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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:55 am Post subject: 'it's funny' = 'it's interesting' |
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| This seems to be 'konglish'. The kids say 'it's funny' meaning 'it's interesting'. It seems to be 'konglish', I think, just because when I say the proper usage is to say 'it's interesting' they seem to disregard and the next day say such and such is 'funny' again. I can see that funny means 'engaging/involving' and so 'interesting'. |
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matthewwoodford
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Location, location, location.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:30 am Post subject: Re: 'it's funny' = 'it's interesting' |
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| captain kirk wrote: |
| This seems to be 'konglish'. The kids say 'it's funny' meaning 'it's interesting'. It seems to be 'konglish', I think, just because when I say the proper usage is to say 'it's interesting' they seem to disregard and the next day say such and such is 'funny' again. I can see that funny means 'engaging/involving' and so 'interesting'. |
Mods: maybe there should be a Konglish thread in the FAQ?
They are translating the Korean word ����־�� (chemissoyo). This can mean something is interesting, fun, enjoyable or even funny. They have a different word for funny (����� / utgineun) but the distinction is not clearly observed.
Add to this that the distinction between amused/amusing or interested/interesting does not exist (as far as I know - if it exists it is not significant) in Korean, and you can see why they get confused.
If anyone knows a good way to teach this please post it. My students always seem to forget even though they understand the explanation. |
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syclick
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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I hear quite a lot of Koreans who think that the adjective form of the noun "fun" is "funny". My wife's English is quite good and she still does it.  |
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matthewwoodford
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Location, location, location.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 2:43 am Post subject: |
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| Even Kyopos do it. In fact it's odd how many kyopos make weird mistakes in English like dropping articles. Even when they don't speak Korean... |
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jaebea
Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Location: SYD
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 7:14 am Post subject: |
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I'm not convinced that I could group people who aren't 99% technically proficient at the language as a "gyopo". At risk of hijacking the thread, I count a gyopo as someone who has completely embraced his or her new country, in every way, which includes mastery of the spoken tongue.
A gyopo should be able to run rings around the average Joe/Jane off the street in terms of language, because he or she would have studied it back to front.
| mattwoodford wrote: |
| Even Kyopos do it. In fact it's odd how many kyopos make weird mistakes in English like dropping articles. Even when they don't speak Korean... |
I can't help but pity people in this boat. I don't care if they want it or not, they're going to get it.. :)
The frustration of attempting to adapt to a new language, whilst working with a less than solid mother tongue, would be ridiculous to say the least.
jae. |
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