Engrish in your daily life - sandwiches mastered

[maillotpois]

I was enjoying a nice tuna salad sandwich in a deli in Palo Alto yesterday, browsing a paper and looking at their fancy, professionally printed sign.

First I noticed that they served Orang Juice. Then I read on and saw:


http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/maillotpois/CIMG2359.jpg

The proprietors were a little shocked that I took a picture of their sign. But I felt I owed it to you all.

Sandwiches. Mastered.

[Geonz]

If I dont have a little mastered on my sandwich, I feel like a bustard!

[SadieKate]

Sandwiches need to be beaten into submission every once in a while. They get so subordinate.

[maillotpois]

Also, please note that it is Siwss cheese. Because those Swiss were just too darned neutral.

[Lise]

heh heh heh heh heh.

What country does "siwss" cheese come from, anyway?

OK, now you've asked for it. I've been resisiting posting this, although I don't know why. There is a beautifully printed sign, laminated, on every door to a patient's room on the "mother-baby" unit at the hospital. They're new, as of last week. Each lovely sign has a touching picture of a baby of one ethnicity or other. The sign reads:


Baby's Are Precious! Wash Your Hands!

I was going to point out the lawless apostrophe abuse, but then I thought. They don't care. And these signs cost money. They're not going to change them. Then I'll be all the more irritated. I just try not to look at them. Focus on the cute babies! Do not look at the misused apostrophe! Go to the cafeteria! Wrestle a sandwich into submission! :p

[SadieKate]

Now see, I think that "Baby's" instead of "Babies" is unprofessional and lessens the credibiity of the medical institution. If they can't get a simple sign correct, what else can't they do right? I'd report it to Marketing immediately. It's a poor reflection on the organization.

It's not like a wayward piece of cheese.

[Lise]

Now see, I think that "Baby's" instead of "Babies" is unprofessional and lessens the credibiity of the medical institution. If they can't get a simple sign correct, what else can't they do right? I'd report it to Marketing immediately. It's a poor reflection on the organization.

It's not like a wayward piece of cheese.
Sigh. You're right. The dilemma is how to do that without pissing off whomever lovingly made the signs...hmmm. Thinking to whom to mention it. Someone with enough power to change it, but enough sense not to rat me out.

They replace signs that had a teddy bear with a broken arm in a sling which read, "Don't forget to rate your patient's pain!" Why, cuz having a baby is just like being a teddy bear with a broken arm? Oh, hospitals are strange places...

[Lise]

IFirst I noticed that they served Orang Juice.
Oh, please tell me it doesn't come from Orangutans. :eek:

[SadieKate]

That's what I was thinking also.

Blame a friend (me or whomever) for questioning the professionalism of an org that allows signs like that. "You know? A friend saw these signs the other day and said, "blah-blah-blah." Better yet, an actual patient. If they can't get the sign right, probably don't know which leg needs the operation. Maybe the surgeon is dyslexic. Maybe s/he hasn't mastered writing orders.

[maillotpois]

Oh, please tell me it doesn't come from Orangutans. :eek:


Serious bladder control issue forthcoming...

[Lise]

That's what I was thinking also.

Blame a friend (me or whomever) for questioning the professionalism of an org that allows signs like that. "You know? A friend saw these signs the other day and said, "blah-blah-blah." Better yet, an actual patient. If they can't get the sign right, probably don't know which leg needs the operation. Maybe the surgeon is dyslexic. Maybe s/he hasn't mastered writing orders.
Good thinkin'! Blame the invisible!

Unrelated, sort of, but...along the lines of "maybe the hospital is full of idiots":

Today I saw a Mongolian woman for a pregnancy test. This was at a clinic where pts can choose to come to our hospital or another one to deliver the baby. This woman was there with a friend who spoke more English (engrish? I digress). I explained that she needed to pick a hospital where she'd deliver. Her friend said, "Oh, we go to (other hospital). They experienced." I think she meant ....with Mongolian patients, so I refrained from saying, "Hey! We have experience, too! We're a real health care institution!" :rolleyes: Here's your prenatal vitamins. Go in peace.

[Duck on Wheels]

Baby's Are Precious! Wash Your Hands!

Maybe what they mean is that baby's hands are so precious they don't need washing, but YOURS do. :D

[Adventure Girl]

Maybe s/he hasn't mastered writing orders.Don't you mean mustard?;)

[fixedgeargirl]

Baby's Are Precious! Wash Your Hands!

Maybe the text was written in a doctor's handwriting, and it was all the poor folks in the sign shop could do to decipher it :p . I've worked in a sign shop, you're supposed to make the sign the way the customer orders it, abused apostrophes and all :rolleyes: .

[Geonz]

I carry a sharpie for such occurrences. If they don't care about the apostrophe abuse, they shouldn't care about graffiti.

[fixedgeargirl]

I used to work the opening shift in a bagel shop. Most mornings I'd unlock the door, and there they'd be, ham and swiss sandwiches running amok over counter and chair! There were dozens of them, and only one of me. After much running around, brandishing of serrated knives and threats of trips through the broiler, I'd finally get all those little buggers rounded up, mastered, just in time to open shop!



I'm just glad I didn't have to squeeze the orangutans!

;)

[AuntieK]

Every day I drive past a mechanic's shop where they have a large banner out in front which reads,


"Ladie's Day on Wednesdays."
I wonder, "Who is this Ladie and why does she get special treatment on Wednesday?

I have to agree with SadieKate that it refects badly on the organization. I don't think I would trust that mechanic's shop just because of the sign!

[slinkedog]

I used to work the opening shift in a bagel shop. Most mornings I'd unlock the door, and there they'd be, ham and swiss sandwiches running amok over counter and chair! There were dozens of them, and only one of me. After much running around, brandishing of serrated knives and threats of trips through the broiler, I'd finally get all those little buggers rounded up, mastered, just in time to open shop!



I'm just glad I didn't have to squeeze the orangutans!

;)

LOL! That's for a good laugh this morning!

[Brandy]

Mastered, mustard...it's all the same to me. What really bothers me is that the siwss cheese doesn't appear to be siwss at all. It looks like cheddar. http://www.tinklebelle.com/Smilies/images/whistling.gif

[maillotpois]

Mastered, mustard...it's all the same to me. What really bothers me is that the siwss cheese doesn't appear to be siwss at all. It looks like cheddar. http://www.tinklebelle.com/Smilies/images/whistling.gif


Wow. Good catch! Maybe that's what Siwss is, though. I have never had Siwss cheese.

[colby]

One of these days I'll take a picture, but there is this sign at the Flaming Wok in the local mall that says "Let Us Cook Your Party!"

As for hospitals, my favorite so far is a sign for one hospital's information services/technology department that is labeled: "MIS INFORMATION" :D

[Brandi]

Ahhhh proof read!

[Brandi]

One of these days I'll take a picture, but there is this sign at the Flaming Wok in the local mall that says "Let Us Cook Your Party!"

As for hospitals, my favorite so far is a sign for one hospital's information services/technology department that is labeled: "MIS INFORMATION" :D
Oh my gosh that is funny!!!!
We have a pumpkin patch that has a sign that reads "dead punkin's" not pumpkin, punkin's and they are dead!

[SadieKate]

fixedgeargirl, wonderful scenario. I needed the laugh.

[doc]

That's what I was thinking also.

Blame a friend (me or whomever) for questioning the professionalism of an org that allows signs like that. "You know? A friend saw these signs the other day and said, "blah-blah-blah." Better yet, an actual patient. If they can't get the sign right, probably don't know which leg needs the operation. Maybe the surgeon is dyslexic. Maybe s/he hasn't mastered writing orders.

I agree.

One of my pet peeves is the grocery check-out line with the sign "12 or less". It's 12 or FEWER!!! For goodness sakes, did anyone go to highschool?

[SadieKate]

Lise, you could also mustard those signs with Geonz' sharpie.

[maillotpois]

I agree.

One of my pet peeves is the grocery check-out line with the sign "12 or less". It's 12 or FEWER!!! For goodness sakes, did anyone go to highschool?


OMG, the whole less/fewer thing is DH's favorite grammar "issue". It's like the one thing he has, but he loves throwin' it out there! ;)

[fixedgeargirl]

SK,wait 'til I tell the one about the siwss cheese ;) !

[Trek420]

I wash my hands of this :p I'm headed off to top a sandwich with mustard :cool: :rolleyes:

[TsPoet]

I have to post my two favorites - both from the same gas station/minimart about a year apart. Both were very nice signs.

1. No gas will be sold to anyone in glass containers.

and, at the minimart counter
2. You MUST tell the cashier if you've got gas.

I was laughing so hard as I bought my soda and tried to pay for the tank I just filled at the minimart counter that the cashier took pity on me and said,
"It's OK, I know you've got gas".
It's a little scary posting to this thread, though, I'm sure I've made a few grammatical errors that hopefully won't detract from the signs.

Edit - I didn't fill up my tank at the minimart counter, I filled it up out at the pump and was trying to pay for the gas at the counter.

[mtkitchn]

FGG, great story! Gave me a much needed laugh!:)

[Trekhawk]

I have to post my two favorites - both from the same gas station/minimart about a year apart. Both were very nice signs.

1. No gas will be sold to anyone in glass containers.

and, at the minimart counter
2. You MUST tell the cashier if you've got gas.

I was laughing so hard as I bought my soda and tried to pay for the tank I just filled at the minimart counter that the cashier took pity on me and said,
"It's OK, I know you've got gas".
It's a little scary posting to this thread, though, I'm sure I've made a few grammatical errors that hopefully won't detract from the signs.

Edit - I didn't fill up my tank at the minimart counter, I filled it up out at the pump and was trying to pay for the gas at the counter.

LOL - thats so funny.

[SadieKate]

Years ago my brother sent me an ad he found for a used Jeep. The Jeep came with "a wench and trailer hitch." He wanted to know if she hunted and fished also.

[Lise]

If someone's in a glass container, how are they going to get to the minimart anyway? :rolleyes:

I saw the unit manager this morning--he was the perfect person to tell. He is not a nurse, which is rare in that position. He got it right away, and said he'd tell the person who made the signs. She's a lactation consultant...I hope that both of them are far enough removed from the attitudes that can prevail on a nursing unit to just fix it. I'll let you know if the baby's turn into babies!

[slinkedog]

Years ago my brother sent me an ad he found for a used Jeep. The Jeep came with "a wench and trailer hitch." He wanted to know if she hunted and fished also.

LOL! This thread is definitely keeping me laughing today!!!

Thanks, SK!

[massbikebabe]

We have a sign here on the highway that says "Squeeze Your Left". Hence
whenever I travel with DH past this sign I have to move over on my seat so that MY left don't get a little squeeze!





karen

[Trek420]

people in glass containers shouldn't throw stones at the minimart....or have gas ;-)

[Dianyla]

I'm just glad I didn't have to squeeze the orangutans!

Squeeze them? Or milk them? :eek:

I work in IT department and our team meetings look like a League of Nations assembly. I get engrish every day via email. Here's an example from today:

"And I'll lave at 5 pm tomorrow to see motorgate* broker."


* She's buying a house.

[Lise]

It seems that email has obviated the need to even use English, much less spell it correctly, or compose sentences with any grace. Here's a line from last night's exchange with an online maybe-date:

"Lise...the same. Thank you. I am very non eecky." (and it went on, a bit more coherently)

I wrote back, asking, "what does 'non-eecky' mean?"

He replied, "I guess I am trying to telll I reread your profile and we "may" match... "May"...

At that point, I gave up. I may, or may not ever know what "eecky", or, for that matter, "non eecky" might be. :rolleyes: L.

[maillotpois]

Boy, doesn't your mind just come up with all sorts of possible meanings for that????

[DrBee]

Hmmmm.... how about .... won't make you go "eek" when you first meet face to face???

run away... run away...

[Geonz]

Okay, does anybody else sing "We've no fewer days to sing God's Praise" on that verse in amazing grace? (I don't sing it *loudly*... but I *am* in the choir... it's the folk process, I figure. Since the rest of the choir is Korean, they probably think it's an alternative pronuncation orsomething...)

[Duck on Wheels]

Nope. Don't know that one, so can't even tell what's wrong, or guess what a Korean accent might be doing to it. But songs are a rich source of Engrish. I remember my Mom being puzzled about one popular rock song years ago. Why ever would they be singing "There's a bathroom on the right"? I'll leave you to guess the song, those of you old enough to remember it. ;)

[Lise]

1. My sister suggested that "non eecky" might be "non tecky" (sic, of course), since he had just said that he'd lost my number when switching to a new Blackberry.

2. He just called, and we are meeting for dinner after I pick up my race packet for the tri. He seems polite, funny, employed (financial analyst), is a triathlete, about my age, and ... we shall see. The beat goes on.

3. I sing "no less days". For some reason, less/fewer does not bother me. Maybe I'm so grouchy about other errors that this one doesn't fit in my grouch-bin. L.

[Dianyla]

Why ever would they be singing "There's a bathroom on the right"? I'll leave you to guess the song, those of you old enough to remember it. ;)
I know the song! You may enjoy this site, then:

http://www.kissthisguy.com/

[Lise]

Nope. Don't know that one, so can't even tell what's wrong, or guess what a Korean accent might be doing to it. But songs are a rich source of Engrish. I remember my Mom being puzzled about one popular rock song years ago. Why ever would they be singing "There's a bathroom on the right"? I'll leave you to guess the song, those of you old enough to remember it. ;)
Bad moon! Bad moon! And it's on the rise, people! :p

[Lise]

I know the song! You may enjoy this site, then:

http://www.kissthisguy.com/
THANK YOU.

You have finally cleared up "Blinded By the Light" for me. I just knew that "reved up like a deuchent in the roter of the night" didn't make any sense. What the *H* is a "deuchent" anyway? Not to mention the roter of the night? Well, we never need to know now, do we?

[snapdragen]

That's better than what I always heard:

Wrapped up like a douche another runner in the night.....
:eek: :o


THANK YOU.

You have finally cleared up "Blinded By the Light" for me. I just knew that "reved up like a deuchent in the roter of the night" didn't make any sense. What the *H* is a "deuchent" anyway? Not to mention the roter of the night? Well, we never need to know now, do we?

[Starfish]

One of these days I'll take a picture, but there is this sign at the Flaming Wok in the local mall that says "Let Us Cook Your Party!"

As for hospitals, my favorite so far is a sign for one hospital's information services/technology department that is labeled: "MIS INFORMATION" :D

Both of these should go to Jay Leno for his Headlines segment.

[Lise]

As for hospitals, my favorite so far is a sign for one hospital's information services/technology department that is labeled: "MIS INFORMATION" :D
Not as funny, but equally redundant..."PIN Number", "DSW Warehouse". OK now. It's either PI Number, and DS Warehouse, or it's just PIN and DSW. You cannot have it both ways...and yet...you do. :rolleyes:

PS, the date was great. By non eecky, he meant "not icky". Trying to reassure me that he was a nice guy. Communicates much better in person than email. I can't imagine that typing on a "blackberry" helps matters.

[maillotpois]

Wow Lise, glad the guy was truly non-eecky. I get the Blackberry thing. When I am on my Treo, capitals go out the window and my big thumbs often hit the wrong key

[Faust]

ok I just have to share this. I was looking at this forum for the second time with my boyfriend and I said..."who is Sticky he sure has a lot of responses" no wait it gets better... then I said "I am pretty sure I have seen him on other forums too he must have a lot of time on his hands" :D After my BF stopped rolling on the floor (about 10 minutes later) he explained it to me.

[latelatebloomer]

My favorite wrong lyric moment occured at a farm - a bunch of us were all doing mundane chores in the seed room and singing the Beatles song "Michelle" - and during the line in French, Smokey Joe belts out

"Someday, monkeys won't play piano songs, play piano songs..."

we all froze, Joe sang a another line or 2 then realized the room had gone silent...."What? What?"

When we finished howling and explained, he petulantly pointed out that it wasn't any more senseless than "I am the Walrus, koo koo kachoo"

[Eden]

Saw this on Craig's list and had enough of a chuckle that I thought I'd share:

Fabulous established pompous grass free to you.

We are trying to make room in our yard, to do that we are giving away our recently trimmed low (to make it easy for transport) fabulous pompous grass plant. It is at least 15 years old, is large and very healthy.


It will also tick off all of your other landscape with its attitude.......

[SadieKate]

Ah ha! That explains how such an ecological disaster of imported flora is taking over the world - sheer ego.

[Brandi]

I was at one of my best friends birthday's last night. And the birthday girl managed to drink a whole bottle of wine by herself. At one point she was trying to say emancipation instead she said emaculation. It was the funniest thing said all night almost fell out of my chair. She was laughing so hard at herself as well she announced she was cutting herself off then had a glass of champaign. I need to call her and see how she is feeling today?

[Brandi]

Saw this on Craig's list and had enough of a chuckle that I thought I'd share:

Fabulous established pompous grass free to you.

We are trying to make room in our yard, to do that we are giving away our recently trimmed low (to make it easy for transport) fabulous pompous grass plant. It is at least 15 years old, is large and very healthy.


It will also tick off all of your other landscape with its attitude.......
In california you are not alloud to plant pompous grass any more. It chokes out the native plants!

[Geonz]

A glass of champaign, eh? Was this followed by a shot of Urbana?

-- Sue from Champaign-Urbana, IL, who is prone to sing "The night they invented champaign" on the way into town

[Brandi]

A glass of champaign, eh? Was this followed by a shot of Urbana?

-- Sue from Champaign-Urbana, IL, who is prone to sing "The night they invented champaign" on the way into town
No , lol!! Very funny!

[mimitabby]

I can't tell where the misspellings are on purpose or to be funny!
okay, on porpoise.
eeeek!:eek: :eek: :eek:

[maillotpois]

I can't tell where the misspellings are on purpose or to be funny!
okay, on porpoise.
eeeek!:eek: :eek: :eek:

Scary, huh?

[Geonz]

That's what they call art (or jazz) - when you can't tell whether it's a mistake or improvisation :=)

[maillotpois]

How Jackson Pollock.

[DirtDiva]

I've seen some great ones whilst flat hunting. The absolute winner would have to be "flatemates wanted"... :D

[SadieKate]

I've seen some great ones whilst flat hunting. Why are you looking for flats? Don't they slow down your rides?

Sadie "very American" Kate:p

[Lise]

Flatemates tend to be fairly pompous. On porpoise.

[crazycanuck]

K..eskimóes have 9 words for snow...you have to read this as it's just too funny....No matter how old it is!!!

What are the nine Eskimo words for snow?
16-Feb-1979


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Cecil:

In view of the blizzards we frequently have here in the Great White Midwest, how about a vocabulary lesson? I've heard the Eskimos have nine words for snow. What are they? --Karen, Chicago

Dear Karen:

I've got a lot more than nine words for snow, and I don't even need to resort to Eskimo. This is because I have a powerful descriptive vocabulary.

However, if we must confine ourselves to Eskimo talk, I can still come up with quite a few terms, as long as you will let me throw in some words for ice too: kaniktshaq, snow; qanik, falling snow; anijo, snow on the ground; hiko (tsiko in some dialects), ice; tsikut, large broken up masses of ice; hikuliaq, thin ice; quahak, new ice without snow; kanut, new ice with snow; pugtaq, drift ice; peqalujaq, old ice; manelaq, pack ice; ivuneq, high pack ice; maneraq, smooth ice; akuvijarjuak, thin ice on the sea; kuhugaq, icicle; nilak, fresh water ice; and tugartaq, firm winter ice.

If we wish to include peripheral items we may speak of iglo, snow house (igloo); haviujaq, snow knife; puatlrit, snow shovel; uvkuag, block of snow for closing the door of a snow hut. I imagine after-dinner chats in Eskimoland must get a bit monotonous after a while, considering the restricted range of subject matter. Fortunately, they have about 20 words for trout to liven things up with.

Most of the preceding words are from the dialect of the Umingmaktormiut, a tribe living in the eastern part of arctic America. Since the necessary diacritical marks are not available, the spellings are a little on the approximate side. However, Eskimos are not such hot spellers anyway.

The problem with trying to pin down exactly how many Eskimo words there for snow and/or ice--or for anything, for that matter-- is that Eskimo is what is called a "polysynthetic" language, which means you sort of make up words as you go along, by connecting various particles to your basic root word. For example, we may add the suffix -tluk, bad, to kaniktshaq, snow, and come up with kaniktshartluk, bad snow.

By means of this system we may manufacture words that would fracture the jaw of an elk. To illustrate I offer the word takusariartorumagaluarnerpa, a chewy mouthful signifying: "Do you think he really intends to go look after it?" It takes nerve to flog your way through a word of this magnitude. That's why Eskimos are so laconic--they are conserving their strength for their next foray into their godawful grammar.

In my spare time I have been attempting to construct an Eskimo sentence in my basement, such as will be suitable for the season. I have not get it perfected yet, but it is coming along pretty well, and with a little work it might pass for the genuine article. So far I have: kaniktshaq moritlkatsio atsuniartoq.

When completed, this sentence will proclaim: "Look at all this freaking snow." At present it means: "Observe the snow. It fornicates." This is not poetic, but it is serviceable, and I intend to employ it at the next opportunity. Anyone who feels it would alleviate his or her tension is invited to do likewise. Should it be felt that this is too burdensome a load of verbiage to be hauling around all the time, one may avail oneself of the timeless Eskimo interjection anaq, ****. This is appropriate to a wide variety of situations.

--CECIL ADAMS

[Lise]

Dear CC,

I understand you are "down under" nowadays, and that, being on the flip side of the equator, you are just past the winter solistice. However, seeing as how you are a "canuk" as well, I trust you understand that it is painful for us to discuss snow when we actually are past the danger of seeing it for, oh, say, at least a few weeks. :eek:

In the long, cold, winter months here in the Great White Midwest, I will re-up this post, and practice my Eskimo sentence contruction. Now that I have "freaking", I just need "cold", "windy", and "too damn". I'm sure Uncle Cecil can help.....:p L.

[Pedal Wench]

"Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is a wonderful book on the lack of proper punctuation in society today (Two Weeks Notice, for example) - y'all will love it!

Oh - and a game! http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html

[Trek420]

SadieKate "Why are you looking for flats? Don't they slow down your rides?"

Flats hunt me.

Don't you need a permit to hunt flats? I prefer the more humane "catch and release" method to flat hunting :rolleyes: ;)

Trek-ethnocentric-420

[mimitabby]

my son has been spending too much time on ebay. He is a french horn player
and found one for sale in china: I know why the Chinese are allowed to put things on ebay; for comic relief!!



We are Chinese craftwork products dealer And it is very important for inv As you know, the Chinese has long history around the world. This item you can see was does very wonderful all by hand. estigating the old Chinese culture. If you win it you will get good lucky. It is very wonderful. It is in good condition, no crack and no chip. Look at the pictures you can see the shape is very well. If you are Chinese collector, please do not miss so better

chance to get it.

Enjoying your bidding!

[Lise]

Today at the clinic, there is a notice posted by the time clock and on every table in the lunch room:

Dear colleagues, I lost my Winnie the Phoo lunch box....

Oh man. I am walking around saying "Winnie the Foo. Winnie the Foo." to myself for entertainment! :rolleyes: :p

[Ashgarth]

sadly when I went to Japan in March, they weren't much better---we had to make sure no one was looking when we snapped this photo.....

[SadieKate]

You must submit that to engrish.com!

[Ashgarth]

^^

will do!!

[Nanci]

There's a sign at work I have to take a picture of, something like please excuse the construction to better improve the area.

Better improve??

Nanci

[Lise]

Better improve??
Improve it better than they improved it last time, please forgive, they didn't improve it so good last time, but this time it will be better improved...

OK! Every body sing along! Winnie the Foo! Winnie the Foo! Cubby little chubby all stuffed with fluff, he's Winnie the Foo! Winnie the Foo! Cubby little chubby ol' bear!
My mind is not my friend sometimes. :p

[maillotpois]

So does that mean Winnie's part of the Foo Fighters?

Edit: My bedrest is not going to be good for any of us.

[Nanci]

If only you knew the many things I resist writing...

[CorsairMac]

or my personal favourite?

picture a strip mall with the foot doctors' office in the very back.

The sign on the very busy street reads:

"Foot Doctor in Rear". :eek:

I kid you not!

[ladyfish]

Corsair--that sounds like a perfect photo opportunity--that would be a good one for Jay Leno.

Lise--I'm now singing "Whinnie the foo" with you!

[Nanci]

I ordered some Winnie the Foo stickers for work today, and also some Miffy stickers, though I really don't know who Miffy is...I'm going to always thing "Foo" now, too.

[aka_kim]

From a website (http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/) on castles in France:

Penetrate in the universe of the castles and the French patrimony.

[yellow]

Penetrate in the universe of the castles and the French patrimony.
Huh?



Uh-oh... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13716134/

(Here's an excerpt "Lurning English reqierz roet memory rather than lojic, he sed.")

[Fredwina]

On a Hotel sign in El Monte,CA today:
"American First"

[mary9761]

My favorite wrong lyric moment occured at a farm - a bunch of us were all doing mundane chores in the seed room and singing the Beatles song "Michelle" - and during the line in French, Smokey Joe belts out

"Someday, monkeys won't play piano songs, play piano songs..."

we all froze, Joe sang a another line or 2 then realized the room had gone silent...."What? What?"

OK, I gotta clean the screen, keyboard, MY SHIRT etc on THAT ONE!!! OMG that hurt!!!

[DirtDiva]

Flatemates tend to be fairly pompous. On porpoise.
Um, see, when I saw the word "flatemates", my mind leapt more to something along the lines of Dolly the Blow-up Sheep... :rolleyes:

[Fredwina]

I just bought a LAS helmet(Italian), and thought I'd share with you all. Obviously , their translator needs a better command of English:
Thanks to long experience grown in Different sporting fields, ... LAS Helmets is considered a point of reference in the market of protection from shocks to the head.
and from the owner's manual:
One can never know when needing a Headgear. The headgear should therefore be worn correctly every time one practice a sport

[Zen]

I just bought a LAS helmet(Italian), ...
One can never when needing a Headgear. The headgear should therefore be worn correctly every time one practice a sport

Are you sure that's Italian?
That sounds suspiciously Chinese to me.

[madscot13]

My old roommate just got her namebadge for her medical receptionist job. Instead of Registrar it reads Registar. Well she is one of course. However, she just got the job and her training supervisor was upset. She thought that her namebadge should be RegisDiva because she has been there for countless years. Needless to say that is not happening and my friend's badge will be corrected to the chagrin of everyone outside of corporate medicine :rolleyes:

[Fredwina]

Are you sure that's Italian?
That sounds suspiciously Chinese to me.

well, I did forget a word. stiil... maybe they outsourced the translation.

[Flybye]

This is in an ad on our Beloved TE site::eek:

Descente Bliss Top
.......hem tailored specifically for women with no elastic.

(which I think I must have, because of course, I have no elastic)

[rapid cycler]

Omigod, a whole thread about grammar and its wayward cousin grammer! Way to touch this copy editor's heart.

From a description of a bike recently posted for sale on eBay:

"My wife rode it once and has been in the shed ever since."

Wow, dude, what'd she do to deserve that, outpace you?

[rapid cycler]

And then there are the dreaded ground beef panties:

[teigyr]

hahahahahahaha
omg beautiful

[csr1210]

I used to drive by this sign every day...

The best deserts IS a natural one (on a place that sold fruit cups)

After the first couple of times I saw this, I just had to avert my eyes...:rolleyes:

[mimitabby]

I used to drive by this sign every day...

The best deserts IS a natural one (on a place that sold fruit cups)

After the first couple of times I saw this, I just had to avert my eyes...:rolleyes:

did they mean Desserts ( a treat ) or Deserts ( a dry place ) ?
just asking.

[csr1210]

I am assuming they mean "treat", but who knows?;)

[TrekJeni]

Love it!!!!!!

A few years ago, while taking some classes at a community college, there were signs on all the hallway bulletin boards commending the girls basketball team for a winning season.

"Congradulations Lady Surge Basketball"

I went into the Arts and Humanities office and complained to my advisor asking for my money back on tution. (we had a really great relationship and laughed)

Another pet peeve - those signs at grocery stores that say 3/.99cents (can't find cent symbol) um no... it's either 3/$.99 or 3/99cents.

[Zen]

And then there are the dreaded ground beef panties:

Priceless.
I had to send that one out to friends:D

[Fredwina]

especially if they work for Neighborhhodee legal services in El Monte, CA!

[teawoman]

Now see, I think that "Baby's" instead of "Babies" is unprofessional and lessens the credibiity of the medical institution. If they can't get a simple sign correct, what else can't they do right? I'd report it to Marketing immediately. It's a poor reflection on the organization.

It's not like a wayward piece of cheese.

Amen. :D

[Mr. Bloom]

I think that is one Siweet looking sandwich!

I think we've gotten so fast in the electonic age, that our minds are beginning to interpret what we mean...not what we type.

I noticed typos the other day in a major author's best seller the other day. It was a fluke that I noticed it though because I didn't even notice it at first...


The best deserts IS a natural one (on a place that sold fruit cups)


You must be in Indiana! I may be from Alabama, but I've never heard worse grammar than in Indiana! "I have went to the store" or "I have did this" or "These things is bothering me" Ugh!

[ibcycling]

OMG I just laughed my way through this thread. Thank goodness I stopped drinking coffee after page 1!

My favorites in the animal world show up time and time again. People always seem to have a philly (filly), rockweiller, or spayded animal that needs a new home. The "philly" ads were always in The Fencepost which is a rural publication. Very funny but sad.

[maillotpois]

I had a rockweiller!! Great dogs! :p (I actually make a point of butchering dog breed names to drive my daughter crazy. Beagles are bagels and SK owns a puddle.)

It was fun to read this thread again. One of my best works, starting this one... :cool:

[indigoiis]

That's better than what I always heard:

Wrapped up like a douche another runner in the night.....
:eek: :o

I just have to pull this one up as I was reading this thread, because, I too thought it was "Wrapped up like a douche" but then, "you know the rumor in the night!"

And here's my contribution to the thread... a local shop wanted us to "sign our partition" for the passage of a bond issue.

[Starfish]

An old boss of mine said he had Carpel Tundrel Syndrome.

And, this thread made me go take a recent look at Engrish.com...and I just howled. What a great site.

[deena]

This thread is hilarious! The bank where I stopped to use the ATM had two signs in the drive-through:

"We will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day" and "We will be open Tuesday in observance of Labor Day" Huh?

Mnay of you will appreciate the handout I used a few semesters ago with a warning to my students that papers submitted in, as we say Engrish, will be graded accordingly!

[RolliePollie]

I just have to pull this one up as I was reading this thread, because, I too thought it was "Wrapped up like a douche" but then, "you know the rumor in the night!"

And here's my contribution to the thread... a local shop wanted us to "sign our partition" for the passage of a bond issue.

So what are they really saying? I also thought it was "wrapped up like a douche"!

Does anyone remember the Cal Worthington car commercials on TV in the late 70's and early 80's? I was a little kid then and I just LOVED those ads! I think it was a Southern California thing. He always had different exotic animals walking all over the cars in his car lot. I thought the song went like this: "If you want a car or truck, ***** Cow...if you wanna save a buck, ***** Cow." It makes perfect sense...***** cats, cows, any other animal you could imagine were all featured in his commercials. As an adult, I learned that what they were really saying was "Go See Cal," not "***** Cow."

[alpinerabbit]

So.... here's summat I picked up on a blog -


sorry link to pic not working... (http://dummielife.blogspot.com/search?q=shanghai)

"smart noshery makes you slobber".

yep.

[Eden]

So what are they really saying? I also thought it was "wrapped up like a douche"!


You are not alone - I NEVER could figure out why douches figured so prominently in a song....

It is acutally "revved up like a Duece" (a duece coupe car that is)

[Lise]

It seems that email has obviated the need to even use English, much less spell it correctly, or compose sentences with any grace. Here's a line from last night's exchange with an online maybe-date:

"Lise...the same. Thank you. I am very non eecky." (and it went on, a bit more coherently)

I wrote back, asking, "what does 'non-eecky' mean?"

He replied, "I guess I am trying to telll I reread your profile and we "may" match... "May"...

At that point, I gave up. I may, or may not ever know what "eecky", or, for that matter, "non eecky" might be. :rolleyes: L.
I love it that this thread's not dead!

And now, I will reply by quoting MYSELF from 16 months ago.

The scenario: I was on match.com (btw, I am now happily off match.com and in love with a wonderful guy --not the one cited above-- so the system can work...), and emailing with the above cited guy. We did meet. I asked him what "non-eecky" meant. He said he was trying to reassure me that he was "not icky". Not a creep. Except. That he turned out to be a creep. We had a nice first date, made a date to see each other again, which he canceled by email at midnight the night before. Then, 3 months later, he sends an email begging my forgiveness, telling me he'd been in a horrible car crash, and was recovering...I had my doubts, but wrote him back. "When", I asked, "was this accident?" Two weeks ago. Oh, you mean 2.5 months after you blew me off? You Sir, are EECKY! :p

[mimitabby]

ah, so when they say EEKY, they are ICKY.

good to know!

[Zen]

EEEK!

I guess non-eeky means you won't scream in fright when you see him.
Non-icky means you won't puke.

[PinkBike]

i ride by the "integrity free school" on my way to church.

[Zen]

i ride by the "integrity free school" on my way to church.

Oh dear.
what were they thinking?
Glad it's free, who would pay for that?

[tygab]

simply outstanding... thank you all.

I will contribute to this someday...

[Fredwina]

especially if they work for Neighborhhodee legal services in El Monte, CA!

They replaced the sign! with one that has the correct spelling! how dare they!:p

[TsPoet]

My favorite local new and used bookstore just added a new section, with a nice sign:

Used Children

[PinkBike]

poet, that is hilarious!

[OakLeaf]

On our last homeowners' insurance application, we had to certify that we owned no "viscous dogs."

They're all in doggie heaven now :( but at the time, one of them did drool pretty profusely.

We took our chances and the insurance company is none the wiser.

[GLC1968]

OMG, I just spent 20 minutes shaking with uncontrollable laughter here at my desk (you notice how it's always more funny when you shouldn't be laughing?) at "viscous dogs".


At my last company, they had a sewer issue (very, very low building and a very high water table). It was an engineering company where there were very few women. Apparently, once a month, the system backed up because I guess all of the women were on the same menstrual cycle. One day, a nicely printed sign (someone obviously paid for them) showed up on the inside of all the stall doors in the two women's bathrooms:

"Please dispose of all sanitary materials in ceptical. Do not flush."

[IFjane]

"Please dispose of all sanitary materials in ceptical. Do not flush."

I guess that's because the can in which you are supposed to dispose of all sanitary materials is being used for the first time.....compared to a ceptical that is being used again.....a.k.a. REceptical?? :eek:

[mimitabby]

OMG, I just spent 20 minutes shaking with uncontrollable laughter here at my desk (you notice how it's always more funny when you shouldn't be laughing?) at "viscous dogs".


"Please dispose of all sanitary materials in ceptical. Do not flush."

were you guys skeptical about the ceptical??

[bikinNkc]

You are not alone - I NEVER could figure out why douches figured so prominently in a song....

It is acutally "revved up like a Duece" (a duece coupe car that is)

OMG!!! I finally get it. I always loved that song but 1) at the age of 7 had no idea what a douche was and 2) once I learned the definition of that word, didn't get how it fit into the song.

I'm pulling up my 70's song list now!!!!:D

[tygab]

we were out to dinner this weekend at a local Thai place, and I thought of this thread... :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35435787@N00/2046615139/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35435787@N00/2047398982/

[bmccasland]

Tygab - the pics are very fuzzy. Either that or I need new reading glasses.

What does it say on the menu???

[Zen]

Scroll down a bit, Beth.
The first one says
"Another gem from the menu:
Never Have Thai Foods

fortunately for them, I had Thai foods anyway!"

The next one says
"Garlic chives pancake
Enjoy this as a snack or as a first course. They are completely vegetarians, served with soy."

[Eden]

OMG, I just spent 20 minutes shaking with uncontrollable laughter here at my desk (you notice how it's always more funny when you shouldn't be laughing?) at "viscous dogs".

Someone on another cycling forum wrote about be chased by "viscous dogs" once and I had the same reaction. I sat at my desk and laughed and laughed. Anyone who walked by probably thought I was having a breakdown. Normally I don't worry over other people's typos, its easy to make them, but it was sooooo funny I had to write back that they couldn't have been very fast as they oozed their way towards him......

[MM_QFC!]

people in glass containers shouldn't throw stones at the minimart....or have gas ;-)

good one, Trek! and I'm sure that it could get pretty uncomfortable in there with their gas problemo too!

[Xrayted]

I'm so glad someone revisited this thread. It has had me in stitches all morning. :D

When I was going to the main campus of my college for a semester, I overheard two culinary students talking about going over to see Ted lick. :eek: :o A few weeks later, I had to park out back on the other side of the campus. On my way to class, I look up and in big letters all over the side of a building it said "C. Ted Lick Conference Center". I always got a giggle fit everytime I had to walk by there. :rolleyes:

As for Blinded By The Light, I didn't know what they were saying either until I heard Springsteen sing it. (he wrote it too) It wasn't as much fun after I knew the real words, so I still sing about a douche just cuz... ;)

When I was a clinical student, a group of us were hanging out at the end of the shift, playing some music. Brick House came on and everyone started dancing around and singing. Marty, a tech, brought down the house when she belted out "She's a pimp... Owwww!!!" :D

I imagine training a viscous dog to heal would be a no brainer. Everywhere you go, there she is, stuck to your calf. But in a nice way. :p

[SadieKate]

For some reason the photo at the bottom right is not loading in my browser so I can see the file name of the photo: "Color print of a potatoe farm"

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/sweetpotato.html

[Eden]

I love when this thread comes up, as it is a reminder to visit Engrish.com to see what's new.... Some of the stuff on there is hillarious.
Sometimes I think that someone is having a joke on non-english speakers by getting them to use funny names. They have one photo up of a big ocean going ship - like a container ship or something called the Titan Uranus...... I swear it does not look like it was photoshopped and the caption also says this
This is NOT a fake photograph - apparently
the ship is owned by the Singapore-based
Titan Shipping Co, and their ships are
named after planets.

[Duck on Wheels]

Someone on another cycling forum wrote about be chased by "viscous dogs" once and I had the same reaction. I sat at my desk and laughed and laughed. Anyone who walked by probably thought I was having a breakdown. Normally I don't worry over other people's typos, its easy to make them, but it was sooooo funny I had to write back that they couldn't have been very fast as they oozed their way towards him......

Either that, or they drooled all over him. I think Sarahlou's little dog Loulou might be seen by some as "attacking viscously". She's a very avid licker. :p

[Trek420]

Either that, or they drooled all over him. I think Sarahlou's little dog Loulou might be seen by some as "attacking viscously". She's a very avid licker. :p

Is her name Ted? I'd like to see that. :rolleyes:

[tygab]

heh, I probably should have put the photo text in here too... still it was good stuff..

here is a somewhat embarrassing song mis-hearing of my own - the song actually goes "whoa, black betty, bam a lam" or something (it's a well known song). There is a part where I always heard that as "whoa magnetic family man."

No, I never figured out what a magnetic family man would be, but it sounded fun enough. I attribute this to largely just hearing it over loudspeakers at sports events or big parties...

:D

[Dianyla]

Ah so! Another bicycling related Engrish entry!

http://www.engrish.com/recent_detail.php?imagename=nutcracker-bike.jpg&category=Engrish%20from%20Other%20Countries&date=2008-01-02

:eek:

[Eden]

I sent something to engrish.com a a few days ago - I hope he uses it!. I found this freaky little lunch box at work. Someone must have been to Japan and just had to buy it - its displayed in one of the staff rooms. Its a little bentoish style box with a spoon and fork - called Parasite Pals - Time to Lunch is Happy Tickling in Your Tummy....... with a pictures of a cute little girl and some bugs....

[RoadRaven]

Oh, Dianyla - NutCracker? Too funny - methinks that my partner and sons will not be interested in one of these bikes!

And Eden
*Rave scrunches her face up*
Parasite pals???
I know bugs in our tummies is a reality - but for lunch? worded like that?
Ewwww...

[michelem]

I sent something to engrish.com a a few days ago - I hope he uses it!. I found this freaky little lunch box at work. Someone must have been to Japan and just had to buy it - its displayed in one of the staff rooms. Its a little bentoish style box with a spoon and fork - called Parasite Pals - Time to Lunch is Happy Tickling in Your Tummy....... with a pictures of a cute little girl and some bugs....


www.parasitepals.com

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[mimitabby]

www.parasitepals.com

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Eden]

Doh - I guess that you wouldn't have to go around the world to aquire one of these - but rather across town. I'm not sure from the web site whether Archie McPhee's makes them or buys them (or rather Accoutrements - which I think is an off shoot of Achie McPhee's) I'm beginning to think that they make them....

[crazycanuck]

I have to get me one of those parasite pal things :cool:

The little blue & green guy reminds me of a character from the Qu drink bottles...No i'm not nuts..!

[Zen]

No one will steal your lunch from the fridge at work if you keep it in a Parasite Pals (http://www.mcphee.com/items/11279.html) lunch box!

[OakLeaf]

OMG

Some other message boards I'm on have a smilie for vomiting. Where is it on this board?????

[snapdragen]

OMG

Some other message boards I'm on have a smilie for vomiting. Where is it on this board?????

We are far too refined for vomiting smilies. :rolleyes:








http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h182/bill2127/vomit-smiley-026.gif

[Zen]

I see no need in this thread for smomiting violies.

[Tuckervill]

mmmmm....sandwiches....

[shootingstar]

And none of us have made the mistake of public vs. pubic?

I need to seriously proofread my emails sometimes.

I've seen spelling errors that wouldn't have occurred in such frequency 25 years ago. And these are from university-educated people where their first language or only language is English.

And I get super tired of spelling out my first name to unilingual, English speaking people --can't people figure out the gender difference between Jean and Gene? I never had to do this when I was a child...but now it's quite frequent.

It must creative spellings for other first names, that is causing this annoying trend.

I do find some of the English misspellings in non-English language countries quaint. But I can't laugh too hard, I already deal with a mother who doesn't know much English and I've lost a tremendous amount of my mother tongue, Chinese.

But hey, my French is truly laughable...and for many of you, it would be also...

[latelatebloomer]

and I get super tired of spelling out my first name to unilingual, English speaking people --can't people figure out the gender difference between Jean and Gene? I never had to do this when I was a child...but now it's quite frequent.

poor shooting star.....and then there's me.... Lynda Gene Rymond ....gender F, parents apparently intent that no one EVER spell my name correctly. Sometimes, like in my high school year book, they "land the triple" and get all 3 wrong.:mad:

[TsPoet]

I'm a little reluctant to post this, please let me know ASAP if I should delete, and please keep it clean! (Is that a hypocritical request?)

We have a plethora of Asian soup places around here. The latest is called King's and their cards and menu say

It's not just good
It's Pho King good!

People are collecting the cards and displaying them around work.

[Bad JuJu]

Reminds me of the ad I saw somewhere for a place called Sofa King:
Our prices are Sofa King low.

Same disclaimer as TsPoet: if anyone finds this too offensive, I'll be happy to delete it.

[bmccasland]

I think the creators of the ads should be slapped silly. But the ad is serving the purpose, getting the name of the company out. Just not in very good taste.

[TsPoet]

I think the creators of the ads should be slapped silly. But the ad is serving the purpose, getting the name of the company out. Just not in very good taste.

The question is, are they doning it on purpose? I think Sofa King had to, our thought is Soup King didn't, but who knows?

[bmccasland]

The question is, are they doning it on purpose? I think Sofa King had to, our thought is Soup King didn't, but who knows?

Unless they just got off the boat, I bet one of the family members is under the age of 25 and bamboozled the older folks. Me thinks they had to know. But I could be wrong, and will eat crow if need be.

[SadieKate]

http://www.icyclesusa.com/catalog/dia-compe-canti-lever-cable-yolks.htm

[Zen]

Oh my.
Someone please hire me as a copy editor ;) :D

[JaneE]

Two things came to mind that never fail to make me chuckle whenever I think of them.

Saw a sign in a Dairy Queen Brazier restaurant some years ago for "fried clamps." Yummy! :D

A sign near the door of a local grocery store in north-central Pennsylvania read "Ho-made bread." Thought that was an admirable partnering of two of the world's oldest professions. :D:D

Humor is everywhere (intentional or not)! :)

Jane

[bluebug32]

I grew up near a vegie stand. How can you trust someone to properly harvest a tomato after reading that?

[SadieKate]

Saw a sign in a Dairy Queen Brazier restaurant some years ago for "fried clamps." Yummy! :DUmm. :)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary --

Clamp

Clam\, n. [Cf. Clamp, Clam, v. t., Clammy.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (Mya arenaria), the quahog or round clam (Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (Spisula solidissima), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.

You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes, or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. --Capt. John Smith (1616).

Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a coclke; it lieth under the sand. --Wood (1634).

You sure it isn't a regionalism?

[JaneE]

Umm. :)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary --

Clamp

Clam\, n. [Cf. Clamp, Clam, v. t., Clammy.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (Mya arenaria), the quahog or round clam (Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (Spisula solidissima), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.

You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes, or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. --Capt. John Smith (1616).

Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a coclke; it lieth under the sand. --Wood (1634).

You sure it isn't a regionalism?

Well, I had never heard nor seen that usage in my area before (western New York State) and I've never seen nor heard it since...but I bow to Webster. :)

Jane

[Chile Pepper]

Priceless

http://www.dependablerenegade.com/dependable_renegade/2008/06/ya-gotta-hand-i.html

[SadieKate]

If there is a sign, is there also a sound even when no one is there?

While zipping down the road last week, I saw a sign: "Tree Falling." I looked and looked but could see no trees in action. And couldn't hear any crashes either.

Perhaps they meant "Tree Felling" as they were bulldozing some trees?

I have this image of a tree falling in perputual motion, never to land.

[maillotpois]

If a mime falls in the forest, does anyone hear him?

[SadieKate]

:p Did you see that sign? It was on the road as we shuttled down to Whoops.

It just cracked me up but wind noise was too high to talk.

[maillotpois]

I did not see it.

[carpaltunnel]

Okay, does anybody else sing "We've no fewer days to sing God's Praise" on that verse in amazing grace?

You're right! It always felt wrong but I never stopped to figure out why.

Here's mine: In a small town newspaper, the local cafe had a weekly ad for probably 25 years:

Smith's Cafe - Take out orders to go.

Not as funny as many of those in this thread, but it was good for a weekly smile for many years. :)

[chakra]

I used to work at this restaurant in Vancouver called Cin Cin, as their pastry chef (this is years ago, but Cin Cin is still there, I think, on Robson Street).

Anyway, management noticed that, even though there were a lot of Japanese tourists about, no one seemed to come into our place. Also, you could see them outside, reading the menu, giggling and moving on.

It turns out that Cin Cin? In Japanese? Means "penis of a small boy."

:D:D:D

The owners fixed it by including an elaborate translation of the phrase, "cin cin" - in Mediterranean countries, it means "cheers".

Business did pick up - a little - but I betcha there are way more pics of the restaurant sign on Japanese websites than we ever got customers!

Chakra

[shootingstar]

Interesting..about cin cin. I haven't eaten there yet...too many restaurants to try...seriously.

And I don't know Japanese language at all. But do understand the strange Chinese-language transliterations to English. Or translations. To me, some of the strange Chinese to English translation faux paus, are genuinely based on common difficulties for a Chinese-language speaker to master English language phonetics and hence, problems in spelling correctly.

I know...I was shocked into English only place on first day in kindergarten after leaving womb of being raised in Chinese-language-speaking-only home in Canada. It is possible for a child to be born in Canada and not know english until they got to kindergarten. I was one of them.


so I guess I view funny english language translations as funny..up to a certain point.

[Eden]

so I guess I view funny english language translations as funny..up to a certain point.

The Engrish.com site started more to showcase the sort of random usage of English that seems to show up on Japanese products in Japan... it has certainly branched out to show some funny mistranslations too, but true "Engrish", I think, is more like the T-shirts that just have non-sense phrases (or inappropriate language, especially when attributed to some cute little cartoon animal...) on them for the sake of displaying English words. Much of the stuff shown was probably never meant to actually be read or sold in an English speaking market.

I have often wondered if the t-shirts that were so popular in the 80's here with Chinese and Japanese characters on them were not similarly funny and non-sensical to speakers of those languages.

[SadieKate]

shootingstar, people who speak other languages have plenty of stories about Amuricans botching their languages - and pronunciations. Heavens, huge public education system and listen to how we botch our own language (my example was just that). Listen to any news cast, read any forum. Doesn't matter what language you speak, you've got an equal opportunity to use a malapropism.

[OakLeaf]

Well if we're drifting into funny signs that don't technically misuse the language...

there was one I saw a few years ago that I really wish I'd had a chance to photograph, on a garden/landscaping store:

JESUS IS COMING SOON
ALL LAWN FURNITURE ON SALE

[SadieKate]

LOL! That's going to make me laugh all day.

[Zen]

JESUS IS COMING SOON
ALL LAWN FURNITURE ON SALE

Well a man needs a nice place to sit, doesn't he?

[maillotpois]

Quick - look busy!

[shootingstar]

I have often wondered if the t-shirts that were so popular in the 80's here with Chinese and Japanese characters on them were not similarly funny and non-sensical to speakers of those languages.

I'm sure alot of the popular T-shirts with Chinese /Japanese characters have single word harmless words...like 'strength', etc. Or 'woman' or 'water'. I only know the last 2 characters... :D My mother gave up teaching us a long time ago. And Chinese language school in small Ontario town didn't excite anyone.

Probably abit corny /banal to those who can read and write Chinese or Japanese. Like those who have such tatoos...but may not know how to read the language at all...except for that single tatoo.

[yellow]

A few gems from my trip to Mexico:

(this first one is cross posted from the handstand thread)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Just%20for%20Fun/Tulum%202008/Tulum01072.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Just%20for%20Fun/Tulum%202008/TulumBS088.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Just%20for%20Fun/Tulum%202008/TulumBS107.jpg

[OakLeaf]

It would take a better person than I to refrain from killing mosquitos when they're biting me... What is the context for that sign???

[lph]

Does that mean "don't kill the mosquitos"??

In Norwegian "mater" means "feeding", so to me it looked just like a zoo sign saying "Please don't feed the mosquitos".

Gladly. :p

[yellow]

It would take a better person than I to refrain from killing mosquitos when they're biting me... What is the context for that sign???

This sign was at one of the cenotes where we snorkeled. Since these are like caves, there were oodles of bats as well as some other cave-nesting birds (motmots and swallows) that probably eat mosquitoes. So it could be that they would like to preserve the mosquito population for the critters (though I doubt a couple dozen people swatting mosquitoes would affect the mosquito population!). The more likely explanation is that they don't want you to use mosquito repellent, which could affect the water quality of this very sensitive ecosystem. You are not supposed to use sunscreen either, but then you don't really need it since you're in a cave most of the time.

lph, matar is "to kill" in Espanol.

[sundial]

Drove by a house that had a sign that read For Sail.

[TsPoet]

Drove by a house that had a sign that read For Sail.

Was it a houseboat?

[carpaltunnel]

Like those who have such tatoos...but may not know how to read the language at all...except for that single tatoo.

I work with a young man who is now sporting a new expensive tattoo, one (he says) Chinese character. He told me what he was told it means. I asked him how he knew it didn't say "I got this sucker's money!" He wasn't amused.:p Anyway, its kind of a neat graphic, but would you get something tatooed on your body that you couldn't read yourself?

[Zen]

I told a guy his tattoo says "eat more chicken"

[Zen]

I was just at the 7-11 where a guy ordered something with "monetary jack cheese".

I could use some monetary jack myself :rolleyes:

[maillotpois]

Was it a houseboat?

SNORT!!! :D:D:D:D

[crazycanuck]

K..this scene from Pulp Fiction reminded me of this thread....

Jules: What does Marcellus Wallace look like?
Brett: What?
Jules: What country you from?
Brett: What?
Jules: What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in What?

[Grog]

I am a big fan of Japanese notebooks, which usually have really nice paper.

Sometimes, though, they are a bit too "decorated" for my taste, and the little messages printed on every page can get a bit corny. This one wins the prize:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/3084230012_af2c1ee106.jpg
(thanks to Elena777 from Flickr)

[deeaimond]

I work with a young man who is now sporting a new expensive tattoo, one (he says) Chinese character. He told me what he was told it means. I asked him how he knew it didn't say "I got this sucker's money!" He wasn't amused.:p Anyway, its kind of a neat graphic, but would you get something tatooed on your body that you couldn't read yourself?

when i worked in a waterpark in the US i saw alot of 'chinese' tattoos... i saw a man with 10 characters on his nape and i couldn't figure out what it was (i read some chinese) I mean, my chinese isn't fantastic but I can read a simple newspaper. So i asked him what it was and he said it spelt out his childrens' names, sally and jason...

chinese characters are not letters in an alphabet. all characters have a complete sound and meaning...

so basically it was all pure rubbish..

I also had a girlfriend who had a random character on her back, which she said was love, but i knew for a fact it wasn't... but her response to that was that she didn't wanna go around thinking that the tattoo was a wrong one so she'd rather go on believing it was what she said it was.

after that i learnt to keep my mouth shut. I mean... it would be pretty tough to know u had some rubbish that u paid alot of money for tattooed permanently on yr body

as for the tattoo parlours, they don't care. I walked into one which had displayed its chinese characters upside down.. the salesgirl pretty much snorted when i told her they were upside down. they don't care. they just wanna make money.