الحكومة الصينية تكافح الترجمة الركيكة

Hello and Welcome to BBC Xtra English!

Today John and Liliane talk about the misuse of the English language in China.

In China, it is common to find street signs and public notices written incorrectly in English – or ‘Chinglish’ – the term used to describe this bizarre combination of English and Chinese.

The local government in Shanghai, has ordered a crackdown on Chinglish. This is in preparation for the World Expo which the city will host in 2010.

Cracking down on these badly written signs, which often produce hilarious results, is Shanghai’s attempt to spruce up its image.

There is a system in place in order to make this happen.

Student volunteers will check the English on signs across the city, and report any inaccurate translations.

They will act as English language vigilantes!

In the programme, John and Liliane explain how ‘Chinglish’ came about. It is all to do with computer software.

Online sites and software programmes that perform translations are often to blame for such mistakes, mistranslating crucial words.

Examples of these translations are sometimes surreal, particularly if the meaning is reversed.

For instance, “If you are stolen, please call the police at once!”.

Chinglish
كلمة تعني الترجمة الركيكة من اللغة الصينية إلى اللغة الإنجليزية

hilarious results
نتائج مضحكة

spruce up your image
تحسين صورتك

English language vigilantes
فرق لمكافحة ركاكة اللغة الإنجليزية

computer software
برنامج كمبيوتر

deliberately
عن عمد

valuables
الممتلكات الشخصية الثمينة

reversed
معكوس

surreal
عبثي

What are your views on this story? Have you spotted inaccurately written signs in English in your country?

Let us know! Write to us in English.