Chinglish: The perils of computer translation
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If you’re going to rely on a computer translation to name your restaurant in a foreign tongue, it’s probably best to follow these simple rules:
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| Link to source article |
Archive for the 'Chinglish' Category
Chinglish #11
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| I have a non hotdrink. Where’s my sucker? |
Chinglish #11: More profound fortune cookie wisdom
 Huh? |
| Someone needs to explain to whoever wrote this that the pattern is “[adjective] is as [adjective] does” and that it doesn’t work with every adjective. |
Chinglish #10: Profound Wisdom
 I’m sorry….what? |
| I got this fortune not long ago. I can’t figure out if this one is so profound that I can’t comprehend it, or if the five o’clock bell rang so the guy just hit the period key and left. |
Chinglish #9: It’s all about the Riches.
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| Who the heck is Rich?! Aaaah, the lack of articles in Chinese makes for some interesting translations. |
| Link to full-sized pic. |
Chinglish #8: Helping you gain successful!
 Tips for successful what?! I must know! |
| This one could be an example of incredible marketing, getting people to open the book to see what the tips lead to success in, but I’m betting that’s not what the authors intended. Aren’t there any proofreaders in Taiwan? |
| Link to full-sized pic. |
Chinglish #7: I want you. Just say yes!
 You want me? YES! |
| This picture shows the importance of prepositions in English. Not having “to” here totally changes the meaning of this sentence. The uncomfortable look on the guy’s face only adds to it. Or maybe it’s a book about homosexual sexual harrassment in the workplace. I’m far to lazy to translate the Chinese right now. |
| Link to full-sized pic. |
Chinglish #6: Where trendy clothes meet ‘what the heck?!’
 I’m sorry, what?… |
| This store’s name gives almost no clue as to what they sell inside. What the heck kind of name is Graceful Art Dandy House?! I know they’re not native English speakers here, but surely they could’ve found someone that had any clue as to how to accurately translate the store’s name into English…I didn’t have to go inside to see what they actually had there because of the display in the window, but if there wasn’t a display, I’d have no idea what was inside by the name of the place. |
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Chinglish #5: Eloquent signage
 I wish I could get treated at a discount by the certification… |
| This one doesn’t need any introduction. This is sign is at its Chinglish saturation point. Their math skills aren’t so much there unfortunately. What’s half of 150? |
| Link to full-sized pic. |
Chinglish #4: Changlais?
 Can I sook co, too? |
| This bag was for sale at the mall underneath the Taipei Main Station subway station. This actually qualifies as more than just Chinglish since it also has elements of French in it. So I guess it’s Changlais (Anglais + Chinglish)? I’ll need to sook co on a round-the-world voyage to find out the correct term for this one. |
| Link to full-sized pic. |