A few weeks ago I opened up my book of assigned reading for an English Nationalism class and was very surprised by what I read in Lost in Translation. At first I thought it was the book the movie was based on, but as soon as I began, it became very clear that it was something much different. Lost in Translation is a book of a collection of phrases and signs that have literally been, lost in translation.
It was probably one of the more enjoyable homework assignments of my semester, as I skimmed through 50 pages of painful, preposterous and down-right baffling mistranslations.
The next morning when I arrived to class, proud of having completed my homework assignment and ready for discussion (I must admit, Spain has made me much less studious…there’s just too much to do and see! Also I think it’s the Spanish attitude rubbing off on me…), I was quite distraught to discover that I’d bought and read the wrong book! (We were supposed to be reading Lost in Translation – but by Eva Hoffman - a provocative biography about the role of language in the formation of identity. I highly recommend it).
While I didn’t have much to add to class participation on our actual assignment, we all got a kick out reading from my book. From having my own experience of new a learning language and fumbling along through Spanish, I could definitely appreciate both the humor and genuine problems of a non-fluent speaker translating into another language. My most recent equivoque was just the other day as I trying to say that I didn’t have any complaints about something (quejas). Alas, my tongue betrayed me and out slipped the word “cajones”! Well, I definitely don't have any of those either, so I guess my error wasn’t that bad : )
Anyways, for all of you that have a lived in another country or learned another language, this blog is dedicated to you. May you all find some of the humor in these English faux pas as I did. Here are a few of my favorites from the book. Disfruta!
Air China Brochure
Dear Passengers, Wish you have a joyful journey! When you are in public talking and laughing and drinking and singing living a happy life, suddenly you feel some part of your body is too itchy to endure. How embarrassed! Please dial dax 01-491-02338, you will gain unexpected results!
Czechoslovakia
Take one of our horse-driven city tours. We guarantee no miscarriages
Mexico
Grilled Potties
In a Paris guidebook
To call a broad from France, first dial 00
Barbershop inTokyo, Japan
All customers promptly executed
Madrid, Spain
If you wish disinfection enacted in your presence, cry out for the chambermaid.
Advertisement for a Hong Kong dentist
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists
On a Japanese tourist map
Shitseeing Bus Stop
France
