discussion.
Let's get to today's phrases:
If you are Canadian (and perhaps even if you aren't), you will know that today is the start of the Victoria Day/May 24 long weekend. With the weather improving, it is a popular time for families to go camping and enjoy the outdoors for the first time this year.
My coworker (let's call him Frank) just recently bought an 18 foot trailer and this will be his inaugural trip to the wilderness.
Me: So where are you going to be camping?
Frank: I will going to the Banff-oo (I am going to Banff)
Me: Oh that should be fun. Have you been before?
Frank: Yessuh, I have-uh. But long-uh times ago. I forget. (Yes, I have but it was a long time ago and I've forgotten a lot of it)
Me: Well, it will be a good refresher. Hopefully, you haven't forgotten how to get there though!
Frank: Yessuh ..... *long pause* ........ is the Banff-oo part of the Albuhtah? Which low should-uh I take-uh? (Yes .... is Banff part of Alberta? Which roads should I take?)
Me: I don't know off the top of my head but you really should figure that out before you leave. Something else to keep in mind is that the bears are coming out of hibernation now and are going to be pretty hungry.
Frank: Iffoo I see a grizzabeh, I will rung away! (If I see a grizzly bear, I will run away!)
Me: I assume you've got a stove and all that inside your trailer?
Frank: Yessuh. But I also bought-uh the propane store to cook my stick. (Yes, but I also bought a propane stove to cook steaks)
Me: That sounds good. Nothing like waking up early in the morning to some fresh air and then cooking up some steak and eggs for breakfast.
Frank: Yessuh, should be waking very early. The maggerpie is very noise about sex o'clocker. (Yes, we will probably be getting up early. Those magpies are pretty noise at 6 in the morning.)
I hope Frank doesn't get lost on his way to Banff and that he comes back with lots of stories next week! Stay tuned for more Day To Day Chinglish!
Chinglish phrase (Commonly accepted English phrase)
I have written the Chinglish phrases using phonetic sounds in an attempt to make them sound as similar as possible to how my coworker pronounces them.
Our conversations are varied, so the phrases span many different topics. For added entertainment, I will include background information on the topic of discussion.
Let's get to today's phrases:
If you are Canadian (and perhaps even if you aren't), you will know that today is the start of the Victoria Day/May 24 long weekend. With the weather improving, it is a popular time for families to go camping and enjoy the outdoors for the first time this year.
My coworker (let's call him Frank) just recently bought an 18 foot trailer and this will be his inaugural trip to the wilderness.
Me: So where are you going to be camping?
Frank: I will going to the Banff-oo (I am going to Banff)
Me: Oh that should be fun. Have you been before?
Frank: Yessuh, I have-uh. But long-uh times ago. I forget. (Yes, I have but it was a long time ago and I've forgotten a lot of it)
Me: Well, it will be a good refresher. Hopefully, you haven't forgotten how to get there though!
Frank: Yessuh ..... *long pause* ........ is the Banff-oo part of the Albuhtah? Which low should-uh I take-uh? (Yes .... is Banff part of Alberta? Which roads should I take?)
Me: I don't know off the top of my head but you really should figure that out before you leave. Something else to keep in mind is that the bears are coming out of hibernation now and are going to be pretty hungry.
Frank: Iffoo I see a grizzabeh, I will rung away! (If I see a grizzly bear, I will run away!)
Me: I assume you've got a stove and all that inside your trailer?
Frank: Yessuh. But I also bought-uh the propane store to cook my stick. (Yes, but I also bought a propane stove to cook steaks)
Me: That sounds good. Nothing like waking up early in the morning to some fresh air and then cooking up some steak and eggs for breakfast.
Frank: Yessuh, should be waking very early. The maggerpie is very noise about sex o'clocker. (Yes, we will probably be getting up early. Those magpies are pretty noise at 6 in the morning.)
I hope Frank doesn't get lost on his way to Banff and that he comes back with lots of stories next week! Stay tuned for more Day To Day Chinglish!
Welcome to Day To Day Chinglish
Have you ever gotten those Chinglish emails showing the disastrous results of Chinese to English translation? Have you finished reading them and found yourself wanting more? Well so did I!!! Luckily for me, I have a daily supply of interesting C2E tidbits as one of my coworkers is a native Mandarin speaker from Taiwan who has been struggling to learn English. After getting many a laugh simply listening to him speak, I thought I would share some of the more interesting and more common phrases that he uses.
So ..... no more delay ..... grab your tissues (because you'll be laughing yourself to tears) and read on!
So ..... no more delay ..... grab your tissues (because you'll be laughing yourself to tears) and read on!
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