The study and understanding of alternative languages other than your mother tongue can prove to be a daunting challenge.  Not only does one have to learn the basic rules that surround any given language, along with the vocabulary, but one also has to understand the culture and the meaning behind why words and phrases are used to fully comprehend and convey a meaning.  And it's this last part which often creates what is referred to here in China as Chinglish.  Here in the capital in the lead up to the Olympic Games, local authorities undertook a concerted effort to try to clean up the English language signage here in an effort to better communicate to the thousands of people visiting during the event.  And while many visitors would applaud any attempt to make it easier to navigate around Beijing, there remains a segment that does not want to see Chinglish disappear.

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  In this edition of the show we'll discuss language and the idea of Chinglish.  So let's get started.

(Music)

First we'll hear from a man who doesn't want to see Chinglish disappear.  Oliver Radtke is a Sinologist and author of the recent book 'More Chinglish: Speaking in Tongues'

(Dialogue with Radtke)

And after a short break we'll talk to a Chinese professor about Chinglish.

(Promo)

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I'm Paul James in Beijing.  In this edition of the show we're discussing the English language and whether or not the often-times humorous way in which the language is used here in China, known commonly as Chinglish, has any merit.  For more on this we're joined on the line now by Teng Jimeng, Associate Professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

(Dialogue with Teng)

And with that we close out this edition of  People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  To many, Chinglish can be cause for a chuckle now and again.  But foreigners should always remember that despite possible shortcomings in communication, the effort is being put in to at least try to make your lives somewhat more convenient.  Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn.  For Executive Director Zhao Yang, Producers Chen Mo and Xu Yang and Intern Chen Jianing, I'm Paul James in Beijing.  We'll talk to you tomorrow.