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May 14, 2003

English as She are Spoke

[Ed: The uncorrected title read "English as She is Spoke". Thanks MommaBear for noticing it...]

I often see things circulating the net with examples of bad English usage from round the world. While funny, they can be explained by considering that English is not the first language of the people concerned. Our attempts to convert English into their languages are probably just as funny. However, the attached items of strange English are examples found in London. In many cases, the author of the sign or note was trying to use the correct phrase but it just didn't work. This was from Patrick in England:

Spotted in a toilet of a London office: TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEPLADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a second-hand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE FIRST FLOOR

Notice in a field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES

Message on a leaflet: IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON DOOR - BELL DOESN'T WORK)

Posted by Peskie at May 14, 2003 12:00 PM

Comments

If MB remembers correctly, that header phrase should read:

English As She Are Spoke!

Posted by: MommaBear at June 21, 2003 08:06 AM

[...] le about costs of going to a laundromat nsw” then the very second entry is a link to G’day Mate! » English as She are Spoke. So what, [...]

Posted by: G'day Mate! » Costs of going to a laundromat nsw at June 21, 2003 08:06 AM