Lost in translation.

[vakkotaur]

One of the items I received for Christmas is daily desk calendar with stupid or at least curious quotations for each day. Today's item is actually three. Three menu items from Asian restaurants, supposedly.

Non-agricultural chemical Rice & Brown Rice

Seems to be a bit too much detail in the translation. Seems like it should be "Organic rice."

Shrimps in Spit

This one is a puzzle.

Bacon and Germs

Well, germ can mean something other than bacteria. Like the germ of an idea, a beginning. Say, the beginning of a bird perhaps. Thus, "Bacon and Eggs"

Probably all fine dishes, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to order the shrimp.

Comments

[ginafae.livejournal.com]

It could be "Shrimps on a Spit" or "Grilled Shrimp"

for other translation sillies, see www.engrish.com

[willowisp.livejournal.com]

Shrimps in Spit

Do they skewer shrimp? Maybe in a shrimp cocktail or something? There were many amusing scenes with everyone's favorite Tanzania mascot and some rabbit which included spits, and maybe the translator thought the term was more common than it actually is.

Bacon and Germs

I would hazard a guess that maybe germ refers to wheat germ, and this is an Americanized Chinese restaurant serving Cream of Wheat™/Farina™ and bacon?

Off-Topic name-geeking

[willowisp.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, are you a Dark Elf fan too?

Re: Off-Topic name-geeking

[ginafae.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes I am!

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Ah, shrimp on a spit is something that hadn't occurred to me.

My favorite bit from engrish.com isn't pictured, alas. As I recall it was girl in Hong Kong who was wearing a t-shirt that read "I trusted the government. Now my balls glow in the dark." What I find amusing is how the text still works, and even works better at making its point.

[verypinkygirl.livejournal.com]

Jrrrrrrms.

-- VPG