Lost in Translation
Extract taken from Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad, by Charlie Croker, published by Michael O'Mara Books Limited
Ever struggled to find the right word in your own language, let alone make yourself understood in another?
Charlie Croker is an experienced traveller who delights in the verbal mishaps that he's encountered. Here, he shares some of his favourite misadventures in English from hotel rooms around the world.
You're in a far-flung corner of the globe, it's the early hours of the morning, and you've just checked into your hotel after an exhausting flight. Very little seems right with the world. But then you notice a sign in the corner of the bathroom: 'Please to bathe inside the tub.' Despite your tiredness, you can't help but smile. Yes, you're Lost in Translation.
The beauty of getting lost in translation is that you never know where you'll end up. Some examples mess with your head: 'If you wish you may open the window. Do not open the window.' Some are inadvertently beautiful: 'Little grass is smiling slightly, please walk on the pavement.' Some verge on philosophy: 'Danger comes soonest when it's despised.' But whatever the effect, a chuckle is never far away.
A final word of caution. Amused as we are at other nations' fumblings with our language, we should never forget that their English is infinitely better than our Thai/Polish/Vietnamese. Indeed, sometimes it's better than our English!
Room for Improvement
You've negotiated the flight, you've battled your way through the airport. Now you head for the single most prolific source of dodgy English known to mankind: the hotel. The fun starts before you even get to your room...1 | 2 | 3 | next
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