Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad - Softcover

Croker, Charlie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1741730066 ISBN 13: 9781741730067

Publisher: Callistemon Books, 2007

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review:

"Croker amusingly highlights the mounting slush pile of
communicative catastrophe" -- Scotland on Sunday, 1 Oct 06

"a wonderful collection of recent outrageous howlers from all
over the world" -- Irish Independent, 28 Sept 06

"too funny for public transport" -- Sunday Times Travel Magazine, December 06

a hilarious new book Lost in Translation is a collection of
linguistic lunacy from around the world. -- Sunday Mail, 8 Oct 06

the book which is registering highest on the giggleometer this
autumn is Charlie Croker's wonderfully funny Lost in Translation... -- THE Book Magazine, Oct 06

very funny... beautifully illustrated -- The Spectator, 2 Dec 06

From the Publisher:

In A Japanese hire care:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn

In A Yugoslavian hotel room:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid

On a Japanese teabag:
Do not wet with water

On a French menu:
An extract of fowl, peached or sunside up

On A Chinese candle:
Keep this candle out of children

In a Norwegian bar:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar

About this edition

• Publisher: Callistemon Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1741730066
• ISBN 13: 9781741730067
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176