Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tired of Laughter, Beijing Gets Rid Of Bad Translations
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117063961235897853.html?mod=todays_us_page_one ^ | February 5, 2007 | MEI FONG

Posted on 02/04/2007 10:54:53 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

BEIJING -- For years, foreigners in China have delighted in the loopy English translations that appear on the nation's signs. They range from the offensive ("Deformed Man," outside toilets for the handicapped) to the sublime (on park lawns, "Show Mercy to the Slender Grass").

Last week, Beijing city officials unveiled a plan to stop the laughter. With hordes of foreign visitors expected in town for the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing wants to cleanse its signs of translation nonsense. For the next eight months, 10 teams of linguistic monitors will patrol the city's parks, museums, subway stations and other public places searching for gaffes to fix.

Already, fans of the genre are mourning the end of an era, and some Web sites dedicated to it have seen traffic spike. The bewildering signs were "one of the great things we want to show people visiting us," says financial-services consultant Josh Kurtzig, a Washington native who lives in Beijing. Correcting them is "really taking away one of the joys of China."

Stuck in Beijing traffic recently, Mr. Kurtzig noticed workers replacing one of the classics: "Dongda Hospital for Anus and Intestine Disease Beijing." The new sign: "Hospital of Proctology." He grabbed his Blackberry and emailed the news to friends around the globe. Their reactions, he says, were swift, and mostly unfavorable. "Nooooooooooo," read an email from one friend.

Not many locals share this sense of loss. "We cannot leave [these signs] up just for the amusement of foreigners," says Olive Wang, marketing manager for a major sportswear company.

Many in China regard the Olympics as the nation's coming-out party -- a milestone in its ascent as a global power.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chicoms; china; communists; engrish; olympics; stopthelaughter
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-108 next last

1 posted on 02/04/2007 10:54:56 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Many in China regard the Olympics as the nation's coming-out party -- a milestone in its ascent as a global power.

Indeed.

2 posted on 02/04/2007 10:57:30 PM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

"Please for you, the human prison organs, must be in the way of you"


3 posted on 02/04/2007 11:00:43 PM PST by Dallas59 (HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

aa-a-ahhhhhh , bookmk ping-a-ling

and , ... I wonder {not really , just saying} , I wonder how the SportsCrowd is gonna like the wonderful air in Beijing ?? /srcsm


4 posted on 02/04/2007 11:01:37 PM PST by Dad yer funny (FoxNews is morphing , and not for the better ,... internal struggle? Its hard to watch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dallas59

5 posted on 02/04/2007 11:05:23 PM PST by MinorityRepublican (Everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

6 posted on 02/04/2007 11:19:15 PM PST by AntiGuv ("..I do things for political expediency.." - Sen. John McCain on FOX News)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

All your medals are belong to us.


7 posted on 02/04/2007 11:19:29 PM PST by JillValentine (Being a feminist is all about being a victim. Being an armed woman is all about not being a victim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AntiGuv

The funniest one I saw was a sign over a urinal that said "stand close and no shaking"

I'm not kidding.


8 posted on 02/04/2007 11:23:34 PM PST by BJungNan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
There is a funny website that deals with this called engrish.com Perfect example -
9 posted on 02/04/2007 11:26:07 PM PST by volunbeer (Dear heaven.... we really need President Reagan again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
I was chuckling at the menu at a local Chinese menu the other day. I pointed out to my husband........

Sizzling Whor Bar

10 posted on 02/04/2007 11:30:44 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

You might want to keep this thread monitored. There are sure to be some hilarious posts ;-).


11 posted on 02/04/2007 11:32:38 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace

I have loved these for years. (I spent two years in Taiwain)

http://www.engrish.com/

What more can I say?


12 posted on 02/04/2007 11:38:46 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: DelphiUser
LOL!
13 posted on 02/04/2007 11:43:09 PM PST by volunbeer (Dear heaven.... we really need President Reagan again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: volunbeer

Well now, that's the most accurate translation I've ever seen.


14 posted on 02/05/2007 12:04:06 AM PST by WestVirginiaRebel (A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel-Robert Frost)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Many in China regard the Olympics as the nation's coming-out party...

No doubt.
Given China's "one child per family" policy, selective sex abortion has created a country with a demographic imbalance of men unable to find wives.
That doesn't seem to embarass their exalted leaders as much as bad translation however.

15 posted on 02/05/2007 12:50:47 AM PST by XR7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
"We cannot leave [these signs] up just for the amusement of foreigners," says Olive Wang...

She's got the perfect name to be the spokesperson for this.

16 posted on 02/05/2007 3:33:38 AM PST by edpc (Don't settle for what's Left.....vote for what's Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Sizzling Whor Bar

I guess that would be the perfect compliment to the Chinese resturaunt in my area that serves Ho Fun.

17 posted on 02/05/2007 3:35:12 AM PST by edpc (Don't settle for what's Left.....vote for what's Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I lived in China from 1993-1998 and reading the signs was one of the most entertaining things about living there. Any China hand would agree.


18 posted on 02/05/2007 3:40:14 AM PST by GnL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Here's a good one:

Regards, Ivan

19 posted on 02/05/2007 3:44:29 AM PST by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; SandyInSeattle; Darksheare; ...
Bite the wax tadpole!


20 posted on 02/05/2007 3:53:32 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("Facts are a Zionist plot!" --MarkL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-108 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson