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Thursday, November 13, 2008

It's a wonderful language

My son sent me an email message this morning because he knows I like exemplary uses of the English language. He said: "This is a sign in a hotel elevator in Mongolia (Ulaan Baatar I believe) taken by a consultant we work with at the bank. Hope you are having a good day!" Yes. Yes I am. Thank you very much.
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12 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 13, 2008 at 6:09 PM

    This is not for very happy making on me to see this.
    I am not soon to be on elevator of location.
    Folk will scream of this direction causing many breakage of foot and other persons.
    Can be of safe decision making to commence usage of stepway (stairs)

    Peace - Rene

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  2. The GrandpaNovember 13, 2008 at 6:13 PM

    Rene, I know I've asked you not to make me laugh when I'm trying to work. But there's no stopping you, I guess. Very funny.

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  3. Tess KincaidNovember 13, 2008 at 6:36 PM

    Priceless. I like "it drive the fire".

    Once when I was in Japan, a sign in a subway station said, "lay hand on rail".

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  4. The GrandpaNovember 13, 2008 at 6:38 PM

    As opposed to a clerical hand I suppose. ;0)

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  5. QueenBeeingNovember 13, 2008 at 7:06 PM

    LOL...that's hilarious. Thanks for the laugh. You have to wonder who allowed something like that to go to print.

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  6. MartyNovember 13, 2008 at 8:10 PM

    Heck, I think that I saw that very same label in downtown Chicago.

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  7. Feisty CroneNovember 13, 2008 at 10:00 PM

    Too funny. I'd "call up help."

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  8. CloudiaNovember 13, 2008 at 10:14 PM

    This is a good time to share my fantasy: I'd like to take all these instruction sheets and such that are badly translated, and turn them into clear, easy to read English. . . . . I'm wierd, I know!
    I love visitng your blog to laugh & learn; Thanks

    Aloha from Waikiki!

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  9. LillyNovember 13, 2008 at 10:37 PM

    I think after I read the first direction I would become so alarmed I WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO HELP!!!!!!

    Hilarious Grandpa - maybe you could get people to collect signs from all over the world and put them on your site - I am off to Thailand next week so I will see wha ti can find.

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  10. The GrandpaNovember 14, 2008 at 9:27 AM

    Lilly, enjoy your trip, and I'll look forward to seeing what you find.

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  11. BeeNovember 14, 2008 at 1:26 PM

    This reminds me of a hilarious town brochure we picked up in France this summer. You would think that they could hire an English speaker for this sort of thing, wouldn't you?

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  12. The MuseNovember 15, 2008 at 12:05 PM

    In my travels, I have seen many such examples. I always read them with a smile.

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