Customer Service

A sign in Beijing’s airport says, “Careful Landslip Attention Security.” With the Olympics coming to Beijing in 2008 and over 500,000 foreigners, officials promise to take care of the bad grammar according to this CNN article. They’ve gone so far to ask for help from the public to watch for poor grammar. Other poorly translated signs:

• On a billboard, “Shangri-La is in you mind, but your Buffalo is not.”

• In an elevator, “Please lead your child to tare the life.”

• Danwei (top 10 volunteer for helping correct poorly worded signs) has a photo of a sign that says, “Racist park.” Yikes! Beijing International explains it’s the Park of Chinese Ethnic Minorities along the Fourth Ring Road in Beijing.

• “Oil Gate,” “Parking this way,” “Export” and “Goods Return” from CCTV.

This podcast with David Tool, also known as Du Danwei, discusses his helping with English and putting the spotlight on the issue of more wheelchair accessibility.