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dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of funny translation errors from around the world - hard to give a rating really as it’s not the author’s skill in writing, it’s a collection of other people’s mistakes... but I did enjoy it.
itsdaytime's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
3.5
Absolutely hilarious. I read it while traveling abroad, so it was very on topic. Would recommend to anyone who travels frequently.
indiepauli47's review
3.0
2.5-3 stars.
How are you supposed to rate such a book ? It's exactly what it's supposed to be; a book about weird, funny translations found all around the world.
Although, I didn't laugh, some were worth a smile I guess.
How are you supposed to rate such a book ? It's exactly what it's supposed to be; a book about weird, funny translations found all around the world.
Although, I didn't laugh, some were worth a smile I guess.
andyn5's review against another edition
3.0
Hilarious. This book is a light-read that shows readers the importance of language, terminology and the common mistake of doing literal translations from one language to the other. I don't think it means to offend the people of the country for this mistakes. If I saw signs like these in my own language, I would cry laughing too!
A fun, relaxing read for anyone that had a bad day!
A fun, relaxing read for anyone that had a bad day!
arwenauthor's review
5.0
SUCH GREAT FUN!
Borrowed and consumed cover to cover in an hour or so (oops!). The warning about not reading on public transport is very apt; I was actually laughing out loud on a number of occasions. Very simple premise, but completely brilliant. Here are a few of my favourites (there are lots more):
CHINESE temple: Please take one step forward and crap twice.
Hotel in JAKARTA: Please tell the public not to kill themselves on hotel property if they want to die. It only confounds us. They can do it in the river for example.
Road sign in JAPAN: STOP. Drive sideways.
SWISS hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
Menu in JAPAN: Buttered saucepans and fried hormones
Strawberry crap
There are many more, not sure I've chosen the best ones. It's split into sections like menus, road signs, hotels, instruction manuals etc and it would be a great book to read on a long journey, even with the impropriety of laughing aloud.
Borrowed and consumed cover to cover in an hour or so (oops!). The warning about not reading on public transport is very apt; I was actually laughing out loud on a number of occasions. Very simple premise, but completely brilliant. Here are a few of my favourites (there are lots more):
CHINESE temple: Please take one step forward and crap twice.
Hotel in JAKARTA: Please tell the public not to kill themselves on hotel property if they want to die. It only confounds us. They can do it in the river for example.
Road sign in JAPAN: STOP. Drive sideways.
SWISS hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
Menu in JAPAN: Buttered saucepans and fried hormones
Strawberry crap
There are many more, not sure I've chosen the best ones. It's split into sections like menus, road signs, hotels, instruction manuals etc and it would be a great book to read on a long journey, even with the impropriety of laughing aloud.
roseofoulesfame's review
4.0
More like: "Always hire native speakers - a cautionary tale", lol.
This is a fun book for wordnerds, because not only are the entries entertaining in themselves, there's also the fun of trying to work out exactly what WAS meant...and where and how things went wrong. Will def dip into this again.
This is a fun book for wordnerds, because not only are the entries entertaining in themselves, there's also the fun of trying to work out exactly what WAS meant...and where and how things went wrong. Will def dip into this again.
treereader's review against another edition
2.0
I mean it was fine. But this sort of book kinda seems obsolete now we have social media, the mistranslations are just the sort of thing that you really only want to read a couple of at a time.
That being said, here are some favourites:
"Do not bring spillables [...] like chicken soup and dust"
"plug the phone jack into the wall. If the phone rings, pick it up and greet the person on the other end by saying "Hello!" or another such greeting. Once completing your conversation, hang up the phone."
"Notice:
Ramganga River is inhabited by crocodiles.
Swimming is prohibited.
Survivors will be prosecuted."
and
"Reception Centre for the Unorganised Tourists"
That being said, here are some favourites:
"Do not bring spillables [...] like chicken soup and dust"
"plug the phone jack into the wall. If the phone rings, pick it up and greet the person on the other end by saying "Hello!" or another such greeting. Once completing your conversation, hang up the phone."
"Notice:
Ramganga River is inhabited by crocodiles.
Swimming is prohibited.
Survivors will be prosecuted."
and
"Reception Centre for the Unorganised Tourists"