The English signs in the metropolis of Shanghai often display a muddled fuse of English and Chinese, also known as Chinglish. The New York Times Chinglish slideshow collects some of the best, or, rather, worst, of Chinglish signs including a “slip and fall down carefully” sticker posted on stairs and ATMs labeled “cash recycling machines.”
In light of recent international events hosted by China, namely the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Expo Shanghai 2010, more and more English signs are popping up as seen in The New York Times Chinglish photo series. All jokes aside, there is a serious debate on whether or not China should accomodate English grammar or embrace Chinglish as its own living lingo.
What's Driving This Trend
- Chinglish Signs
- There is an opportunity for businesses to create an AI-powered language translation app that can accurately translate Chinese to English and vice versa to improve communication for both locals and tourists.
- Bilingual Education
- There is an opportunity for education institutions to offer bilingual education as a means to bridge the language gap between China and the rest of the world and promote communication and cultural exchange.
- Cultural Fusion
- There is an opportunity for tourism businesses to offer cultural exchange programs that allow foreigners to learn about Chinese language and culture, and in turn, teach locals about foreign languages and culture.
Who This Affects Most
- Language Learning
- There is an opportunity for language learning companies to create Chinglish-specific courses that cater to the unique grammar and vocabulary of Chinglish for both English and Chinese speakers.
- Tourism
- There is an opportunity for tourism businesses to offer guided tours that teach tourists about the history and evolution of Chinglish signs in Shanghai and offer a glimpse into the local culture and language.
- Translation Services
- There is an opportunity for translation service companies to create Chinglish-specific translation services that accurately translate Chinglish signs and phrases to both English and Chinese.
