NGUOI VIET - What are you speaking? Hey, it's just Vietglish

Search Articles

What are you speaking? Hey, it's just Vietglish
Friday, April 29, 2005 By Nguyen Nhon Thanh

“You có khỏe không?

“I’m doing good.”

“You có plan gì cuối tuần này không?”

“Có, đi coi movie với couple friends.”

Do you understand the conversation? It’s just a typical exchange between two Vietnamese American pals, asking each other what’s new. What will they do for the weekend?

Not all Vietnamese. Not all English. But Vietglish, the mixing of two languages into one.

It isn’t the way I think Vietnamese Americans should speak; there should be no reason why anyone would have to blend both into a simple, lone conversation. Still, this has become the method for many of us who live in America to communicate.

I quiz a buddy of mine to see if he ever combined the two tongues; he said he had, plenty. Just that morning, his wife had asked if he bought milk for their son. She said, “Anh đã mua sữa cho baby chưa?”

She isn’t the only one to talked this way. Almost everybody, of any age, does. It isn’t generational. I was at a coffee shop in Little Saigon, California, waiting for someone. I happened to hear two teenagers gossipping about a girl who liked one of them. Both of them know English and Vietnamese, perfectly, so they did not need to do the juggling act.

“He nói với me, she thích you a lot.”

“Really, she là ai? Me không biết.”

“She là Hồng đó.”

It had become a new way of chatting for them. When my appointment finally showed up, he said, “Sorry me phải chở my mom đi chợ.”

“OK, uống gì không?”

“Cafe sữa đá.”

No, it’s not doublespeak. This has become a new lingo for the new Việt Nam, right here in America.

VOICES BOX

How often do you speak Vietglish?
— “I’m speaking it every day.”
Tôn Thất Minh Thuân, 43, Santa Ana, Calif.

How do you feel when other people speak Vietglish?
— “I’m rather tired of hearing people who are speaking Vietglish, knowing (other) people are trying to learn Vietnamese.”
Kimberly Phạm, 20, Lawndale, Calif.

Why do you speak Vietglish?
— “There are some words that I feel comfortable speaking in English so sometimes I might do that when I am speaking in Vietnamese.”
Tùng Hồ, 31, Orange, Calif.

Why do you think Vietglish exists?
— “How can it not exist? We live in a culture where everyone can come in touch with one another, sooner or later. You’re bound to meet.”
Linda Hoàng, 49, San Jose, Calif.

What do you say often in Vietglish?
— “Tôi sắp đi mua food to go.”
Giang Hoàng, 40, Los Angeles

— “I actually try not to say it. I want to set a good example for my kids, they should speak properly.”
Quang Trần, 60, Anaheim, Calif.

- “Mày làm homework chưa mày? Cho tao coi. Let me see it. Đưa cho tao. I’m gonna take it.”
Jimmy Nguyễn, 19, Garden Grove, Calif.

Related Articles :

More News