The Joys of Engrish

By Steve Caires

Book Overview

Welcome to the world of Engrish-an alternate- reality version of the English language, which finds its greatest expression in Japanese advertising and product design. Based on the popular website... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585424528
• ISBN13: 9781585424528
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: TarcherPerigee
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 4.5" x 0.3" x 6.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Hillariously funny!

This book gives many examples of the English language as written in other countries. The results are oftentimes hilarious. If you need a good laugh, this is definitely a good way to get oneThe Joys of Engrish

Zen Philosophy? Maybe not, but still fascinating

"Engrish" is the curious meshing of Japanese and Western culture by way of clothing, signs, labels, and stationery. This postcard-sized book presents a collection of these curiosities, and reading through them is amusing and insightful at the same time. There isn't any commentary; you get about 100 pages of pictures, with a brief introduction. It's also worth noting that the collection isn't presented in a negative way... this book is not making fun of the way Japanese use English. The humor you'll find is simply what you, the native english speaker, have put into it while reading. This book is a great way to take a peek into Japanese culture by way of graphic design. After all, the majority of the examples are signs, postcards, and t-shirts all created with the idea of using english (by non-native speakers) to make them stand out among their all-Japanese language counterparts. Also included are a few examples of well-intentioned but misphrased translations on hotel or airport signs intended for english speaking travellers. Overall, "The Joys of Engrish" provides yet another way to appreciate Japanese culture, this time from a more oddball perspective.

You'll Happy!

Long days we are in for workful time much lives with dull actives. It is our wishness that we laugh with pleasant wind and joy. So for fun life, let's Engrish book! Enjoy with light humor.

Great Engrishy Delights!

Welcome to the world of Engrish! Come and discover Steve Caires' greatest collection of most strange and bizzare Engrish phrases, such as "Try Your Guts!" , "Marinate Retard", and the famous "Go back towards your behind". All these are compiled in his latest book "The Joys Of Engrish" which is a great masterpiece from the webpage Engrish.com. Carefully and deliberately, Steve let his collections in his Engrish photo album speaks for themselves with a minimal interpretation from the readers. If you want to have some more Engrishy fun, come to Engrish.com's 'massage boards' and 'switch on the fun without fail'! Practise and converse your special and exotic Engrish there. Get this book, and you will be mesmerized by the magic of Engrishy delights cast by Steve.

humor occurs

Engrish, as these malaprops are called, often creates a phrase which trancends mundane English. For example, today's "engrish of the day" at engrish.com which states, "Let's Beer With Music!" makes even me, a non-beer drinker, want to drink beer. Engrish is not the usual pun made with dry humor, such as "There's no accounting for TOAST" which needs a huge set-up to make the word-gag even worth noticing. Engrish is unintentional and random. The existential meanings accidentally 'occur you' when you read them, and when you've had your fill of this book and the UK version (I have both), you can practice your silly Engrish conversation at engrish.com's 'massage board.' Engrish is a universal phenomenon because book English is complicated and the rules often contradictory. Having been both to Japan and Korea, I first encountered my own Engrish in 1988. Here's my favorite: from a youth t-shirt in Seoul where the graphics show 6 rabbits admiring one, long carrot, "carrot is the one for us--we always happy when carrot is" (worn by Korean Army Corporal Yoo.) Engrish is catchy and thoughtful. Buy the book: you always happy when Engrish is.