10 Obsolete English Words
How often do you come across a word you’ve never seen before? Is it possible you’ve been missing out on it all this time? Probably not, more than likely it’s a word that has become “obsolete” English word …but what does that mean? Read more to find out some English words that you don’t come across every day.
A Kiss For A Question: Learning Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. But it is also one of the toughest languages to learn if you are not a native speaker or did not have early exposure to the language and culture. Accidents, such asking for a kiss instead of a question might occur. Regardless, the demand for Chinese translation and interpreting services continues to increase.
11 Hilarious Translation Fails
Often the use of machine or amateur translation services yields absurd results. Below are some humorous examples of translation fails.
Translation Fails: The Perils of Machine Translation
When you directly translate a word or phrase from one language into another, it doesn’t always make sense. However, this is the method used by most machine translation systems. Even the simplest of sentences can end up with significant changes in meaning. These funny mistranslations make us smile, but only if they don’t affect your business!
Dutch Expressions | “Unfortunately Peanut Butter”
10 Dutch Expressions Literally Translated into English
One of Language Connections native Dutch speakers has provided some amusing examples – check out these hilarious translations of 10 Dutch Expressions below!
Dutch Expressions | What happens when you literally translate common expressions from one language into another?
1. Even if a monkey wears a golden ring, it is and remains an ugly thing | Dutch expressions
Dutch: Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.
Meaning: If something is bad or ugly, you can’t make it beautiful by changing one small detail.
Fashionable English Words
Sayings and phrases tend to find their way into fashion – be it printed on shirts, hats, bags – you name it! In countries where English is not the official language, it is common to find “fashionable” attire adorned with English phrases. The only problem is, they don’t always make sense…read on to find out more about fashionable English words!
“Fruit No Try?” Funny English Signs
Funny Machine Translations | English Signs
Literal translation services from Chinese to English can be quite funny, especially without any cultural context, but machine translation brings this to a whole new level. Although for the most part, the general message gets through, the literal meaning is often very humorous. Many English road signs, as well as signs in stores and restaurants in China, have been machine translated. The more humorous ones are commonly posted on websites, photographed by tourists, and even written about in books such as “Chinglish” by David Henry Hwang. Here we share just a few such signs with our readers.
Do You Speak Euro English?
A Five-Year Plan to Introduce Euro English
English is one of the official languages of the European Union, meaning it is used for many official documentation and meetings. However, do you know just how different Euro English is from Standard British or American English? And what could potentially evolve from the standard English we know today… (more…)
Medical Records: Alive But Without My Permission
Managing medical records is not an easy job. But when simple grammatical errors or word order render a whole new meaning to serious health conditions and symptoms, they can be a source of funny linguistic mistakes. The importance of clarity in medical language is made obvious in the following examples of actual entries made in hospital charts!
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6 Unpronounceable World Destinations
Can You Pronounce This? | Unpronounceable World Destinations
There are often language barriers between inhabitants of different countries, especially surrounding the names of local cities and towns. Some of these places would be nice to visit, but would any of the names even fit on a postcard? You would not want to get lost around here, because who knows if you could even ask for directions! Below are without a doubt leading contenders for the longest, most unpronounceable names in the world. How many of them can you pronounce?
Unpronounceable World Destinations | Village in Wales – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
A small village in northern Wales along the coast of the island Anglesey, its name actually means “The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio’s of the red cave.” The village community has around 3,000 Welsh speakers, making them one of the largest populations on the island. The name, apparently invented to promote tourism in the 1860s, is 58 characters long. It can be found on many signs throughout the town, the most photographed one being at the train station. Quite a clever way of inspiring visitors.
Lost in Translation
There is no end to the written translation mistakes that people encounter every day in their native language. And sometimes it is not just the non-native speakers that make them. Although for the most part one can decipher the intended meaning, linguists and native speakers often find humor in the mistakes. Here are some for your enjoyment, including mis-translations and other errors.