all your base are belong to us
This nonsensical phrase first appeared as a subtitle in the introduction of the English-language release of the Japanese video game Zero Wing in 1991. It’s a shoddy translation that became an in-joke among video gamers, who in the spirit of Kilroy and Mr. Chad copied it as grafitti wherever there was a flat surface. In 1998 the phrase began to be posted to the Internet and what had been an in-joke among gamers went mainstream.
It is an example of what is known as Japlish or Janglish, or pejoratively as Engrish. Japlish is a poor-quality translation of Japanese into English or uses of nonsensical English words in Japanese advertising and clothing simply because English, particularly American English, is considered stylish and fashionable.
(Sources: classicgaming.com, kungfo0.com)
Copyright 1997-2007, by David Wilton
