“洋泾浜”叫Pigeon English，那么“汉泾浜”呢？给取个什么英文名？
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请看妙文 于 1999/10/25 00:30:18 发表在 汉英
大家来说汉泾浜
摘自《美丽大进击》
作 者： 邓海珠
有一种话，台湾称为国语，大陆称为普通话，新加坡、香港称为华语，这种话到了美国，
为了适合在美华人舌头和脑袋都转不过来的需要，遂和当地的语言结合，发展出一种单音节和
多音节轮流使用的语言，它非华非英，亦华亦英，不过仔细分析起来，中国元素还是多些，
所以仿洋泾浜之名，称它为汉泾浜。
和任何一种中西合璧的文化一样，汉泾浜也有它产生、壮大和流传的历史、社
会因素，只可惜到目前为止，只有区区在下我了解它的时代意义，并试从各种
角度分析之，阐扬之。
历史源流：汉泾浜存在多久已不可考，想必可追溯至我国第一位留美学生容闳，
当他交出第一篇报告时，他可能是这么说的：“我的ｐａｐｅｒ总算
ｆｉｎｉｓｈ了”。
社会变因：这个题目可长可短，长可谈到慈禧太后昏庸误国，逼使沿海诸省人
民向美移民，造就了汉泾浜的使用人口，短的则归因于近三十年来大批留学生
及新移民的涌入。
流传途径：传染性绝症的口耳传染，别人讲，你也讲，越讲越顺口，一讲不回
头。现在已找不到几个华人会说：“你把车停在哪里？”大家都说：“你把车
子ｐａｒｋ在哪里？”而且ｐａｒｋ中的ｒ音还经常省略。
人口学使用分布状况：二十岁至五十岁的职业男性使用最多，次为同年龄
阶层的职业女性，专业上、职业上的用语暂且不谈，怪就怪在他们非这样
说不可：“Ｈｉ，Ｊｏｈｎｎｙ，公司最近ｌａｙ－ｏｆｆ人没有？”
“快了，快了，从ｄａｙ ｏｎｅ开始，我就知道这家公司有
ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ，像是限制使用ｃｏｎｆｅｒｅｎｃｅ ｃａｌｌ，
ｙｏｕ ｋｎｏｗ，到处都是ｃｒｉｓｉｓ，我真不知道我还能
ｓｕｒｖｉｖｅ多久？”
“这种事，ｗｏｒｒｙ也没有用，我们是ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ｓａｍｅ
ｂｏａｔ，ｓｏｏｎｅｒ ｏｒ ｌａｔｅｒ，我这家公司也会
ａｎｎｏｕｎｃｅ，在美国工作就是这样，没有ｊｏｂ
ｓｅｃｕｒｉｔｙ，反正这种事，ｙｏｕ ｋｎｏｗ，
ｗｈｏ ｋｎｏｗｓ？”
刚来美国的中国人对汉泾浜感到不顺耳，激进者甚至加上“洋腔洋调”，
“数典忘祖”的评语，可是一个月，只需一个月，他就加入阵营，先从简单的
ｙｅａｈ上口，再来是每天都要的ｐａｒｋ，接着什么 ｄｅｌａｙ，
ｃａｎｃｅｌ ａｐｐｏｉｎｔｍｅｎｔ，ｃｏｎｆｉｒｍ，
ｃｏｎｆｕｓｅ，ｅｘｐｅｃｔ，ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅ，ｖａｃａｔｉｏｎ，
ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｏｗｎ，ｃｈｅｃｋ纷纷出笼，说得和呼吸一样
自然。可以想见，新移民越多的地方，这种语言就越兴盛，所以我虽未做
过统计，不过却可断言，南加州的蒙特利公园市是全世界汉泾浜最道地最
普及的地方。
就语意上来说，汉泾浜借用英语，基本上只是硬生生的混用，就文法上来
说，却有许多方便巧妙处。有些老中爱说英语，文法却不流利。若说汉泾
浜，就又说英语，又可以完全不管文法，譬如时态，中文就没这玩意儿，
所以英语也跟着没有了。不管昨天，明天，反正都是处变不惊的ｐａｒｋ
，又如，语态主动被动搞不清楚，没关系，来中文，如“我的支票
ｃａｎｃｅｌ了”。又如名词、形容词、副词的变化，好办，用中文套头
加尾，决无破绽。如“这件事很ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅ，每个人都
ｃｏｎｆｕｓｅ的不得了，不过这个ｂｒｉｇｈｔ ｓｉｄｅ，
说不定也是一个好的ｃｈａｎｇｅ”。这种英语词汇，中文文法的混合使
用，不知嘉惠多少人。难怪在美华人一个个说得滑不溜去，毫无歉意。
虽然大部分的汉泾浜都没有什么明显的道理，不过有些话却是英语文化的
特色，用中文说来就不太对劲。
譬如来美很重视自己的才能或贡献是不是被赏识，所以常说：“我的老板
没有ｆｕｌｌｙ ａｐｐｒｅｃｉａｔｅ ｍｙ
ｃｏｎｔｒｉｂｕｔｉｏｎ”。如果老中这么说：“我要跳槽，因为我的
老板没有充分赏识我的贡献”，同胞给他的评语可能是：“你臭美喔！”
另一种情况是ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ，中文为“抱怨”或“申诉”。老美视
ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ为天赋人权，流浪汉可以ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ收容所不够
多，所以他们才流离失所；囚犯可以ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ监狱设备太差，才
使他们度日如年。由于许多权利由ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ而来，所以有什么委
屈，非让别人知道不可。可是若换上老中事事抱怨，日日申诉，不是人格
有问题，就是精神有障碍，原因是英语中的ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ也不完全是
负面的意思，有时也可看作建设性的伸张，可是中文无论如何也找不出完
全同义而又顺口的翻译，所以不如一笔带过。太座太噜嗦，
ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ，老板不休假，ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ，医生打针太用力，
ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ，隔壁的狗太爱叫，ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ，在美国如果
不懂得ｃｏｍｐｌａｉｎ的艺术，简直是暴殄天物。
就‘说’的来说，汉泾浜已炉火纯青，无可添加，不过就‘写’的来说，
还是一片未开发的处女地。既然我是第一个研究汉泾浜的有心人士，因此
义不容辞的写下第一篇汉泾浜文献，以供后人参考。
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各位先生，各位女士：
今天非常高兴有这个ｃｈａｎｃｅ来和各位谈谈在美华人语言上的ｐｒｏｌｅｍ。
按照美国人习惯，任何ｓｐｅｅｃｈ前，最好先来点笑话，让大家开开
心，所以我就举两个例子，以ｍａｋｅ ｓｕｒｅ这是一个有共鸣的
ｓｐｅｅｃｈ，而不是ｏｎｅ－ｍａｎ ｓｈｏｗ。
一九七九年，我刚来美国，人生地不熟，英文很ｐｏｏｒ，经常望文生
义，譬如把ｂｏｄｙ ｓｈｏｐ当健身房，把ｆｉｔｎｅｓｓ
ｃｅｎｔｅｒ当服装中心，最ｆｕｎｎｙ的一次是在
Ｓａｎ Ｆｒａｎｃｉｓｃｏ开车，一路上都是ｎｏ ｒｉｇｈｔ
ｔｕｒｎ的ｓｉｇｎ，这下可惨了，每个街口都‘没权利转弯’，那不
是要开到大海里去了吗？
等到我的英文慢慢ｉｍｐｒｏｖｅ以后，又碰到另一个ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ
，就是简体字太多了，不要笑，你们说英文没有简体字？我可以和任何
人ｃｈａｌｌｅｎｇｅ这个ｆａｃｔ。譬如马路上画个大大的
Ｘ－ｉｎｇ是什么？原来Ｘ是ｃｒｏｓｓ，所以Ｘ－ｉｎｇ就是
ｃｒｏｓｓｉｎｇ，也就是穿越的意思，真是太ｌａｚｙ了，我最先还
以为是禁止通行呢！Ｔ４Ｕ是什么玩意儿，原来是ｔｅａ ｆｏｒ
ｙｏｕ。另外猜猜看２Ｂ Ｏ ｎｏｔ ２Ｂ是莎士比亚那一
句名言？还有ｎｉｇｈｔ变成ｎｉｔｅ，ｈｉｇｈ变成ｈｉ，这些都太
ｃｏｍｍｏｎ，不用ｍｅｎｔｉｏｎ了再告诉你们一个笑话，有一天我
儿子来问我：“你会不会ｓｐｅｌｌ‘ＩＣＵＰ’？”我说：
“ｏｆ ｃｏｕｒｓｅ，ＩＣＵＰ，简单！”他听完大笑，原来
我说的是Ｉ ｓｅｅ ｙｏｕ ｐｅｅ，ｐｅｅ是什么意思？家
里有小ｂａｂｙ的都知道喽！
等到ｌｅｖｅｌ再高一些，就要注意ｓｅｘ的问题了，现在不能说
ｃｈａｉｒｍａｎ，要说ｃｈａｉｒｐｅｒｓｏｎ，不能说
ｆｉｒｅｍａｎ，要说ｆｉｒｅｆｉｇｈｔｅｒ，不能说
ｐｏｌｉｃｅｍａｎ，要说ｐｏｌｉｃｅ ｏｆｆｉｃｅｒ，
不能说ｍａｉｌｍａｎ，要说ｍａｉｌ ｃａｒｒｉｅｒ，就不
知道以后ｓｎｏｗｍａｎ要说成什么？
我们中国人笑日本人的英语有很重的ａｃｃｅｎｔ，其实老美觉得我
们老中的ａｃｃｅｎｔ才厉害。我认识一个专门研究外国人
ａｃｃｅｎｔ的ｅｘｐｅｒｔ，他说，你们中国人没有Ｒ和Ｌ的音，
ｗａｒ、ｗａｌｌ念起来都是‘窝’，你们也没有鼻音，ｎｉｎｅ
是‘奶’，ｓｗｉｍ是‘死吻’，母音更不清楚，ｂａｄ，ｂｅｄ，
ｂａｄｅ都是用‘背的’，你们说得轻松，我们听得可辛苦呢！
所以我要ｒｅｍｉｎｄ各位，既然学英文、说英语有那么多的
ｐｉｔｆａｌｌ，完全不说英语也说不过去，所以我ｓｕｇｇｅｓｔ
各位ｆｒｏｍ ｎｏｗ ｏｎ都说汉泾浜。汉泾浜易学易
记，一个月就能朗朗上口，举凡家庭、教育、法律、社交、医学的
难于启齿之处全部迎刃而解，如果各位ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔ，等一下
在ｒｅｃｅｐｔｉｏｎ中有汉泾浜的ｔａｐｅ出售，一卷十元，
ｆｉｒｓｔ ｃｏｍｅ ｆｉｒｓｔ ｓｅｒｖｅ，五卷以上
有ｄｉｓｃｏｕｎｔ。Ｌａｓｔ ｂｕｔ ｎｏｔ ｔｈｅ
ｌｅａｓｔ，谢谢各位，祝大家ｈａｖｅ ａ ｎｉｃｅ
ｄａｙ。
摘自《美丽大进击》
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“汉泾浜”似可考虑用 “Englese”。
作者：旁观 - 19991025005859
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"Pidgin Chinese" or "Chinglish"?
作者：Leroi - 19991025045312
***
Pidgin 和 Creole 都是欧洲语言(以英法西葡为主)传入其它地区(亚非南美东西印度)后的产儿。其形成少说也各有几百年的历史，并且各有其语法，是地地道道的语言。您说的是“语言混用”(language-mixing)或“语码变换”(code-switching)的现象，所以您提供的文本英是英，汉是汉，河谓分明，只有双语人士(姑不论其双语程度高低如何)才能听得全懂。这种现象其实非常普遍，属于社会语言学的研究范畴。仿照现成的 "Franglais", "Spanglish",或 "Tex-Mex",可不可以管它叫"Chinglish"？
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Sure! In fact, "Englese" (English-Chinese) is just the reverse combination of "Chinglish" (Chinese-English). Thanks!
作者：旁观 - 19991025100000
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Englese?
作者：Leroi - 19991025175033
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The problem with "Englese" is that the -ese ending doesn't really have anything to do with 'Chinese' but rather means 'language', as in Cantonese, Japanese,
Portugese,and even bureaucratese,journalese, and translatese (Translators beware!). Note that in the latter three instances the suffix -ese has a pejorative meaning.
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Both of u downstairs are very convincing indeed!
作者：旁观 - 19991025190508
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My attempted murder of the English language has thus been successfully foiled. Thanks!
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"Pidgin Chinese" preferred to "Englese"
作者：野草 - 19991025151749
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"Pidgin Chinese" preferred to "Englese"
I think "Pidgin Chinese" is clear enough for Han Jing Bang (HJB for short hereafter), way better than "Englese".
Why is "Englese" not a good choice for HJB? The idea of combining "English" and "Chinese" may be all right, as the reverse of "Chinglish", but the subsequent hybrid "Englese" would be lexically too ambiguous to be identified as related specifically to Chinese. How would people know if you are talking about Japanese or Lebanese or Singhalese? Besides, phonologically "Englese" is unsound. Language is primarily speech. One major reason why the coined word of "Chinglish" has survived and gained popularity is, I believe, its phonological as well as lexical clarity. While it retains its root sound of "English" with its original stress pattern unaltered, it is prefixed with a distinct "ch" sound that makes an English speaker understand right away that what is being referred to is basically English but with a degree of Chinese twist. Similarly, in the coined "Franlaise" (francaise + anglaise) and "Spanglish" (Spanish + English), their respective parents' distinctive features are all kept, so they are easily recognizable phonologically and therefore acceptable. How about "Englese", then? According to English phonological rules, the word stress should fall on its second syllable. If thus uttered, however, English native speakers' aural perception of the word would be miles away from that of "English". Hardly would they ever associate it with "Chinese" in sound, either.
Secondly, I believe neither "Chinglish" would have the same connotation as HJB, and it is therefore not a good representation of it. Reason: The interesting language variety as recorded in Deng Haizhu's article is predominantly Chinese, in structure, in lexis, and in all, and it is used among Chinese speakers, who may or may not be fluently bilingual. If we call it "Chinglish", people may mix it up with Pidgin English, the variety that is predominantly English and hardly used among Chinese speakers themselves. Of course it is never easy to draw a demarcation line between the two groups. In fact what has been brought up is a very interesting sociolinguistic issue of code-switching, as Leroi has rightly pointed out. For convenience sake, however, I think we may view the multitude of varieties as in a continuum, with the Chinese-predominant at one end and the English-predominant at the other. Then to borrow the term "pidgin" in its loose sense, (which means "a lend of two or more language varieties for communication purposes"), we can safely call HJB "Pidgin Chinese".
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Sorry for the typo
作者：野草 - 19991025152928
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The part in brackets in my last sentence should read "a BLEND of two or ...".Sorry.
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Is "Pidgin Chinese" analogous to Pidgin English?
作者：Leroi - 19991026041739
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It's interesting to observe that, presumably, the original speakers of all varieties of Pidgin English (Hawaiian, Amerindian, Bush Negro, China Coast and close to a hundred others) were the native peoples of the various parts of the world who wanted to communicate or had to deal with the British, American, and other European colonists, travellers, and adventurers who came to their shores for business or pleasure. We may also presume that these expatriates would use, if possible, the same lingua franca to make themselves understood by the natives. But is it reasonable to expect them to use it or any pidginized European language to talk to each other when they're among themselves as well? By no means! Now, if so-called Han Jing Bang is indeed "Pidgin Chinese", then why is it that it is spoken and understood largely, and perhaps exclusively, by the Chinese expatriates in North America among themselves and not by a significant number of the native population at large? Because of this lack of parallelism, I don't think "Pidgin Chinese" is an appropriate label for the type of speech phenomenon in question. On the other hand, authentic Pidgin Chinese does exist. I was told years ago by an American sinologist that as a graduate student at Berkeley he used to say in fun: 费不要不 for 'waste not want not'.This, I take it, is what Pidgin Chinese should sound like, and I'm sure those of you who are engaged in the noble profession of teaching Chinese to the barbarians will be able to provide a lot more examples.
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Very instructive indeed, both of you! It's getting clearer now.
作者：旁观 - 19991026132456
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If "Pidgin English" is kind of broken English used by non-native English speakers, can we assume "Pidgin Chinese" to be kind of broken Chinese used by non-native Chinese speakers? And if "Franglaise" (francaise + anglaise) or "Spanglish" (Spanish + English) primarily refers to a blend of two languages spoken either by the French or Spaniads, then "Chinglish" should be the right analogy for those who speak predominantly Chinese with some English ornaments.
Here I have a question: when native English-speakers speak predominantly English mixed with another language, be it French, Spanish or Chinese, how would you name their language as such? Maybe it's not time yet to bother about this question?
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Code-switchers galore
作者：Leroi - 19991027032035
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I think your native English speakers' language is still
English, albeit with occasional code-switching, which we
all do.
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Thanks for your response!
作者：Bystander - 19991027105720
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YOU ARE RIGHT： STRICT ANALOGY IS QUESTIONABLE
作者：野草 - 19991028110311
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Sorry for the delay of this response.
You are absolutely right. The analogy between pidgin English and the so-called "pidgin Chinese" (Han Jing Bang,
or HJB) IS questionable, if the word "pidgin" is taken in its strict sense as defined in linguistics.
Strictly speaking, there may be no such thing in today's world (at least not to my knowledge) that deserves the
name of HJB, which derives from Yang Jing Bang (YJB), a linguistic term considered equivalent to "pidgin". What
was brought up is indeed little more than a common code-switching or language-mixing phenomenon. But if this can
ever be playfully called HJB, which formed the premise of our not-too-boring discussion, we might as well treat
its translation playfully and borrow "pidgin" in its very loose sense. Hence my suggestion that "pidgin
Chinese" sounds better than "Englese".
By the way, the 费不要不 you cited was only FOR FUN, not to be taken seriously as a proof of the existence
of pidgin Chinese.
To the best of my knowledge, the pidgin ever recorded and studied that has most Chinese ingredients in it is
Bazaar Malay popular in Indonesia. It is a pidgin used by people of Chinese descent among themselves (They are
no longer real native speakers of Chinese!) as well as to the local Malay native speakers. But since its main
body is till Malay, not Chinese, it is never regarded as pidgin Chinese.
Code-switching, or language switching, like its close relatives pidginization and creolization, is itself a very
big issue that "presents linguists with one of the most intriguing analytical challenges" (David Crystal). I
could see you are just as fascinated as me by the phenomenon. Nevertheless it would be out of place to carry on
its discussion on this Translation forum. I am sure you will agree.
Thanks to both you and By-stander for your enriching discussion.
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U got a point, too! Both HJB & Pidgin Chinese are just playful terms for the time being. That's it!
作者：Bystander - 19991028123301
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“费不要不”and "Long time no see"
作者：Leroi - 19991028154256
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At the risk of stretching a point, it seems to me the
grammatical status of 费不要不 in the hypothetical Pidgin
Chinese is on a par with that of "long time no see" or "no
can do" in the now-extinct(?) China Coast Pidgin English.
Interestingly, the two PE specimens have survived even in
the mouths of educated native English speakers!
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