Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad

by Charlie Croker

In today's world no self-respecting English-language enthusiast could have failed to notice the frequent and flagrant abuse of our native tongue by pesky foreigners? (Forgetting, for a moment, the fact that many nations speak our language better than we do.) Lost in Translation features hundreds of genuine, original and utterly ridiculous examples of the misadventures in English discovered all over the world by the author and his intrepid team of researchers. Everything from hotel signs to baffling advertisements, such as the German beauty product offering a 'Cream shower for pretentious skin' or the Japanese bar that boasts 'Special cocktails for ladies with nuts', or the French warning at a swimming pool - 'Swimming is forbidden in the absence of the saviour.' Published in paperback for the first time this autumn, Lost in Translation demonstrates how widely the English language has travelled, though unfortunately some of it seems to have got a bit scrambled en route.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Language, Linguistics, Comedy, Travel

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) This has had us in tears of laughter. It’s about how English is misused abroad, e.g. on signs, instructions and marketing on packages. China and Japan are the worst repeat offenders, but there are hilarious examples from all around the world. Croker has divided the book into thematic chapters, so the weird translated phrases and downright gobbledygook are grouped around topics like food, hotels and medical advice. A lot of times you can see why the mistakes came about, through the choice of almost-but-not-quite-right synonyms or the literal interpretation of a saying, but sometimes the mind just boggles. Two of my favorites were (in an Austrian hotel) “Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension” and (on a menu in Macao) “Utmost of chicken fried in bother.”

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that because Charlie Croker's Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad is ABSOLUTELY THE SAME with regard to the presented and featured "bad translation" examples as his Screwed Up English: Twisted Translations of the English Language from Around the World, I am simply going to be using one review (but of course with the corresponding titles and with Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad being a bit shorter) for both books (for heck, if Charlie Croker can be lazy, so can I). And no, I will also not likely ever going to bother with either Croker's Still Lost In Translation or his Utterly Lost in Translation: Even More Misadventures in English Abroad either, as I am seriously thinking that there will not likely be anything even remotely original or interesting presented in Still Lost In Translation and in Utterly Lost in Translation: Even More Misadventures in English Abroad, but just re-hashings of Charlier Croker's prior tomes.

Charlie Croker's Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad most definitely starts out as being majorly fun and entertaining. And yes, I certainly was (and remain) laughing and often even rather loudly snorting at the oh so many strange and ridiculous translations of the English language from around the world I have encountered in Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad, but with me furthermore also very much appreciating that Croker has equally (even if not as all encompassingly) included examples from the United Kingdom and the USA, that Charlie Croker clearly shows in Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad that those of us who speak English as our first language (our so called mother tongue) still and also have the tendency to mangle English and to say and write ads, warnings, texts that can only be considered as being at best bloopers. And indeed, this fact in my humble opinion totally and thankfully renders Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad (and of course also Charlie Croker himself) as being much more inclusive than similar translation-themed tomes which basically often only seem to focus on "foreigners" horribly translating their languages into English and thus always for and to me feel even when I am finding the presented examples amusing and engaging denigrating and insulting).

But even though the examples provided by Charlie Croker are funny and often really massively so, the fact that Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad basically provides just lists, lists and more lists of weird and screwy translation examples and nothing more than that, this does (at least for me) get a bit tedious and dragging. And while I read the first fifty odd pages of Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad in about half an hour, for the rest of Lost In Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad I was finding the similarity of the examples (everything being same old same old) often totally boring and as such not all that much a reading pleasure.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book just as my husband fell asleep beside me.
He was not amused when I woke him up with my giggles which quickly turned into uncontrollable laughter. I was given the book by one of my Japanese EFL students who had found it funny and was proud that his English was such that he could correct the errors. As a native English speaker who has attempted to learn Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Japanese with varying degrees of success, which included making gaffes not unlike those in this book, I found it light-hearted and thoroughly amusing. I hope there are foreign language versions of our attempts at foreign languages. Laughter is the best medicine.
So read it and laugh!

[Rox An · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost in Translation is a collection of English mistakes culled from signages, travel brochures, and product labels as seen by Charlie Croker from his many travels across the globe.

I had a few laughs initially but it got boring after a few pages. It's a book not to be taken seriously. Read it then forget about it. If I want to read something similar I only have to walk out my house and read pirated DVD labels. I don't have to buy one either.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an amusing enough read but not nearly as funny or hilarious as the reviews said it was. What really bothered me is that the book contains quite a few inaccuracies (there's no such city as Algericas in Spain, it's Algeciras), translation mistakes of its own ("pâté de maison in France", I don't think so!) and that some of the supposedly "hilarious" translations are only funny if you're ignorant of the culture & uses of the concerned country (the fact that no children are allowed in maternity wards in Kenya -it's the same in France- isn't funny at all, it's to prevent the spreading of bacteria, viruses, etc to newborn babies). It's quite ironic that a book written to make fun of others' mistakes can boast quite a few mistakes of its own...

[katayoun Masoodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

travel brochure:
If we are lucky we will see duck boys home, men massaging their cocks on the road, cow boys taking grass. Yes it is a wonderful experience. :)

and then there is this, which i love. it's so beautiful and lyrical and one hopes that they really meant it to sound that way,

Chinese sign:
Little grass is smiling slightly, please walk on the pavement.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It made me laugh tears at times and made for a great hour of reading, but it's not without its faults.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

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"

[Andy N · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amused as we re by other nations' fumblings with our language, we should never forget their English is indefinitely better than our Thai/Polish/Vietnamese. Indeed, sometimes it's better than our English. — Charlie Croker

Oh wow, this book is just kinda insulting. Or stupid I'm not entirely sure which. Cards on the table I borrowed this from the library unseen and it's not what I was looking for. But that does not forgive ignorance. It may be my Australian upbringing or the time I've spent in fandom around people who speak English as a 3rd or 4th language but most of these were at best nit-picking some were saying exactly what they wanted to, needed to. Because they aren't aimed at the everyday traveller they are aimed at professionals. My favourite in the whole book just feels so Australian it made me laugh.

Indian National Park
NOTICE:
Ramganga River is inhabited by crocodiles.
Swimming is prohibited.
Survivors will be prosecuted

And I'm sorry that is just objectively funny and makes a point. Swim with the crocodiles you get what you deserve and if they don't get you, we will. My Australian self loves this shit and we purposefully write signs like this. A whole lot of the others were easily understandable, in context I doubt people would see some of them. Words like auto are standard in German culture for car. There are some disclaimers in the introductions but I only continued reading this to see how frustrated it could make me (it is a very short book), the answer very. Don't get me wrong I understand the concept and I don't have that but I don't like the willful ignorance and the willful misinterpretation of culture in the submissions. Just because you wouldn't write it like that doesn't mean it isn't still good English.

I apologise to anyone who does like this book. I cannot say enough how much I wish I hadn't read this. But I know people who would really enjoy it, particularly those who travel a lot who have seen these in the wild. I would not recommend it to people who've spent time learning cultural tolerance and empathy, you will likely get as frustrated as I did.

A representative gif:

[Scuffed Granny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Communication is key, they say, and never has this been more plainly shown than in Charlie Croker's collection of weird translations, gathered together by him, having been corralled in his direction by the intrepid explorers who made these linguistic discoveries on their individual travels.

There are a variety of different sources for the mistranslations contained in this book from signage at tourist spots to menu items, to airport directions and airplane brochures and I have to say that at times, it makes for amusing reading. It's also a little uncomfortable too, or at least it was for me, as I felt like I was making fun of my neighbours behind their back even when they've proved to be good-natured and well meaning. However, that being said, I did manage to get over that and chuckled my way heartily through most of the book, even occasionally laughing out loud.

This is a dipper, designed to tickle. Split into different sections, with witty titles to give you an idea of what is contained therein, like Plane Speaking or Eating your Words or Driven to Distraction (I'm sure that you don't need me to explain these), we are treated to such delights of misinterpretation as:

On a hotel television set, Belgrade, Serbia:
If set breaks, inform manager. Do not interfere with yourself.

A strange prospect indeed and I'm not sure how the two are linked.

And:

Leipzig, Germany:
Ladies, please rinse out your teapots standing upside down in sink. In no event should hot bottoms be placed on counter.

I mean, we all stand upside down in the sink to rinse teapots, don't we? I don't know another way. And that line about hot bottoms? Heaven forbid! My hot bottom will definitely not stray to a countertop!

And so, the book progresses, taking examples, innocently translated and hilariously interpreted.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book but if I'm honest, some of it was less funny and more baffling in its content and towards the end, I was starting to feel a little tired of the whole thing but it did provide me with amusement and for that, it deserves praise. I'm not sure I'd read another although I am sure that the world is brimming over with more of the same but for a light-hearted read with wit, it was good.

It was certainly a lesson in how you may know a different language but can you actually say you are fluent?

[Rachael Hewison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this whilst sat waiting for a flight so it felt like a very appropriate book!

It was a bit of a mixed bag really. Some were so funny I found myself laughing out loud and getting some very funny looks off people. Others weren't that funny.

I didn't think the cartoons added anything and I would have preferred it had the book been pictures of the signs, rather than just a written description. I'm also not sure whether this book is relevant anymore since we can find this kind of thing easily on the internet now.

A funny book but not one I'd look at again.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of these humorous books about mistakes made by people who aren't as proficient in English, there's a whiff of guilt at the idea of making fun of foreigners, exacerbated by the relatively low level of proficiency I have in languages other than English (even having years of teaching in French, Latin, and Russian at school far too long ago). The hit rate of funny is higher than in many of these collections. The cartoons are superfluous.

[Antonio Gallo · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Traduttore traditore", ma qui non si tratta di tradimenti. Qui, oltre alla grammatica, si ignorano anche gli usi, i costumi, le situazioni, il contesto, la cultura. Il libro contiene una lunga lista di frasi ad effetto rintracciate dall'autore in tutto il mondo. Un libretto utile anche per gli insegnanti di inglese che credono di sapere questa lingua ma ne sanno ben poco ...

[Irene ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

Nairobi, Kenya:
Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.

Chinese sign:
Little grass is smiling slightly,
please walk on the pavement.

[Miia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Kyltti vuokra-autossa Tokiossa, Japanissa: When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor."

Niitä harvoja kertoja, kun toisten mokille on ihan ok nauraa vedet silmissä.

[Pauline B · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rose Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

['ö-Dzin Tridral · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of English language errors made by people whose first language isn't English. It made me appreciate the fact that the writers had some English, and that many people who speak English as a first language have no other language at all.

[Beachcomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Niina Niemispelto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny, but not ha-ha funny

[Becky Skillin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inappropriate. Hee hee.

[Allen Radtke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flawed, but amusing.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all! This book is laugh-out-loud hilarious! Here's a quote from the book as an example: Thailand (offering donkey rides) Would you like to ride on your own ass?

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL, the funniest 176 pages for an Audiobook on CD!!!!!!!!!!! From 2006!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So!!!!!!!!!! Fucking!!!!!! Magical!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for the loo, full of bizarre usages of English from around the world.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

very funny but it gets boring after a while

[Sherry Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and interesting.

[Katca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Väga naljakas lugemine.

[Tom B · Rating 2 out of 5]

It made me chuckle, but that's it.