Make English visitor-friendly

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-06-2007 16:12

It's expected that more than 500,000 foreigners will come to Beijing for the Olympics next year. And officials have been trying to spruce up the city for the event, including correcting some baffling English signs. But, despite massive efforts, there's still some ways to go.

A clear sign indicating that tobacco products is sold in the store.

But this billboard may make foreigners confused. What is "an excellent winding smoke"?---- The Chinese characters simply mean "good quality tobacco".

More examples of such kind of "Chinglish" or even "bad English" can be found in Beijing--"EXPORT" for "Exit"; "NO BURNING" for "No Open Flames".

"Chinglish? Might be in restaurant,where I saw "KOU SHUI JI( chicken in spicy sauce）"，they translate it as "slobber chicken", that is really...an interesting way of translating," says Carl Lau, foreigner in Beijng.

Slobber chicken? It sounds awful.

Carl only understands the name after he sees the dish. In fact, it is chicken in spicy sauce.

And the name in Chinese means "the taste is so good that makes people mouth-watering."

Carl Lau said, "Although the name is a little bit strange, but once you get the food it tastes actually pretty good. I think they just need to improve a little bit in the translation, although it may be difficult, but you know,they have to try."

Carl Lau has lived in Beijing for two years. He said poor English menus are not the only headache. Problems also exist in public signs.

Carl Lau said, "I think every foreigner comes to Beijing, they can see them everywhere. I don't think they are too bad, it's a little amusing, but it's not. With the Olympics coming, I think (improving the translation) will be more convenient for foreigners travelling to Beijing to understand where they are going."

Work has already started and it's not too late.

The China-Japan Friendship Hospital will be a major medical service provider for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. Bilingual signs with poor English translation have been taken down before May.

"In a bid to prepare for the Olympic Games, we have changed all the signs in our hospital which did not meet the standards of the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee. Some of them were not translated well, and some were not standardized. With more than 400 days left before the event, we still have lot to do and to improve," says Gao Jian, director Int'l dept, China-Japan friendship hospital.

Progress has also been made in other fields.

So far, mistakes in Beijing's major road signs have already been corrected. Some 6,500 standardized English-language signs were put up last year, although a few small ones still remain here and there.

"Lu" is just the Chinese pinyin version for road or street, but not the actual English translation. (The sentence explains a sign with "Fuxing Lu", comparing with a bigger one with the right--"Fuxing Rd.")

Zhang Lu said, "The Olympic Games has been a main instigator for Beijing to spruce up the city, both in terms of the environment as well as correcting poorly translated signs. But the effects will last well beyond the historic event. And perhaps it will help Beijing become what it inspires to be: a truly international, and visitor friendly, metropolis. "

Editor:Zhang Yongheng