The Internet abounds with examples of “Engrish”—signs, menus, and other writing, poorly translated into English. For example:
- “Carefully slip and fall down.”
- “Please present your octopus.”
- “If you are stolen, call the police at once.”
Although English speakers find these amusing, did you ever stop to think that it works both ways—that non-English speakers might get a laugh from writing that is poorly translated from English? I’ll spare you the suspense: Yes.