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Full name: LE VIEN LAN HUONG

FIELD TRIP REPORT

As Vietnamese, I am always proud of Vietnamese language system.

However, on the field trip to Old Quarter in Ha Noi yesterday, I am very worried

about the invasion of English. I am wondering whether it is the language

integration or just the language abuse, which makes fun to not only Vietnamese

people but also foreign visitor. Lets have a look:

Is this real English?

Take a walk around Old Quarter just some minutes, it is not difficult to find

advertisement boards which look really ridiculous.

Entering one bag shop, it takes me a few minutes to understand the meaning

of NO BARGA IN FOR BAG BAG. With the implication that customers are

not allowed to bargain, instead of using FIXED PRICES orNO BARGAINS, the

owner uses the above meaninglesssentence.

The misspelled signsseem to appear every corner. FRENCH FRI, SOYAL

MILKorCOKTAIL may not make other people much surprised.

When I want to have a private business, coming to WC, I am very curious

to know who TOILET MAN is. The reason is very simple. Since I was a child, I

have already read about Superman or Batman and now I am anxious to know the

special ability of the characterTOILET MAN a secret man.

Foreign visitors must be shocked when they see the acronym of one of the

craft shops CREATIVE ORIENTAL CRAFTS KINGDOM COCK and

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the underneath sentence TRY COCK TODAY, PLEASE. How ashamed they

are when they see these words.

If you are a fan of the king sport football, you will have a great impression

on the shop with the unique name FOOTBALL UNDERWEAR T in the old

quarter of Ha Noi. How funny it is!

Some foreigners may feel offensive with the advertisement signs like OLD

PROPAGANDA SLOGANS orQUN ALIBABA (Alibaba trousers)just due to

the innocence of the users.

Also, we can see the close relationship between Vietnamese and English in

lots ofsigns: WELCOME TO QUN BIA MINH, TI SUPER FAKE, TO

PH C BIT TRADITIONAL DRINKS orI L SIM CARD. I am

questioning who the customers of these shops are. Vietnamese people or foreign

visitors?

This is real English.

Beside the misuse of English, there isstill real English in Vietnam in general

and in Ha Noi in particular. The signs: MADE IN VIETNAM, LITTLE HANOI

CAF, TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE or the slogans: BRING YOU

THE TRUE VALUE, WE BEAT ALL PRICES have contributed to protect the

clearness of English in Vietnamese.

In conclusion, it is the integration of economy that results in the integration

of culture and language as well. English as international language becomes more

and more popular not only in academic environment but also in every corner and

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every street. The numerous people think that if they dont know English, even a

little English, they will be regarded as out-of-date people. However, I wonder

whether we should be careful when we are using the international language in

order to show the res pect to the language. There are hundred ways of making

impression, should we distort English to serve our private aims just because of our

innocence or the lack of knowledge?