Say
WHAT? Hilarious signs from China show what happens when the little details are
lost in translation
·
Embarrassing
English translations have been amusing baffled tourists to China
·
These
ridiculous translation fails can be found on signs, menus, and tourist sites
·
Now
Chinese authorities are cracking down, vowing to get rid of the mistakes
·
They
believe these 'Chinglish' signs are damaging their country's image abroad
Photos from China show
the hilarious results of translations gone wrong, with signs, menus, and even
brand names damaging the country's image.
Now the Chinese
government has declared war on 'Chinglish,' vowing to wipe out the hilariously
bad English translations that can be found all over the country.
The new national
standard will require correct grammar, and ban rare words and expressions, as
well as hate speech, the People's Daily reports.
China’s Standardization Administration and
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has
provided sample translations, and cautioned against direct translations that
have resulted in signs like 'Big F*** Hal
Although 'Chinglish' has
been amusing tourists for years, the Chinese government are taking it
seriously, and are worried such signs damage their nation's image.
If the new standard is
successful, it will see an end to signs such as 'Racist Park,' a previous
embarrassing translation for the Park of Ethnic Minorities.
Many of the unfortunate
signs are due to direct or machine translations, such as 'F*** Vegetables' for
'Dried Vegetables,' and 'Dangerous, be careful drowning.'
Users on Reddit's
popular China forum were skeptical about the new measures,
with one user named Smirth writing, 'This could be solved with like 1 app and 2
foreigners working part time. But it won't be!'
Chinese linguists are
also concerned that 'Chinglish' is causing social problems, and holding back
the development of a multilingual society.
'So they're going to
eradicate Chinglish by handing out another set of guidelines that no one is
going to read. If I had a nickel for every time I saw a plan to eradicate
Chinglish, and a nostalgic article lamenting its impending demise, I could buy
a nice hot plate of victim of government violence chicken,' wrote Xiefeilaga.
Others lamented
'Chinglish's' impending demise, 'Oh no. Where am I going to get my daily
dose of hilarious Chinese fail now?!' asked Drew627.
Previous efforts to
eradicate 'Chinglish,' such as a widely publicised campaign in Shanghai in
2012, have fallen flat, but authorities will be hoping the new measures can
help improve China's global image for good.
