English as she is rittin
A relative of a friend is thinking of setting up a proof-reading service for hotels, restaurants and suchlike in mainland Europe so they can be confident their menus and signage are free of terrible or offensive bloopers in the use of English.
I wonder if readers of NightHawk have encountered examples of poor use of English while on holiday abroad or know of web-sites which collect such things? This would be to provide my friend’s relative with some material for the “what we can help you avoid” section of her website.
Over to you ….
December 13th, 2007 at 9:22 am
A long time ago in Porvoo, Finland, I found a hotel trying to convey that it was Fully Licenced by the notice “Every alcoholic justice served” !
December 13th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Maybe she should aim to cover China, too. According to the article below, faulty translation software has led to numerous “absurdly crude English mistranslations in bizarrely inappropriate contexts.”
The Etiology and Elaboration of a Flagrant Mistranslation
December 13th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
One of my favorite websites is http://www.apostropheabuse.com/.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:50 am
I always enjoy the signs which say ‘Do not use lift in case of fire’ – but I often see these in UK hotels too.