22 July 2009

Confusing Photo of the Week #2


This gem was taken about 10 months ago near Chiang Mai in Thailand. At a government run site.

I looked at this sign, my eyes slowly widening with horror as I realized that they meant "Disabled Toilet." Sean likes to focus on the "totlet" part of this photo, but I actually think that that sullies the joke, diverts your attention away from the fact that they are calling them "Lamers."

Engrish is everywhere in Asia, poorly spelled or bizarrely articulated English translations that you sometimes have to sound out loud to decipher their meaning. But this? Come on.

Maybe an office drone on the planning committee was like "Hey, um, do you think that we should consult a native English speaker for this one? We are the government afterall, and I'm sure that the guys down at the British Consulate (or the pub) could help us out..."

To which his boss replied "Connsarnit Santichai, we have had this cotton pickin' conversation too many times - quit trying to bamboozle me! Stop flapping your gums! I'm the Big Cheese around here, and I'm going to keep using this Insensitive 1920's Old-Timey English/Thai Dictionary until the cows come home- it's the bee's knees. That's enough tomfoolery! Scram you cad, or I will beat you until you are a lamer yourself!"

Indeed.

27 comments:

A-Jester said...

HEy really nice one I almost fell off laughing

S. A. Lytle said...

I can't decide if that's funny or offensive. Mom's a 'lamer'. We can ask her.

debbie said...

just found your blog, pics are great, brings back memories of all my travels.... yes I remember those kind of signposts in Thailand. Keep writing!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, that is terrible!! Hopefully most people would shake their head with a good sense of humor and realize the ignorance behind the sign. I am glad I came across your blog as you won blog of note:) I am enjoying reading through your travel extravaganzas. I would love to add one another as followers:) Let me know:)! And happy blogging and safe travels!

Scright said...

haha good ol' Engrish, got to show this to my Dad, unless the 'Lamer' is on the Totlet!

Turkey Joy said...

They're actually creating their own English dialect !

Blake said...

Funny stuff. I am sure there are similarly funny things in their language around the world though.

blake-sitstill.blogspot.com

Melissa Blake said...

Hi, congrats on being a Blog of Note!

deone said...

This is soooo funny - "TOTLET FOR LAMER"!!

Kristin said...

Too funny!!

Ognjen said...

:D Great!

The Redhead Riter said...

That's nice. I can really feel the love. NOT!

Half way there...Happy Wednesday!

Rebecca Jane said...

I may have to add 'lamer' to my lexicon of put-downs. For real.

artsybee said...

talk about lost in translation! nice blog!

Fortressluna-a flicker remains said...

"Disabled Toilet" means toilet is not working. I'm sure they meant "Toilet for the Disabled". I would have been glad, not horrified, to know that they had provided for the disabled.

Rae said...

Wow, you know, I was actually at the exact same place mussing over the exact same sign exactly a year ago. Its funny how two different people can relate to something in the same way. I hope that you have enjoyed Thailand. I know that I did. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Warrior Poet said...

just found your blog and i'm hooked after the first article. keep up the good work

Morgan Locura said...

LMAO, hahahaha "Toilet For Lamer".

halı yıkama said...

Hi, super blog!

HereBeDragons said...

I love Engrish. Cracks me up. Don't forget another Engrish blog: http://engrishfunny.com/

Yours Truely said...

Actually, that is v. funny. Even though it really shouldn't be. I found myself chuckling.

http://take2action.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hi, nice font.

EdAlia said...

Engrish, haha.. In Malaysia we called it Manglish!

Nice blog...:D

Julie said...

That is so funny, but also not!

ade said...

you want another one, I like with julie approaching. I have been put in draft for long time. I have to refer with MS word and Google translator to write in my blog.

Lek from Chiang Mai said...

And how many signs in Thai do you find in Canada, with or without misspellings? At least they provide bathrooms for the physically challenged

Jessica O'Neill said...

Lek - you are definitely correct - there are no Thai signs in Canada! (A lot of Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and French though! :)

It is great that they have the washroom for disabled people - I was just so shocked to see such an offensive word!

 
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