Any dual language Oriental/English speakers around that can answer this?

Question

I have talked to many people from places like Korea or China or even India.. if their english isn't very good yet, they seem to have a habit of switching the order of the words around.. for instance a tuna fish sandwich becomes a 'fish tuna' sandwich or going for a bike ride becomes a 'bike ride go' ...
The question is.. do they speak this way because that is the order they words would be written in their native language.
My assumption is that they are just translating word for word and then not rearranging them to be grammatically correct in English.
I don't want (or mean) to sound derogatory at all, I am just curious and trying to make some sense of it. I think it is kinda funny sometimes the way the words get mixed up :)

Answer 1

It's due to the difference in grammers. For beginners, it is common to be thinking in the mother tongue while trying to express the verbal sentence in direct word for word translations.
This will eventaully be overcomed with practice when the thought process is also in the same language as the verbal speech expressed.

Answer 2

> The question is.. do they speak this way because that is the order they words would be written in their native language.

This is the primary reason.

Answer 3

I know both Chinese and Japanese. It'a a matter of grammer. You will find the grammar are very different, for example:
I went on a walk with a friend.
In Japanese, the words will be listed this way:
I , friend together walk went.

Slightly different with Chinese.=)

Answer 4

Santa-Claus Papa Noel (Spanish - Mexico)

Answer 5

It's quite possible since (for Korean and Japanese, at least) grammar follows subject-object-verb and not subject-verb-object as in English.