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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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6

Shanghai Seeks to Stamp Out 'Chinglish' Signs

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(Newser) – Foreign tourists in Shanghai may soon have to go without the amusement of photographing signs in mangled English: City authorities, long embarrassed by the signs, are launching a campaign to root out "Chinglish" ahead of hosting the 2010 World Expo, the BBC reports. Student volunteers will check the city's signs, on the lookout for warnings to "keep valuables snugly" or "bump your head carefully". 

Chinglish on display in Shanghai ranges from the awkward-but-decipherable ("beware the people press close to you designedly") to the woefully mistranslated ("please leave your values at the front desk") to the downright surreal: "If you are stolen, call the police at once." The city hopes it can induce those responsible for the errors to correct them. 

A sign at the entrance of a bathroom in a public building warns
A sign at the entrance of a bathroom in a public building warns "Careful Landslip Attention Security" in Beijing on Aug. 8, 2006.   (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)
A sign in Suzhou points the way to the
A sign in Suzhou points the way to the "Moon Comes With Breeze Pavilion"   (©gwydionwilliams)
A crocodile, as seen in Shanghai
A crocodile, as seen in Shanghai   (©gwydionwilliams)
A traffic sign in Zhejiang province, China
A traffic sign in Zhejiang province, China   (©gwydionwilliams)
A sign in Zhejiang province, China, warns of
A sign in Zhejiang province, China, warns of "warm tips" in the water   (©gwydionwilliams)
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6 comments
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paul123
Aug 25, 09 7:00 AM CDT
why not launch a campaign to have a proper English translation on each sign instead of eliminating the signs completely? Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Aug 25, 09 1:39 PM CDT
I think that's the plan.
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+3
Ucantusethatname
Aug 25, 09 7:24 AM CDT
Nonsense. Insist that all visitors read or learn to read Chinese. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Aug 25, 09 1:40 PM CDT
quell con
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+1
texasaurus
Aug 25, 09 7:28 AM CDT
This would cut down on a great source of entertainment on the web. Check out engrish.com. It's hilarious. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

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