Tuesday, April 26, 2011

FOREIGN TOURIST SIGNS TRANSLATIONS

 

When travelling the barrage of signs in many tourist locations are translated into English in many humorous ways. With English having so many words that can be interpreted in multiple odd ways, a lot of translations often cause the tourist a giggle or two.

In a Tokyo Hotel:

Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In another Japanese hotel room:

Please to bathe inside the tub.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:

The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator:

Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:

To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

1 comment:

  1. "In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable."

    I'd like to think that we're getting an insight into the Romanian sense of humour. Getting their own back for the inevitable complaints before they've happened. :P More realistically though, it's probably just a slightly off translation. And personally, I like slightly off translations. Aside from anything, the person behind any slightly off translation has already proved that they have a much better command of English than I do of their language.

    Don't get me wrong, for important safety signs and the like, professional translation companies should always be used. But if it's not life and death and the meaning still comes across, there's no reason why a sign shouldn't raise a smile as well.

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