English is an universal language. If you speak english you can travel and communicate in any country. Of course it would be wonderful if it was true! We were already talking about this in articles about Vietnam. I would never make more than 6000 kilometres over Russia without basic russian. While in Mongolia my exploration was very limited because I couldn't speak local language.
However, english is the language of tourists. Countries that want to develop economy on tourism need to show their offer in this language. And they do. But in Asia, with exception of former british colonies, this can turn out quite funny. European and Asian languages have been developed through centuries each in it's own way. Today they differ significantly. For us chinese sounds impossible, because you must accentuate the syllable in four different ways (and each has it's own meaning.) On the other hand english represent a nightmare for asians.
As a consequence you can see such and another pearls on every corner with just a minor attention :)
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First one is from jewelry Heng Lay Hak in Phnom Penh. During fitting the letters on the wall apparently one turned around. "W" became "M" :) However, on the next board everything seems perfect :) |
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The second one is from Thailand. No alcohol zone. Penalty: 6 MOUTHS imprisonment :) |
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Real nightmare are spaces. Sometimes you see more words written together. Like "Forrent" on the left photo. Or the spaces put just in the middle of the words. With some luck they place them on the places that make new correct words. On photos below: "Break fast" and "Do nation box". |
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In Cambodia a massage salon offer a special treatment. First from top - FOOD reflexology :) But they don't massage feet :( |
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One more from Cambodia - "TIB BOX". I assume I have to throw a tip in here, right? |
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In England they call it "bicycle". Americans, who don't like long words invented a shorter one "bike". But only in Laos you can rent a "bikecycle" :) |
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At Railway hostel in the town of Chumphon, Thailand you can find DOME rooms. Too bad I'm looking just for dorm. |
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Free FiWi, whatever this is. But at least the beer is cheap :)
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How do you say "authentic" in Thai english? Yes, you're right. True answer is "OTENTIK" :) |
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And the most precious for the end. I don't even know how to comment. Some of you, who read this blog are english native speakers. Can you tell me if you understand what are they trying to say? :D Location: Luang Prabang, Laos. |
There was more, but at first I wasn't paying so much of an attention and took photos. In China I remember traffic sign saying: "Don't drive tiredly." I'm not sure if it's grammaticaly correct or not, but it sounds like translated with some automatic translation tool. I'm sure you can't find it in any english speaking country. Same story about: "Careful, low clearance." This one I saw on the ceiling above escalator. They wanted to say, the ceiling is a bit lower than expected.
Often some letters are mixed up ("wolrd" instead of "world") or you find "Y" instead of "T", "P" instead of "F", letters that look similar :)
This article is not meant as a negative critics, even less as a mockery. It's great that they try to offer as many services for the tourists in for us readable way. Especially in countries like China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand... where roman alphabet is not commonly used. But anyway you can not hold yourself from smiling when you see something funny :)
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