Updated version:
Dear colleagues,
Your expertise is sorely needed. Even if “they”, i.e. the
Chinese, don’t know it.
The Internet is full of photos of funny signs seen in China;
or rather, signs in funny English. And honestly, I don’t understand why. It’s
not as if there’s a dearth of English speakers and English teachers in China. Especially
in big cities like Shanghai. Still, some of the signs are funny, and some
simply inscrutable…
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| A bowl of "taste free" fruit awaited us in our hotel room |
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| Okay, you can guess what was meant here. |
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| Huh? Ideas, anyone? |
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| Seen in a public toilet. Which often entails a step. |
Sometimes, they get it right:
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| "Shhh! I'm growing. Please don't step on me." |
Signs in parks, restaurants and public toilets are one
thing. But when you go to a fancy government building like, say, The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and see an impressive display of the history of the Bund in
Shanghai, you expect decent English. They obviously have a goodly budget; the model of Shanghai is amazing; surely they could shell out the necessary yuans,
or even US dollars or pounds sterling to a professional English content writer
plus proofreader and/or editor?... Care to apply?
For more stories -- not language related -- about our recent China adventure, go to my travel blog, Nina Makes Tracks.
Bulletin: I am told that China is desperately seeking good English teachers. No, I don't have any more concrete info. But the author of the blog Piglet's House may have. Where does Piglet come into it, you ask? I have no idea. Why don't you ask her.
Bulletin: I am told that China is desperately seeking good English teachers. No, I don't have any more concrete info. But the author of the blog Piglet's House may have. Where does Piglet come into it, you ask? I have no idea. Why don't you ask her.