[Opinion] Common Use of English

Some people think that those who oppose common use of English are in fact worrying that their abilities to better understand English will be of no use if English is widely adopted. It might be, but it still seems that many opponents are nationalists who are poor at English. People who speak and write English well know how hard it is to learn English out of their own experience. Some of fluent English speakers say that it would be better for the country as a whole to focus its effort on other things than adoption of English since Koreans are not good learners when it comes to learning foreign languages.

Yet, the country is increasing its presence in the global society, trading with countries all around the world. It will lose its competitiveness, therefore, if only a small number of elites use English while most office workers, restaurant employees and taxi drivers remain poor at English. Even if we do not promote the common use of English, we still need to improve and enhance English education overall.

In fact, there are many English expressions widely spread throughout the society. The problem is that they are mostly wrong ones and rather serve as an obstacle to learning English in a right way. There are too many `talk` programs on TV channels, such as `Real Talk,` `Table Talk,` `Silhouette Talk,` `Up & Down Talk` and `Cross Talk,` which make little sense in English. There are also many Korean English expressions such as `Butter Brothers,` `Guerilla Concert` and `Love House.` Road signs are no exception when it comes to Korean English. Some say `climbing lane,` which should have read `slower traffic ahead` instead. `Tax Office of Annex` must mean `Tax Office Annex.` Strange English expressions are everywhere, on signboards, T-shirts and shopping bags.

Wife of former Korean ambassador to U.S. Daisy Yang found a sign that says `resting place` when she went to the rest room during her visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace a few days ago. She said that she would work to correct wrong English expressions used on road signs and signboards. It would be good to have a volunteer organization to launch such a campaign. First, broadcasting companies and public facilities must start to use correct English expressions. Otherwise, we will see more of language pollution.

Suh Ji-moon, Guest Writer, Professor at Korea University, jimoon@korea.ac.kr

Song Moon-hong, Editorial Writer, songmh@donga.com