Strange Signs
The following are a list of strange signs, in English, from around the world:
Private school:
NO TRESPASSING WITHOUT PERMISSION.
Hotel bedroom, Japan:
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR!S IN BED.
Doctor's surgery, Rome:
SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.
Cocktail lounge, Norway:
LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR.
Hotel, Acapulco:
THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE.
Zoo, Hungary:
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.
Restaurant, Nairobi:
CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER.
Car rental brochure, Tokyo:
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 VIGOUR.
River highway:
TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE.
Poster:
ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP.
Restaurant:
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WEEKENDS TOO.
Maternity ward:
NO CHILDREN ALLOWED.
Cemetery
PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES.
Hotel bedroom, Thailand:
PLEASE DO NOT BRING SOLICITORS INTO YOUR ROOM.
Hotel bedroom, Japan:
YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID.
From the Soviet Weekly:
THERE WILL BE A MOSCOW EXHIBITION OF ARTS BY 15,000 SOVIET REPUBLIC PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS. THESE WERE EXECUTED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
Laundry, Rome:
LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD TIME.
Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?
Hotel bedroom, Moscow:
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE USSR, YOU ARE WELCOME TO IT.
Dentist's advertisement, Hong Kong:
TEETH EXTRACTED BY THE LATEST METHODISTS.
Airline, Copenhagen:
WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
.Discussion Questions
1. Which sign did you like the best?
2. Do you understand all the signs? Which ones are difficult?
3. Do you think any of the humor in these signs was deliberate?
4. Do you think people would actually take the signs the wrong way? Which ones?
5. What do you think is the main mistake that the writers made?
6. Which of the signs would you put into these categories: unintended meaning (double entendre), grammatical errors, thoughtless writing, incorrect word choice, just plain strange.
7. It is not clear where some of the signs are from. In which countries do you think they were found?
8. If you were given license to take advantage of the chambermaid, would you? Does it depend on the chambermaid? J
9. In which countries would you expect to find the funniest English?
10. Have you seen any strange English signs in Korea?
11. Have you seen any strange English in other countries?
12. Have you heard any strange Korean from foreigners?