Sunday, August 19, 2007

Fun Site: Engrish.com

Reading funny signs in English is one of the little bonus pleasures we farangs get from life here in Thailand. (A recent favorite of mine was the menu selling "Sprite, Fanta, and Cock".)

Sometimes, the spelling error is brought about by Asian people thinking that spelling phonetically is perfectly fine: Just spell it like you say it. In languages like Thai, everything is read phonetically. If something isn't spelled "the best way", then the "second best" way is equally acceptable if it is understood by the people reading it. (Kynd uv liek uh wrap muzik see-dee khover, ohr az inn thiz foto uv a koffee shoph belowe.)Other amusing mistakes come about from translating directly from the original language... You can guess what the original thought was that was trying to be conveyed, but once in English, it really loses it's snap... or is a prime example of why you should not put too much confidence in using Babelfish for business purposes:Other times, you can be quite certain that the message has a lot to do with the local culture, and no matter what language it is translated into, people who aren't from the country, and weren't brought up thinking certain ways, can't help but laugh.However, the most rare and special instance of all, when dealing with funny English in Asia is when you come across something and no matter how hard you think about it, you still walk away confused. Amused... but confused.And finally... simply because everybody wonders what the shirt with shouting Japanese anime cartoon characters actually says; or purchased a picture of a tranquil Chinese country scene with some pretty calligraphy on the side and not quite believed what the saleslady told you it said; or, simply laughed when somebody told you that the chinese-language pendant you had hanging around your neck said, "I'm a cheap screw", we have the photo that proves that yes: You should know what the foreign language says before you invest in it.

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