Is K-Pop Ruining Idol English?

[kanbinayume.livejournal.com]

The Korean Pop industry is filled with laughable English. From “fiscal theory of porno” to “easy access line,” Korean Pop creates fluidities in the English language that simply do not exist. Call me an ignorant supremacist, but phrases like “if you wanna pretty, every wanna pretty,” “I wanna gossip girl,” and “blue tumbler like a puppy lover,” are so hilarious that I’m pretty sure my entrails are just floating around in the cavity of my body. But alas, while all the bad Engrish has kept my guts bursting for hours upon hours, I have found another source of entertainment, another source of entertainment that still involves English, K-Pop, and the massacre of the former by the latter.

SNSD‘s Tiffany and Jessica were both born and raised in California. While I have no proof that English was their first language, it probably was. If not, then it was definitely a close second. Regardless, in this video, their English is almost perfect. There are no alarming errors in their syntax, diction, or pronunciation. But then why oh why do they sound like they have cotton candy for brains?

Tiffany and Jessica are only examples of something I have noticed in Korean entertainment. With only a few exceptions like Brian Joo and f(x)‘s Amber, native English speakers tend to speak in simplified, baby talk. And so, while they speak English with fluency, they are not particularly eloquent. In fact, they sound like bimbos.

Jessica: Tiffany have you heard about the newest smartphone application on our Run Devil Run album?
Tiffany: Yes, I did.
Jessica: Really?!
…
Tiffany: Say, ‘Thank You’
Jessica: Thank You
Tiffany: Yay!

But again, Tiffany and English aren’t the only ones. Ever hear Kara‘s Nicole‘s excruciating pronunciation? Or G.Na‘s simple comebacks to Brian’s smackdowns? Or the ellipses in 2PM‘s Taecyeon‘s sentences?

It may be funny but upon further reflection, it’s more sad than anything. But I don’t think this is something that these idols can help. After all, when your company hacks away at your English in a nation where English is not the official language, what else does one expect?

A native English speaker is a huge asset for a K-Pop company. As a genre that is becoming increasingly global, the perks of having a fluent English speaker are more than obvious. But companies are both misusing and underusing their English speakers. Instead of using them as speakers and representatives of the English language, they are being used as talk machines that will spit out any given phrase—nothing more, nothing less. But what companies may not be realizing is that not only is this a poor use of their English speaking skills, it is also sending their English speaking skills down the sewers. As Korean Pop grows as a global brand, when these speakers need to put their skills to the test when they speak at global concerts and events, they aren’t particularly eloquent. While no one is expecting them to speak with phenomenal oratory skills, hearing Tiffany speak like an airhead, with a bunch of “OMGs!,” “Really?!,” and “Totallys!” at SM Town in NYC was really disappointing to someone who was looking forward to hearing her speak my native language in the flesh.

As K-Pop grows, I can only hope that companies begin realizing the error of their ways and actually use their idols’ language skills. Ask them if “get it in” is family friendly, ask them what else rhymes with “mystery” besides “history,” ask them what “fiscal theory of porno” actually means. Don’t use your idols to simply whip out these IQ numbing phrases; it will hurt them and you in the long run.

Source: Seoulbeats; chenzx3

So, what does everyone think about this? Also, what are your favorite engrish phrases?

Comments

gingerbread man's vitality

[jaeluvsme.livejournal.com]

i think they should just learn french. favourite engrish: oh my god sun!

Re: gingerbread man's vitality

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

+1 for omg sun

[x-undercover-x.livejournal.com]

imo Tiffany just sounds like a typical valley girl so yeah, not particularly eloquent but she doesn't sound much smarter in Korean either.
Wonder how it'd be like with a British idol, especially one with a thick northern accent lolol.

[annhh.livejournal.com]

there was that one dude... with australian accent I think. it was pretty weird

[askbask.livejournal.com]

Please don't ever post a seoulbeats article here again.

[atarashiiyoake.livejournal.com]

I don't remember ever being this offended just by the tone of an article posted here

[atarashiiyoake.livejournal.com]

Yeah, or maybe it's because you lose skills in one language if you stop using it on a daily basis and are trained more to use another one.

The tone of this article pisses me off more than anything. What a load of bull.

[queencleopatra.livejournal.com]

I thought the same thing. Ayaka and Mika from Coconuts Musume spent so many years in Japan that in an interview, they said they occasionally forget words to things. Mika is back in the US now so she's probably fine but apparently Ayaka's English has gotten really bad.

But surely Jessica and Tiffany would have friends or perhaps even family that they speak English with?

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

oh yeah...that happens i guess after being a way from regular english speakers for a while. and it would be rude for them to speak amongst themselves in a place where korean is the main language.

my friend momo is japanese but went to an international university in tokyo. when we met on a study abroad program in rome--her english was great. but even she admitted to me (when we met again last month) that ever since graduating, because most of her friends are japanese, she's loosing her english.

that aside, i dont get why the author feels the need to say the girls speaking english sound like "airheads" or "bimbos"

[she-devil666.livejournal.com]

and it would be rude for them to speak amongst themselves in a place where korean is the main language.

so true but foreigners in america apparently think it's not >.> and then talk LOUD as well. then the majority of native born americans get labelled as 'ignorant' and 'not accepting of others' because we want them to speak english.

[crinkledpaper.livejournal.com]

I've been mourning the slow decline of Taec's English for over a year. He rarely even tweets in English anymore. Khun needs to straighten him out.

[shikinluv.livejournal.com]

He sounded okay when I saw him in Singapore last week though. Not that American sounding anymore but not that bad.

[shikinluv.livejournal.com]

"Give me four stars...give you my young sister."

[anrixan.livejournal.com]

Omg, Hyunseung, you are so precious HAHAHA

[setsuna16.livejournal.com]

I've actually wondered if being in Korea as often as they are sort of turns people who are fluent in English into people who become English as a second language speakers. It's funny that this article mentions Brian, because he's the one who made me wonder that. Back when they were promoting Missing You he did an English interview and a lot of his words sounded funky. The one that caught my ear the most was when he pronounced Missing You Mishing You.

Engrish is par for the course when it comes to this type of music, though. I kind of just let it be. And find amusement.

[oppa-did-meanit.livejournal.com]

I think pronouncing missing as 'mishing' is almost helpful to Koreans to understand the English. Like, a Korean wouldn't understand me saying camera but if I pronounce the English word using Korean sounds, like 'ca-mah-ra' it's understood. Just like when Suju calls themselves Shuper Junior. They can say super but they just don't. /shrugs

[snoorella.livejournal.com]

I don't like the overall condescending tone in this article :/ While it makes a point, it didn't need to sound so rude.

Plus, it's not just the state of k-pop English, but the state of English as a whole that seems to be deteriorating. this is especially true when you see people use the words 'rape' and 'gay' as slang, which is horrible.

[x-doctess.livejournal.com]

Those problems are hardly exclusive to English. I mean, it's common to hear those expressions in Spanish as well. Not that I consider it a good thing.

[ramen-cupnoodle.livejournal.com]

I think it's more the fact that the Kpop American idols live in Korea now. Naturally their English will deteriorate because they're speaking Korean 24/7 and don't have the opportunity or time to maintain the fluency they had in America through English immersion.

The actual lulzy English in the songs doesn't affect their knowledge of retention of English IMO.

[mad-nux.livejournal.com]

his foot smell danger

I collect cars... I do it everyday because IT'S FUN!!!!

[kerynr.livejournal.com]

[anrixan.livejournal.com]

"OH MY GOD SUN" by Junsu is probably one of my ultimate favorites because it never fails to make me crack up. And Junyoung's "Is me not cute?" tweet from the other day was just absolutely adorable, lol.

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

i don't like that the author called tiffany and jessica bimbos and airheads. even without that this is not a very good article

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

lol it's seoulbeats, I don't bother with them anymore.

[adeqjue.livejournal.com]

'Also, what are your favorite engrish phrases?'

Maybe my love is bigger than Ginger bread man's vitality

[superjesster.livejournal.com]

Always makes me laugh XD

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

oh lol its seoulbeats. go figure. though I do wonder when people are coming up with the lyrics, if they do bother asking native english speakers to make sure it's okay.

on the other hand I enjoy engrish in kpop. it wouldn't be the same without it.

“fiscal theory of porno” lol chun probably didn't even know what he was talking about.

Let me talk obama

[xkeirafanx.livejournal.com]

B2ST's Junhyung is a true treasure of amusing Engrish phrases.
My favorite would be "Let me talk obama", but stuff like "make a lob baby" brings me laughter all the time as well.

Re: Let me talk obama

[chipchipcheep.livejournal.com]

my favorite has to be "so speciurr guy ish me so fly."

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I've always cringed at Tippany's English, she sounds like a Cali airhead. But it's not fair on these guys, they've been in Korea since a very young age, though please pick up a vocabulary book once in a while and learns a few new words.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're trying to sound "not too fluent or not too smart"... I don't know

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

also this reads like a reflection paper you submit to class. it's not even a good one

[fallingstarryuu.livejournal.com]

lmao the author of this article should try moving to & living in a country where english isn't the first language.

& people with english as their first language constantly butcher it on a daily basis so i dont rly expect perfect english from english educated kpop idols esp considering most of them probably have to learn japanese on top of korean as well.

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

well i'm sorry they don't switch languages on the fly very well.

idk I always thought Tiffany, Jessica, Nicole (and maybe Gna) all sounded airheadish in Korean too.

nicole is pretty embarrassed speaking english, she says her "english sucks now". but ever since she picked up an sat book, idk i think she sounds a whole lot better. she was perfect in sydney.

[mandyyy.livejournal.com]

And let's face it, Kpop groups have a slim to zero chance of making it big in the US.

English is used as an official language in over 50 countries, not just in the US. Not to mention all the countries where it is widely spoken without being an official language.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

this is kind of OT, but I get so annoyed when people make fun of others whose first language isn't english and they have an accent and they're like omg she can't even speak english blah blah.

these people whining don't even speak a second language and tbh a lot of people who speak english as a second or third language have a better grasp of the grammar and all that and actually speak it properly, they just have an accent so at times it's harder to understand.


okay done with rant.

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

'a lot of people who speak english as a second or third language have a better grasp of the grammar and all that and actually speak it properly' - I agree. This is completely and absolutely true.

I also just hate it when people complain about kpop idols and their English. I don't care if they used to live in LA when they were 1, 12 or 15. It is so damn hard to even keep conversing in your first language with family and friends, if you live in a country where the main language is not your own. You have to learn the other language of the country you live in.

The process of learning a new language often means (unfortunately) that you end up giving up, or losing the fluency of the language you originally spoke in, especially if you moved to the different country at a young age. In this case most of the idols that have lived in English speaking countries came to Korea quite young, and in order to be be to communicate with their fanbase would have had to be completely comfortable speaking Korean.

It's really annoying, and just disrespectful. It makes me angry tbh.

/End of my long rant.

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

also i immigrated to california when i was 9 and it's hard for me to speak my native language now and i've been living here for 13 years. i had to speak english the most in public and private settings, and i speak a mixture of both at home so that definitely had something to do with it. maybe that's what happened to these idols. it's probably not that they have degenerated to toddler-speak, they just need to spend some time in the US to be able to speak more comfortably in english.

Re: It's not just a case of linguistic decline, but an effect of their lack of autonomy in the indus

[ifuckingluvya.livejournal.com]

very good point