03.28.06
Thailand: Engrish
Spend a day in Asia and you will inevitably run into Engrish, those not quite properly translated phrases. Engrish can be weird, can be odd and is often hilarious. One of the funnier examples was a sign in the bathroom at the Top North hotel that stated ‘Please do not put garbage in stool’. I am not sure what the original sentence was, but it sounds like a campaign against junk food. Of the daily examples I saw probably the most enigmatic was these three lines written on the back of an entry ticket for a Wat in Bangkok:
Please dress up politely.
Do not clime the rail.
Do not dangle any doll.
The first line makes sense, they really don’t want you waltzing around the Wats with tank tops and sandals, it is just a request for respectful modesty. The second line when put into context translates to ‘Please do not climb to the top of the towers even though there are railings in place’ or something to that effect. But the third line? I have spent days trying to figure this one out and I’ve come up empty. Anyone out there have a clue what ‘Do not dangle any doll’ could possibly mean?
I assume most Engrish is the product of a translation produced by a non-native speaker with limited understanding of English grammar. I do however have to wonder if Engrish might on occasion be produced as a sort of practical joke. I mean, come-on, think about it, imagine someone is paying you to translate a sentence and they will never be able to tell how accurate your translation is. Now imagine they stiff you on payment or just irritate you, or you are just feeling a bit devilish that day. Wouldn’t you be tempted to mess with the translation a bit? I would.
For more examples of Engrish visit: Engrish.com