和製英語と英語の違いを説明するシリーズLost in Translation
第23回の本日は”バイキング”です。
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Lost in Translation Part 23
バイキング(Buffet)
One phrase that is unique in its meaning for Japan is the term バイキング. Because the context for this term is only in Japan, native speakers of English would never guess the Japanese use of the word.
(c) Taq
｜写真素材 PIXTA
In Japanese, バイキング is used instead of buffet. Actually, buffet would probably be more similar to 食べ放題. The feeling of the word バイキング is probably better translated as smorgasbord. Smorgasbord is taken from the Swedish word which means ‘sandwich’ and ‘table’. Therefore, Japanese and European languages are similar in these terms, because each culture’s unique context gives these terms meaning- even though these vocabulary are not native to the Japanese and English languages. However, smorgasbord is not used as a noun. It is only used as an adjective, usually in an exclamatory sentence. For example, we would say, “I want to have dinner at a smorgasbord restaurant.” On the other hand, we could say, “Wow! There’s so much food. It’s a smorgasbord!”
Quite different from the meaning of buffet, Viking is actually only used in reference to the sailors of medieval Scandinavia. Therefore, if you were to say, “I’m hungry. Can we go to a Viking restaurant?” No one would understand what you wanted. They would think you wanted to eat at a Scandinavian restaurant- which are not common in the U.S. Therefore, please only use Viking in reference to something like the picture below:
If you are in the U.S. and find that you would like to eat ‘viking’ style, please ask to go to a buffet restaurant. One popular restaurant in the U.S. that is well known for only serving food in a buffet style is HomeTown Buffet. So, when your stomach is growling, you know where to go.
http://www.oldcountrybuffet.com/
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※The English described in this blog is from an American perspective. Cultural reactions and vocabulary might be different in other countries like Canada, Britain and Australia.
