Villa Jovis, Capri, 2012
Tag: Sign
Eat for Germany
A mistranslation, this time from Mandarin. Apparently this means “to eat is a blessing, to save is a virtue”, but the translation says “to eat is a blessing to save Germany”. Source: Language Log » To save Germany (upenn.edu) The reference to Germany isn’t random. The last character means virtue and is pronounced De. (the…… Continue reading Eat for Germany
Leaning out of windows
Curious update on the warning signs I remember from many European train journeys in the 70s and 80s. Now the English and German versions still warn us not to lean out of the window: Nicht Hinauslehnen It is dangerous to lean out. Though I’m fairly sure the English version used to be more direct, something…… Continue reading Leaning out of windows
Varning, vi bits!
Varning, vi bits. Couldn’t have put it better myself. Some odd things about this sign though. Why is the second language a Scandinavian language, not a more widely spoken one?Why does only the English version feel the need to specify that the vicious creatures are parrots? Of the others, only French even mentions birds. The…… Continue reading Varning, vi bits!