Chinese Ban "Chinglish" For Olympics

Beijing Authorities Are Cracking Down On Poor Grammar On Signs And In Taxis

(AP)  Along with spitting, run-down housing and bad manners, add unintelligible English to the list of things organizers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics want to ban.

Municipal officials promised Wednesday to crack down on awkward, Chinese-inflected English, known as "Chinglish," and asked the public to help police bad grammar and faulty syntax.

With 500,000 foreigners expected for the Olympics, taxi drivers who can't speak English — or signs that mangle the language — could be an embarrassment and distract from the $40 billion being poured into rebuilding the city for the Games.

Throughout the city, examples abound.

A store selling tobacco products advertises: "An Excellent Winding Smoke."

On the floor at Beijing's Capital Airport, a sign reads: "Careful Landslip Attention Security."

On a billboard this mysterious message: "Shangri-La is in you mind, but your buffalo is not."

In an elevator, parents are warned: "Please lead your child to tare the life."

Liu Yang, who heads the "Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Program" for the city government, said 6,500 "standardized" English-language signs were put up last year on Beijing roads. But he acknowledged private businesses were not following the rules, which were handed to reporters — a stack of glossy documents weighing two pounds.

"We will pass the message on to authorities in the advertising sector," Liu said. "If English translation is needed, it must be subject to the standards set forth in the regulations."

Liu said a language hotline may be set up for the Games to encourage the public to report nonsense English. China's diplomatic missions abroad are assisting, Liu said, "and our people working in foreign companies are helping with correct usage."

"In the future when we set up new signs in public places in English, we hope all these standards will be followed to avoid more additional mistakes."

Liu said Beijing taxi drivers must pass an English test to keep their license. But he admitted most speak only Chinese, and many are skipping language classes.

"The taxi training courses are not working effectively, and there is a problem of taxi drivers missing classes," he said. "Taxi drivers need to get their licenses renewed every year, and an English test is now part of that that exam. But the exam is not so difficult."

"Some taxi drivers do speak some English, and that's a big change from the past," Liu added. "But the overall level still needs to improve. Some taxi drivers speak no English; they understand no English."

Despite the problems, Liu said 33 percent of Beijing's 15 million residents speak some English, a claim that was challenged by a local reporter from China's state-run CCTV.

"I think 5 million is a big number," the reporter told Liu.

Liu stood by the figure, but acknowledged the vast majority of the English speakers fell into a category he labeled "low level."

"They can have very simply conversations, like: 'Who am I? Where am I going?'"

[clevercandi]

Wow! A country that feels an obligation to assist foreigners by applying their home language to billboards, road signs, etc. What's next? Press 1 for Chinese, 2 for English...??? ;-)

[adventurepa]

Guess these guys never read the directions in anything from China before?
"press two for "ing-rish"."
It's better then trying to understand ebonics.
Those sign's would make for a good "lettermen" spot.

[acauble1]

1. The taxi cab drivers in Beijing couldn't be any harder to understand than the taxi cab drivers in New York City, Los Angeles, or any other major AMERICAN city!

2. Anyone who has ever tried to translate instruction manuals from products made in China will feel right at home with some of the 'Chinglish' signs in Beijing.

3. If only the illegal immigrants from Mexico could take as much care in trying to learn/adapt to the English language as the Chinese are doing.

[briannorwood]

To our Chinese hosts, I say..

"Me thankee you"

from the bottom of my heart.

[laorendavid]

%u65E5%u540E%u6211%u8BF4%u8BDD%u6F02%u4EAE. (Someday me talk pretty.)

[laorendavid]

Gee...what's this? CBS comments section can't display a foreign language? Shucks! What's this world coming to?

The "giberish" should have said "Ri Hou Wo Shuo Hua Piao Liang." :-)

[asianrose-2009]

Wow, they shouldn't have to make this effort- ever tried translating something into Chinese?

[asianrose-2009]

he "giberish" should have said "Ri Hou Wo Shuo Hua Piao Liang." :-)


Yeah, flowers are really pretty.

[acauble1]

www.engrish.com

The website says it all.

[kencon28]

Press 1 for english
2 for spanish
3 chinese
4 for ebonics
0 if totally Illiterate

[inventagod]

"%u65E5%u540E%u6211%u8BF4%u8BDD%u6F02%u4E
AE. (Someday me talk pretty.)
Posted by laorendavid at 04:57 PM : Apr 11, 2007"

Haha - you are probably are responsible for the CBS censor drinking themselves under the tabe this evening...

Yes, indeed - visit Engrish.com
A funny website

[mikys-2009]

Gees people can you not just give them some credit for doing something to make your travels easier? And what's with the taunting?

[eccentric506]

We should not shrink to the level of the Chinese Government. Back many years ago English was appointed the National Language--only beating out German by one vote.. If English is the official language of our government why should we kotow to the will of the illegal immigrants.
NOTE--ILLEGAL (look it up or Google it)

Why are we forcing Spanish into our culture. Why are some school districs displaying Mexican Flags and yet discouraging display of American Flags. Think on this awhile.

[hawksprings]

www.engrish.com

The website says it all.
Posted by acauble1


YOU GOTTA CHECK THAT SITE OUT, IT'S HYSTERICAL!!!!!!

[sevenveils]

I think Engrish.com is a hostile site. It tried to start instant messenger

[rainyday9]

We are going to China and THEY are learning English... and WE are laughing at them? I expect people who come here to speak English. If you don't know it, learn it. I don't like to push 1 to get my OWN language! So, the Chinese are going one step further than I care to... I don't speak a word of Spanish and I don't care to learn.

I give the folks in Beijing a lot of credit! I don't think the government should MAKE them learn English. Too bad our own government does not make it mandatory to learn English a LITTLE, if you choose to live here and collect benefits...

[rainyday9]

And one more thing... I can understand the Chinese people in our local Chinese eatery, MUCH better than I understood the woman who answered the phone from my satellite dish company. Ever tried calling the phone or cable company, (or your MasterCard), and actually getting someone who can pronounce your name and speak English? I'm tired of someone who can't speak enough English to pronounce my (easy) name correctly, calling my home at dinner time to sell me vacations.