Posted on 04/13/2007 8:55:07 AM PDT by kevin_in_so_cal
English language experts say that, with the 2008 Olympics less than 500 days away, there is still a long way to go before standard English translations of the names of dishes and drinks sold in Beijing restaurants can be finalized.
Garbled and misleading English signs in tourist spots have long confused English speakers in Beijing. Problems range from obscure abbreviations, word-for-word translations of Chinese characters into English, improper omissions and misspellings.
But what confuses them even more are English menus in Beijing restaurants.
However, not everyone agrees with the need to standardize everything. "Weird and wonderful English on Beijing menus -- like "pee soup", "complicated cakes" and "grass with fishy smell" -- are part of the city's charm," said Theo Theodopolopodis, a Greek businessman who has been living in Beijing for two years. "If we sanitize everything, what happens to local flavor?"
Liu Yang, vice director of the Beijing foreign affairs office, told reporters Wednesday that his office has invited English language experts from the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore to join the English menu translation work team.
"They are finding the work challenging," said Liu, adding that Beijing has already publicized standard English signs for museums, scenic spots and subways.
Liu said that Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme has been using the internet to identify the most accurate English names for Chinese dishes, and is working on a list of more than 1,000 dish and drink names.
Beijing claims to have 4.87 million residents who can speak English, accounting for 32 percent of the total population in the municipality.
Statistics indicate that around 2.85 million foreign tourists came to Beijing last year and the number is expected to top three million this year.
That is the correct usage of “pore.” It means to examine something closely.
It’s funny how many people want to use this word, but think it’s spelled “poor” or “pour.”
You may want to ask the Moderator to delete the parenthetical note to your title.
You beat me to that! I’ve seen professional writers use ‘pour over’ instead of ‘pore over’...
You’re kidding.....I ALWAYS thought it was “pour”....are you sure?
You are correct..
see http://www.engrish.com for some great laughs.
Sick.
That site is hysterical. :)
One pours milk over cereal.
One pores over Engrish menus, with varying degrees of intentness.
Now if I can just get people to understand that “reining in” has to do with horses and not with royalty . . .
I always puree over menus.
“Are your money are belong to us!”
Thank God for the Ammendments in the Bill of Rights.
Without those Ammendments, we'd be all amuck.
That is the correct usage of “pore.” It means to examine something closely.It’s funny how many people want to use this word, but think it’s spelled “poor” or “pour.”
Are you series? This is HUGH!
What’s the other one I see around here all the time?
There’s “loose” as a verb . . . there’s the multiple ways to misspell Giuliani . . . oh, heck.
If somebody’s allergic to peanuts, they certainly don’t want to order a dish with peanuts in it.
Ah, thanks.
A tremendously active group of Chinglish spotters.
Now if I can just get people to understand that “reining in” has to do with horses and not with royalty . . .
Don't you think that people get confused about that mostly when pondering pics of current British royalty?
Funny site. I used to date a “Konglish” speaker...
"Republican" is the most common misspelling I see.
...But I digress.
I had an optics teacher who came here from China back in the '60s. 25 years later, his "in grease" could still use some improvement. Once I was sitting in his class and I heard him say the word "refraction". I had my head down taking notes and I could also hear him writing the word on the board. He said it again. I heard every letter in the word: R-E-F-R-A-C-T-I-O-N. I kept my head down and didn't look up until I heard him stop writing. I looked up and he had just written "reflection".
23+ posts and no one's done this one yet???
Tsk, tsk.
Someone could have a lot of fun with that assignment! Monty Python Hungarian Phrasebook redux!
Actually, the proper spelling is 'Amendments'.....with one "m".
Or....was that your point?
Know, that wass gnot mei poynt. I dydn't gno that Ammendmint was speled with one M. Thaynk yoo four that!
Reign, rein, rain.
No, you’re homophones!
It are? Who do you think you all, the IRS?
Having a slow day?
Pour over to this “No, You’re Homophones!” verbal mayhem ping and ho in!
Based on years of experience in China -- folks shouldn't worry much about what the Chinese put in their menu.
Folks SHOULD worry about what the hell those folks are putting on their PLATES.
Even many of the Chinese have no idea of what is ACTUALLY on their plate and certainly no clue as to the cleanliness or risks involved from eating it.
Hong Kong, for the most part is excluded from this criticism.
In that part of the world -- I'm convinced the ONLY safe place to eat in just about any restaurant or street vending setup is Japan... And, that has been the case for decades.
Semper Fi
“grass with fishy smell”
Yum!
Hey...proudly posting without reading the whole thread since 2001...and all that rot. =;^)
Zinger!
I love you. I was JUST going to post that after Tax-chick pinged me.
Reign/Rein confusion makes me grit my teeth!
*Or marshall law, if you prefer.
What are Freepers for if not to nitpick one another about insignificant minutia?
The two sources I decry the most are "adverspeak" and Japanglish.
Examples of Adverspeak
"Japanglish" is my word for the frequent mistake seen in Japanese English where a verb is used instead of an adjective.
One example is Game Boy Advance A verb has been used where an adjective belongs. "Advanced" would make more sense here. As it is, this name means you're telling the Game Boy to take a few steps forward.
When used as an adjective, "Advance" goes before the object. (i.e. An advance team scouted out the location.) Even then , the meaning of the word isn't quite what the Game Boy makers seemed to be shooting for. "Advance Game Boy" wouldn't mean that it's better, but that it was released before the other Game Boys were.
It's just one example, but I see more and more similarly misplaced verbs in Japanese product names. I wish they'd just use the adjective form where it belongs.
Baby Eels in Cream of Sum Yung Man.
Leave out the brown hissing sauce.
Yew knead two rain inn yore enthused abut these subject. Its to conversational of a tropic for discretion.
Is it just me, or are there more and more spelling and grammar errors in published material lately? If I see one more real estate listing that has "seperate" in it, for example....
Yes, people simply will not TOE the line!
I have got to work on that typing speed!
Absolutely correct.
It is indeed, 'pore.'
Another one that gets butchered is 'faze.'
Cite/site/sight
And people who write “should of” or “could of.”
All these years I though it was amok!! Dang. Can't worry about it now, I have to go mok out the stalls. . . .
One of my pet peeves is “soft-pedaled,” as if it had something to do with a bicycle. A number of spell-checkers even miss that one.
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