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

To: Ditter; real saxophonist
When I visited Bastogne in '82 I was amazed by the signs on the grass:

Defense d'Uriner

(that means "no urinating")

Next to it was a sign in English:

Do Not Disturb The Premises

The "defense d'uriner" signs were everywhere, btw, including on a wall of the Cathedral at the town I stayed, Tournai.

MP is an inspiration to anyone who spends more than 20 minutes in a Belgian cafe...

8 posted on 10/12/2001 3:17:11 PM PDT by nicollo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]


To: nicollo
Saturday bump
9 posted on 10/13/2001 10:17:05 AM PDT by real saxophonist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

To: nicollo
Signs in English are always much less colorful than their counterparts in the native tongue. I even remember in college when one of our suite-mates bought a German "gray-market" VW Beetle. His car was easy to spot because, back then, rear turn-signal lenses were the same solid red as brake lights. But HIS Beetle had the European AMBER turn-signal lenses.

It also came with an Owners Manual entirely in German. Since he had taken a lot of German and had absorbed it well, this was no problem - actually, it became an opportunity.

Not too many people sit around reading their Owners Manuals, but he had the German version AND an English version, and he had lots of fun comparing the two. For instance, in a small section on fuel economy, the German manual admonished, "Spielen sie nicht mit dem gaspedal." Translation, "Don't 'play' with the gas pedal." In other words, rev it up at stop lights and you waste gas. The English version was much less colorful. It advised, "Avoid unnecessary engine speeds while waiting your turn to go."

You could cram a large tome with other examples from all languages.

Michael

10 posted on 10/13/2001 10:48:17 AM PDT by Wright is right!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

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