VIP, APP, PPT: ARE ENGLISH ABBREVIATIONS HARMING CHINA’S CULTURAL CONFIDENCE?

A Chinese speaker today might describe their day at work as first making a “PPT” (a PowerPoint presentation) and then having to “PS tu” (Photoshop an image). After clocking off, they might “chang K” (sing karaoke) with friends before taking the “C wei” (centre spot) in a group photo.

News - South China Morning Post reports that a Chinese speaker today might describe their day at work as first making a “PPT” (a PowerPoint presentation) and then having to “PS tu” (Photoshop an image).

The report adds: After clocking off, they might “chang K” (sing karaoke) with friends before taking the “C wei” (centre spot) in a group photo.

These novel phrases spring from the widespread habit of adopting English abbreviations directly into daily speech, usually pronounced letter by letter.

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