| International English (Losing
Something in Translation...) This is a copy of an
article written by Derek Davies about signs in foreign
countries that have been mistranslated.
In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
The lift is being fixed for the day. During that time we
regret that you
will be unbearable.
In a Leipzig elevator:
Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.
In a Belgrade elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the
cabin should
enter more persons, each one should press a number of
wishing floor. Driving
is then going alphabetically by national order.
In a Paris hotel elevator:
Please leave your values at the front desk.
In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between
the hours of 9&11
am daily.
In a Yugoslavian hotel:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of
the chambermaid.
In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian
orthodox Monastery:
You are welcome to visit the cemetary where famous
Russian and Soviet
composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except
Thursday.
In an Austrian hotel for skiers:
Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose
in the boots of
ascension.
On a menu in a Swiss restaurant:
Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.
On a menu of a Polish hotel:
Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beer soup with cheesy
dumplings in
the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef
rashers beaten up in the
country people's fashion.
In a Hong Kong supermarket:
For your convenience we recommend coourteous, effecient
self-service.
In a Bangkok cleaners:
Drop your trousers here for best results.
In a Paris dress shop:
Dresses for street walking.
In a Hong Kong dress shop:
Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will
execute customers in
strict rotation.
From the Soviet weekly:
There will be a Moscow Exhibition of the Arts by 15,000
Soviet Republic
painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past
two years.
In an East African newspaper:
A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the
contractors have
thrown in the bulk of their workers.
In a Vienna hotel:
In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the porter.
In Germany's Black Forest:
It is strickly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site
that people of
different sex, for instance, men & women, live
together in one tent unless
they are married for that purpose.
An ad by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.
A Russian chess book:
A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since
this variation has
been played.
In a Rome laundry:
Ladies, leave your clothes here & spend the afternoon
having a good time.
In a Czech tourist agency:
Take one of our horse driven tours---we guarantee no
miscarriages.
Ad for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride your own ass?
On a faucet in a Finnish restroom:
To stop the drip, turn cock to right.
In the window of a Swedish furrier:
Fur coats made for the ladies from their own skin.
On a box of a clockwork toy in Hong Kong:
Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.
Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan:
Stop---Drive sideways.
Swiss mountain inn:
Special today--no ice cream.
Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if
dressed like a man.
Tokyo bar:
Special cocktail for the ladies with nuts.
Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.
Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome
to it.
Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable
food, give it to
the guard on duty.
Office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.
Acapulco hotel:
The manager has personally passed all the water served
here.
Tokyo shop:
Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find that
they are best in
the long run.
Japanese instructions on an air conditioner:
Cooles & Heates: If you want just condition of warm
in your room, please
control yourself.
Car rental brochure in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn.
Trumpet him
melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your
passage then tootle him
with vigor.
Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
English well talking;
Here speeching American.
On the box of a Vietnamese laughing tip-toy:
Can't invert with laugh
The laugh begin. you are youthful
Automatize
As poke as shaky as shaky as laugh
During the use. open the lid of top and take two cells
(NO. 5) in the
box. If you want to stop laugh or don't use for a long
time. you must take
out the cells (This seller have no cells)
A sign on the lion cage at a zoo in the Czech
Republic:
No smoothen the lion
A Finnish hotel's instructions in case of fire:
If you are unable to leave your room, expose yourself in
the window.
A notice in a Japanese hotel (ca. 1950):
Please not to steal towels. If you are not person to do
such, please not
to read notice.
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