In today's world no self-respecting English-language enthusiast could have failed to notice the frequent and flagrant abuse of our native tongue by pesky foreigners? (Forgetting, for a moment, the fact that many nations speak our language better than we do.) "Lost in Translation" features hundreds of genuine, original and utterly ridiculous examples of the misadventures in English discovered all over the world by the author and his intrepid team of researchers. Everything from hotel signs to baffling advertisements, such as the German beauty product offering a 'Cream shower for pretentious skin' or the Japanese bar that boasts 'Special cocktails for ladies with nuts', or the French warning at a swimming pool - 'Swimming is forbidden in the absence of the saviour.' Published in paperback for the first time this autumn, "Lost in Translation" demonstrates how widely the English language has travelled, though unfortunately some of it seems to have got a bit scrambled en route.
Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad
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"'Too funny for public transport' Sunday Times travel magazine"
From the Publisher
In A Japanese hire care:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn
In A Yugoslavian hotel room:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid
On a Japanese teabag:
Do not wet with water
On a French menu:
An extract of fowl, peached or sunside up
On A Chinese candle:
Keep this candle out of children
In a Norwegian bar:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By b4-its-2-l8
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
This book popped up in my Amazon recommended list so I scanned the search inside pages and thought some of the lines were amusing but I decided to skip buying it thinking it to be a "let's slag off Jonnie Foreigner's poor English" type book but later I received it as a gift so I got it after all!
My preconceptions about this book seemed to be allayed initially as there plenty of quips to smile about, which I'm sure many others will find too, but in contrast to other reviewers, I found the laugh-out-loud quotes were quite few and far between.
I would have rated this book more highly if it remained as a collection of notices *in the public domain* in which hapless translators amusingly fall foul of the nuances of English, e.g. hotel notice: "If you cannot reach a fire exit, close the door and expose yourself at the window."
But instead, the latter pages descend into mocking individual's attempts *in the private domain* to communicate in English, e.g. a whole series of texts from an Italian boyfriend to his English girlfriend. Why the heck have they been printed! I'm pretty sure most of us have messed up those sorts of messages from time to time too, but they're meant to be private anyway.
I read the book from cover to cover which in hindsight may have been a bad thing as I agree with the reviewer who says the quotes tend to blur into one another after a while; it becomes tedious reading virtually the same notice from one hotel repeated in another. Also, as none of the quotes are referenced it does raise suspicions of whether all are even genuine...
My preconceptions about this book seemed to be allayed initially as there plenty of quips to smile about, which I'm sure many others will find too, but in contrast to other reviewers, I found the laugh-out-loud quotes were quite few and far between.
I would have rated this book more highly if it remained as a collection of notices *in the public domain* in which hapless translators amusingly fall foul of the nuances of English, e.g. hotel notice: "If you cannot reach a fire exit, close the door and expose yourself at the window."
But instead, the latter pages descend into mocking individual's attempts *in the private domain* to communicate in English, e.g. a whole series of texts from an Italian boyfriend to his English girlfriend. Why the heck have they been printed! I'm pretty sure most of us have messed up those sorts of messages from time to time too, but they're meant to be private anyway.
I read the book from cover to cover which in hindsight may have been a bad thing as I agree with the reviewer who says the quotes tend to blur into one another after a while; it becomes tedious reading virtually the same notice from one hotel repeated in another. Also, as none of the quotes are referenced it does raise suspicions of whether all are even genuine...
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By H. Seymour
Format:Paperback
What a wonderful collection, gently poking fun at translations of English sentences which, whilst almost/technically accurate, completely ruin the meaning. You probably either enjoy this sort of humour or you don't. While some might see it as an arrogant and unfunny attempt to poke fun at people from other countries (whose language we couldn't even begin to speak), I completely disgaree. The introduction reminds us of the attitude we should take: we can have a giggle at the mistranslations of others whilst remaining humble of our own language abilities. Life's very short, and what's the point if you can't have a chuckle on the way? Oh yes, and have other reviewers have warned, do not read on public transport!!
44 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Was browsing in a bookshop and came across this book. After about 10 seconds i started getting some strange looks. Most people avoided me...
I was laughing like a mad man - this book is funny!
Only one woman plucked up the courage to ask me what i was laughing at. I showed her the book and she bought one then and there.
If you are looking for a present get this book, but I recommend you buy this book for yourself too.
I was laughing like a mad man - this book is funny!
Only one woman plucked up the courage to ask me what i was laughing at. I showed her the book and she bought one then and there.
If you are looking for a present get this book, but I recommend you buy this book for yourself too.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and entertaining.
A really good laugh, every page a winner. I would recommend this as any anytime read, and always making you laugh.
Published 1 month ago by Jan Delia Boulting
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOst In Translation
I bought this book for a friend of mine for her birthday.
She tells me that she she really enjoyed reading this book.
She tells me that she she really enjoyed reading this book.
Published 2 months ago by Beryl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lost in Translation - sent as a gift
My present arrived earlier in the week and is now in the toilet - high praise for any reading material, as only the best stuff is saved for the most contemplative of reading... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gerald Bell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gave as a gift
I gave this as a gift so i cannot really say how good it was however i read a few pages i thought it was a good gift for someone
Published 3 months ago by winona
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious
English as she is spoke abroad—marvellous! Why can't foreigners speak English like everyone else? :) The book is good for many laughs.
Published 4 months ago by Egomet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hysterical
If you find this kind of thing funny then you won't be disappointed. I had tears rolling down my cheeks reading this book!
Published 5 months ago by artheart71
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good stocking filler
Okay it's not the sort of book you should read in one go from cover to cover but as a 'dip into' item I found this very entertaining. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jeannie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Genuinely funny
Some of the snippets in here are recycled from elsewhere, and there are the odd few that fall a little flat, but there are many laugh-out-loud entries, too. Read more
Published 9 months ago by tiggrie AKA Sarah
4.0 out of 5 stars
very funny, but best to read it in spurts as it gets a bit too much in...
There's no doubt that LOST IN TRANSLATION is a very funny book; the introduction alone had me laughing out loudly. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. S. R. Dhain
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY AMUSING
I REALLY ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK. SOME OF THE TRANSLATORS ARE SO WRONG. BEING A TRANSLATOR MYSELF I CAN REALLY SEE HOW SOME OF THE MISTAKES HAVE HAPPENED
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. T. Vert
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