Unit One Travel Language

Karsten Schmidt

Introduction to the author

A Chief Executive Officer.Founded one of the oldest Contract Research Organizations in Europe in 1971.The company is reorganized in 1996.

Warming-up activities Nowadays, some scholars suggest that the

Chinese language should be purified because it is being seriously contaminated. Do you agree with them? Why? Or why not?

Can you give examples around you of misuse of English?

　　 Don't forget to take your thing. = Don't forget your personal belongings.

　　 Visit in civilisation, pay attention to hygiene! = Attention to visitors: Be civilised and keep the public places hygiene.

　　 Deformed man toilet. （字面意义：变形的人厕所） = Public toilet for the disabled （残疾人厕所） .

　　 Carefully meet ( 字面意义：小心翼翼的见面 ) = Watch your head ( 小心碰头——注意不要撞到头 )

　　 Crippled restroom. = Public toilet for the disabled （残疾人厕所） .

　　

When you across hard you can ring TEL ( 号码 ). = In case of emergency, please call ( 号码 ).

　　 Danger! Inhibition astraddle transgress. = Danger! No entry.（危险！不准进入）

　　 X Bank Haikou Cent Company = X Bank Shaoguan Branch.（某银行海口分公司）

　　 To run business = Open. （营业中）

　　 Drink tea （字面意义：喝茶） = Closed. （休息中）

　　 Many Function Hall （多功能厅，字面意义：很多功能大厅）（上海） = Multifunctional Hall

A brief introduction of the text In this present text, the author quoted many of the

English used in different countries he once saw. Although English used in different countries is somewhat differs from its original meaning; yet the author considers that such English he saw when traveling to other countries may help the development of the English language. He also humorously uses those examples to show his point of view that Communication is more important than the purification of the English language

Structure of the text Part One (paragraph 1—2) The author contracts the attitude of the French

and English-speaking people toward keeping their mother tongue “pure”.

Part Two (paragraph 3—15) Lots of examples of the abuse of English language

in foreign countries. Part three ( the last paragraph ) Conclusion: Communication is more important

than the purification of the English language.

Language Points First paragraph 1.The law covers even technical

applications(lines4-5 paragraph 1) ----The law even describes regulations for

technical terms. 法律内容甚至涉及到专业术语

2. The list is very long and detailed and applies to all facets of life.(line 7 paragraph 1)

----The word list is very long and detailed, covering all aspects of life.

这类例子不胜个枚，涉及到生话的方方面面

The mind boggles at what the world might face.( line 10-11 paragraph 1)

Boggle at---be baffled or startled He boggles at the thought of swimming in winter.

--- People find it difficult to imagine what change may happen to French.

人们觉得将来的法语会变成什么个样子

Quite apart from the unforgivable deviations from the King’s English prevalent in America.(line 2-3, paragraph 2)

----the king’s English (also known as the queen’s English ) refers to British spoken or written English that is considered the standard of good usage..

----Very different from the unacceptable changes from British English popular in American English

5.…It could be argued that the British speak English with a speech deficiency.(lines 10-11, paragraph 2 )

---It could be argued that when British people speak English, they may use some nonstandard English.( lacking some words or use incomplete English.)

6. Anyone…and indeed in everyday life can testify that what used to be the king’s lingo has become in these places a poor relation thereof.(lines 1—4, paragraph 3)

---In daily life, everyone can find proof that standard English has changed in theses places and may consider a lesser version of the language..

7.The travel writer Perrot Phillips has taken pains to highlight some of his experiences, which I could feel should not be withheld from a wider readership.(lines1—3 paragraph 4 )

----A wider readership---a bigger audiences than only those who have read his book.

----take pains to do something---make great effort to do something E.G She took great pains to conceal this from her parents. ----withhold---refuse to grant or give E.G I decided to withhold the information till later.

----The travel writer Perrot Phillips has made great efforts to describe some of his specific experiences, to which I think more reader should be exposed.

旅行作家波洛菲利普曾不惜笔墨地宣染自己的几番经历，我觉得该有更多的读者了解一下

8. He refers to a Dutch bulb catalogue which promised customers “ a speedy execution” and to an East Berlin cloakroom sign that requested guests to “ please hang yourself here.”(lines 3—5, paragraph 4)

----He talks about a Dutch light bulb catalogue which promised customers fast action by saying “a speedy execution” which can mislead people by making them think they will be put to death quickly. He also mentions a cloakroom sign in East Berlin “ please hang yourself here” which means “please kill yourself here by hanging.” to English speakers.

9.To these I can add some of my own experience, encountered in long years of traveling the world.(lines 1—2, paragraph 5)

---To these examples mentioned above, I can add my own which I saw when I traveled around the world.

10. There was , for example, the observation in an Ostend novelty shop that “revolting new ideas” were being marketed, and the boast of some Bombay bakers that “we are NO 1 loafers, best value in whole town.(lines 2—5 paragraph 5)

Novelty shop-----a shop that sells new and unusual items

-For example I noticed a novelty shop advertising their “revolting new ideas” which can mean “disgusting new ideas” literally and some Bombay bakers advertising by saying “We are No. 1 loafers, best value in whole town” which can mean “We are the laziest, the best in the whole town.

例洳，奥斯坦德一家精品店正古宣扬其货品立意新颖，却用了令人作呕的立意，孟买的几家糕饼屋也鼓吹自己是头号游手好闲者，可是其本意是要宣称自己的糕饼全市第一

11. I realize how far Christianity had come when I read in Hong Kong the following call by a dentist.(line 1—2 paragraph 6 )

----I realize how influential Christianity had been when I read in Hong Kong the following expression by a dentist.( Methodists are a Protestant Christian sect)

我并不知道基督教的影响如此之广，直到我看刭香港一位牙医的宣传了解

12. I feel quite strongly, however, that the Haifa Medical Association should have prevented one of its members from claiming on his brass plate..(lines 3—7 paragraph 7 )

----I most certainly think it is very likely that the Haifa Medical association should have kept one of its members from asserting on his brass plat 我很肯定的认为海法医学会应绝对阻止其会员挂这样的铜招牌

13.Hotels seem to revel in their multilingual signs. (line 1 paragraph 8 )

-----Hotels seem to love to give signs in different languages.

14. One supposes these signs were designed to facilitate the use of modern services in otherwise sterile and barely functional establishments.(lines 1—3 paragraph 8 )

Facilitate---make easy or easier; help forward; promote E.G The friendly contact between different people facilitate the

cultural interchange ------People believe that the purposes of these signs are to help

guests to use modern equipment, and that without these signs , the hotel might seem boring and useless.

.

15. Nevertheless, the unsuspecting guest confronted in a Brussels hotel with the following instruction for the use of the lift might well prefer to walk.( line 3—6 paragraph 8 )

---- But the inexperienced guests seeing in Brussels hotel advice for using the lift might choose to walk…

16. The less sophisticated notice in Istanbul—at least does not confront the guests with electronics that might not always work.(lines 10—14 paragraph 8 )

---The less complex notice in Istanbul…at least won’t make guests trouble with electronics that may not work.

17. In Turkey, the delight in “straight talk” expresses itself in the by-now-famous Ankara brochure…(lines 1—2 paragraph 9 )

--- In Turkey, the joy in “ direct talk “ reveals itself in now popular Ankara pamphlet…

在土耳其，人们对直言不讳的喜爱在一个远迁闻名的安卡拉导游册中得到充分的体现

18. A Note on a Swiss menu that “ our wines leave nothing to hope for” was equally inviting.(lines 3—5, paragraph 9 )

---A note on a Swiss menu saying “ our wines make you want no other wines” ,meaning “ our wines are the best of the best” was also tempting.

19 ． Eastern European courtesies have never left the once grand hotels of the former Austro-Hungarian empire.( lines1—2 paragraph 10 )

In the former grand hotels of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Eastern European courtesies still exist. The misunderstanding of a note that guests can have sexual relations with the maids from 12-14 o’clock might cause many people to stand in line, causing the corridors to be blocked. In fact it means chambermaids are not busy from 12-14 o’clock.

一则旅馆房间告示上写着诚邀尊贵客人在十二点到十四点之间占客房女服务员的便宜，然而，这可能造成意外的交通阻塞

21. A recent Moscow exhibition’s announcement drew attention to “a showing of 300 paintings by Russian artists, most of whom were executed in the last ten years”---hardly a welcoming thought to the occasional visitor.(lines 5—8, paragraph 10 )

---Recently people paid attention to the words from Moscow exhibition’s announcement: an exhibit of 300 paintings by Russian artists, most of them were put to death in the last ten years”—hardly a pleasant thought to tourists.

最近的一次莫斯科油画展也未能让偶尔光顾者欣然前往，根据其告示，画展将展出俄罗斯艺术家的三百幅作品，他们中的大部分人在过去十年中已被处死

22.—could also be seen as an invitation to extracurricular activities in that Far Eastern capital of fun.(line 2—3, paragraph 11 )

------could also be regarded as an invitation to get involved in some sexual activities in that Far Eastern capital of pleasure.

23. The German preoccupation with Majorca led a Munich night club to copy a trilingual Palma announcement that dancing was going on in what is indeed a surprising way.( lines 2—5 paragraph 13 )

The Germen’s love of Majorca made a Munich night club imitate a trilingual Palm announcement that dancing was going on in an usual way.

在德国，人们对马略卡舞极为痴迷，以至于慕尼黑的一家夜总会直接田了帕尔马的一则三语告示舞蹈正以一种不寻常的方式在进行中

24. we are spared the upper Bavarian version of the activity.( line7 paragraph 13)

---We are saved from learning the upper Bavarian dance

25. I am told that for the otherwise unsuspecting tourist. The following sign could proved a real crowd puller. (lines 1---2 paragraph 15 )

----I am told that apart from the unsuspecting tourist, the following sign could attract lots of readers.

26….Unprotected as our language is from the interference of emerging and ambitious entrepreneurs.( lines 2—3 paragraph 16 )

unguarded as our language is from the influence of new and bold business person.

由干刻意进取的企业家的大量涌现，不加防范的英浯会有越来越多的版本