Foreigners often point out that there are many awkward English expressions on Korean street signs, temple guideposts and restaurant menus. Surprised by the numerous mistakes, foreign residents and tourists may wonder if Koreans have invented their own version of English. The truth is that when composing something in English, Koreans tend to rely extensively on the Korean-English dictionary, which can be unreliable at times. Or oftentimes, Korean is translated directly into English, without consideration for cultural differences, nuances or colloquial expressions. Even worse, Koreans seldom ask native speakers to proofread or edit their English.

Even at prime universities in Seoul, one can find misspelled “Konglish” signboards that foreigners find difficult to understand. For example, a caf at a university in Seoul displays a hilarious signboard that says “coffee burn” instead of “coffee bun.” Another embarrassing typo says that the caf sells “crap burgers,” meaning “crab burgers.” At the central library of a first-rate university in Korea, one can find an awkward stipulation at the entrance: “You can possess writing tackles, books, laptop and the bag which one side size maximum 22cm.” The sign probably means: “You can bring into the library writing utensils, books, laptops and bags which do not exceed 22 centimeters in size.” (…)

Translating one’s language into a foreign language requires cultural understanding and appreciation for context and nuance. Instead of relying on translation software or the dictionary, we should ask a native speaker to proofread our English. Otherwise, Konglish will continue to prevail in our society. Read full article.

See: The Korea Herald