RE: Tech writers: our pathetic lives

["Ladonna Weeks" <ladonna -dot- weeks -at- comtrak -dot- com>]

About 15 years ago, a colleague and I (both technical writers) were in Japan
on business. We were there for five weeks and we spent a lot of our free
time in stores looking at examples of "Engrish" and cracking up. Talk about
pathetic lives.

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Murri [mailto:kmurri -at- comcast -dot- net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:29 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Tech writers: our pathetic lives

(Sorry about the premature send.)

I find it hard to believe this list has been introduced to one of my
favorite web-sites yet, but just in case you haven't. I think you'll like
this. Give yourself some time to look around and prepare yourself for sore
stomach and cheek muscles from laughing.

www.engrish.com

Here's one of my favorites:

http://engrish.com/detail.php?imagename=dragonballtoy.jpg&category=Instructi
ons&date=2002-10-07

Enjoy,
Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+kmurri=comcast -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kmurri=comcast -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Joe Malin
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 6:07 PM
To: Evans, Diane L (Rosetta); techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Tech writers: our pathetic lives

I don't notice this problem all that much. Not that it doesn't *exist*, I
just don't notice it.

After all, I live in the Silicon Valley. The writing by "educated"
people is bad enough. I don't have time to worry about the ordinary store
signs.

On the other hand, I once worked in software localization. I know several
languages, and I also know the terrors of translating into English.
Furthermore, I did a lot of traveling overseas. My colleagues used to tease
me about my outrage over "English" translations (or lack
thereof) I encountered. Somewhere I have a large photo collection of
howlers, some of them taken from quite prestigious institutions like the
Louvre!

Something like "Pour plusiers reseignements, allez a la..." "For more
information, go at the cashier" (you'll pardon my memory, it was a while
ago).

Just because you know English, doesn't mean you can write. And just because
you know your native language and English, doesn't mean you're qualified to
translate from one to the other.

Joe

Joe Malin
Technical Writer
(408)625-1623
jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com
www.tuvox.com
The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not
necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc.	
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Evans, Diane L (Rosetta)
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 10:55 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Tech writers: our pathetic lives

>New theme: Let's all see if we can "out pathetic" each other on our 
>anal-retentive tendencies.

My mind visibly hurts when I look at some store signs, such as
"Sandwitches."  (Of course, that also brings up humorous beach pictures). 

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