My Adventure in China part 3

The great thing about travelling to another country where English is not the first language but is required for the tourist industry is the lost in translation messages and signs you find. My parents didn't understand my fascination with photographing all these English signs (I guess they didn't understand the humour) but I had a great time taking them.


This isn't so much a translation error as it is a stencilling error. I understand China's becoming more progressive but I don't think they are quite there yet.


Technically, there is nothing wrong with this translation if you live in the 1960s. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of memorizing vocabulary instead of learning the language through immersion is that you might find yourself communicating awkwardly.


There is nothing wrong with this translation either Although I can't help thinking some subtle elegance was lost in the name of this ancient artifact.


Here, some of the Chinese artistry in communication is demonstrated. Instead of "Keep off grass" you have the use of personification in an explanation/plea as to why you should keep off the grass.


It may seem obvious that someone mistook a "d" for a "p" but isn't it also possible that what they were going for was the past tense of holding(maybe not)


I was actually quite surprised to find this butchering of the English language at a national park where thousands of foreign tourists come every year. I guess that's what happens when the person carving the sign doesn't know a word of English.


You got my attentions!!(I actually checked on Google to make sure attentions wasn't a word. It isn't in English but it is in French. If these endangered elephants go extinct, it's all your fault France/Quebec/parts of Atlantic Canada/parts of Africa/parts of the Caribbean/Maillardeville especially Maillardeville.)


I have a hard time believing 2 things about this shirt. 1: How did Nestle let this thing out of the factory (joke). 2: Someone had to have done this on purpose right?


The Chinese are really raising the bar on these "keep off the grass signs". This one was found beside the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. And believe me, if the grass was smiling at me when I took this picture, I was smiling right back.

Besides the hours of chuckles I got from taking and reviewing these pictures, a serious and possibly awesome idea came into my head. What if instead of making fun of these signs, like you or me, someone actually suggested appropriate changes. I'm sure the people at the attractions would be very thankful. Maybe word gets around and the Chinese government hires you to make sure all English signs in China are error free (sort of like an editor for a whole country except you would only need basic English to do it). Another bonus is that you don't even need to know Chinese to do this, not really. I also don't see why you couldn't do this in any other country where English isn't the official language. So there, another idea on how to travel the world without breaking the bank.