1 definition by Khrene Cleaver of [I]talics
The result of trying to fit English words into Japanese phonetics (what sounds are used, and how those sounds are stressed when speaking in a given language).
Engrish happens, because its hard for someone used to speaking Japanese to speak proper English so they use speaking patterns the are used to. Its like an American trying to speak sexy fluid French without years of practice.
Engrish also occurs if someone wants to speak English without knowing the language. So they take the English syllables of what they want to say, and put them in Japanese characters that represent a single syllable, and read it like that.
The most well known form of Engrish involves swapping "R" sounds for "L" sounds or vice versa, (hence the Term "engRish") as the Japanese sound for both of these letters is a single rolled "R" (like Spanish).
Also many times syllables are cut short or added onto because Japanese syllables must end in vowels (it seems to be most common to stick on either "o" or "u").
So "Roll" would be lo-lu
And Beer would be "Be-a" or "Be-a-ru"
Engrish is very common in Anime and Japanese pop culture since English was, and still is to some extent, very popular and stylish in Japan.
The other definitions are not Engrish at all, they are babelphishing. Even though the two go hand in hand, they're still, but still very different.
Engrish happens, because its hard for someone used to speaking Japanese to speak proper English so they use speaking patterns the are used to. Its like an American trying to speak sexy fluid French without years of practice.
Engrish also occurs if someone wants to speak English without knowing the language. So they take the English syllables of what they want to say, and put them in Japanese characters that represent a single syllable, and read it like that.
The most well known form of Engrish involves swapping "R" sounds for "L" sounds or vice versa, (hence the Term "engRish") as the Japanese sound for both of these letters is a single rolled "R" (like Spanish).
Also many times syllables are cut short or added onto because Japanese syllables must end in vowels (it seems to be most common to stick on either "o" or "u").
So "Roll" would be lo-lu
And Beer would be "Be-a" or "Be-a-ru"
Engrish is very common in Anime and Japanese pop culture since English was, and still is to some extent, very popular and stylish in Japan.
The other definitions are not Engrish at all, they are babelphishing. Even though the two go hand in hand, they're still, but still very different.
"Ki-ra" = Killer (Used in Death Note)
"ZA WA-RU-DO" = The World (used in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
"O Mai Ga(do)" = Oh My God
"Cha-ko-re-to Kei-Ku" = Chocolate Cake
Anime guy: "Sa-ka Mai Ka-ku!"
Viewer: Dude that guy just said "Suck my cock in Engrish!"
"ZA WA-RU-DO" = The World (used in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
"O Mai Ga(do)" = Oh My God
"Cha-ko-re-to Kei-Ku" = Chocolate Cake
Anime guy: "Sa-ka Mai Ka-ku!"
Viewer: Dude that guy just said "Suck my cock in Engrish!"
by Khrene Cleaver of [I]talics October 15, 2011