Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad [Hardcover]

"a wonderful collection of recent outrageous howlers from all
over the world"

"Croker amusingly highlights the mounting slush pile of
communicative catastrophe"

a hilarious new book Lost in Translation is a collection of
linguistic lunacy from around the world.

the book which is registering highest on the giggleometer this
autumn is Charlie Croker's wonderfully funny Lost in Translation...

very funny... beautifully illustrated

"too funny for public transport"

In today's world - characterized by globalization, mass communication, cheap air travel and abundant Chinese takeaways - surely 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, and that most people's grasp, say, of Dutch, amounts to jabbing the "Lonely Planet" guidebook's picture of the Van Gogh Museum and saying 'Where?' loudly (and in English), it is nevertheless true to say that unintentional mistranslation is often hilarious. "Lost in Translation" features hundreds of genuine, original and utterly ridiculous examples of these experiments in linguistic expression, gathered from around the globe by the author and his intrepid team of researchers. Published in an attractive, gift-book format, "Lost in Translation" runs the gamut from hotel signs to baffling advertisements (such as the German beauty product offering a 'Cream shower for pretentious skin'), with all manner international meaning-mangling in between.

In A Japanese hire care:
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

Charlie Croker is an author and journalist, so he can be relied upon to use the right words, sometimes even in the right order. His previous books include The Bluffer's Guide to Football, The Little Book of Beckham, and (at last count) three novels. He has also written (with the help of a spellchecker) for The Times, The Independent on Sunday, and The Spectator, among others.

In a Japanese hire care: 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.
In a Czech zoo: NO SMOOTHEN THE LION.
Chinese sign: Little grass is smiling slightly, please walk on the pavement.
Indian national park notice: Ramganga River is inhabited by crocodiles. Swimming is prohibited. Survivors will be prosecuted.
Hotel pool, Istanbul: No diving. No nakedness. No ruining.