Translation Titillation

I am sure everyone is familiar with the often hilarious signs here in the Far East, so there’s not point in belabouring that point (except to mention that my favourite is “Fall carefully” instead of “Be careful, floor slippery”).

But sometimes the odd Chinese to English dictionaries work in our favour and we get wonderful moments that would not happen in the West because the words are too odd, too informal, or too strange.

On the MTR last night I paused to read the little warning signs posted by the doors. The very first item was
“No hullabaloo allowed”

Stop for a second and read that again. Let that beautiful and euphonius word roll around before you let it finally go with the final vowels. If that doesn’t make you happy, you have no appreciation for language.

Now imagine finding that anywhere else.

It’s the little things that can endear a city to you.