Fri, Feb 10 2012

Signs and wonders

Fri, May 08 2009 10:00 CET

byThe Sofia Echo

1181 Views 3 Comments
Signs and wonders

A MASTERPIECE: Mistransliteration can send one into symphonies of mirth. Perhaps the company that had the contract for Plovdiv’s street signs charged by the letter, and saw no reason to substitute ‘ts’ for ‘z’.
Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Signs and wonders

BY ANY OTHER NAME: The Bulgarian version of this street name in Plovdiv suggests that they wanted to honour Victor Hugo.

Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Signs and wonders

ROYAL CARRIAGE: Once upon a time, ‘c’ was the transliteration where now ‘ts’ would be used. We are not amused. Oh yes we are.
Photo: Rene Beekman

Signs and wonders

U GOTTA LOVE IT: Follow the sign to find out whether the swuiming pools have duiving boards.
Photo: Rene Beekman

Signs and wonders

FROM BAUHAUS TO OUR HOUSE? Visit the Haus of Culture; suggest that they offer Haus Music.
Photo: Rene Beekman

Signs and wonders

SAY AGAIN? Here be dragons, presumably.

Photo: Rene Beekman

Signs and wonders

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: A European transition from German to English, all in just one sign.
Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Signs and wonders

INCREDIBLE CRUNCH: How many people have a taste for blackboard erasers? Possibly fewer than those who would be tempted by a dish containing mushrooms. Had the translation been correct...
Photo: Paromita Sanatani

Signs and wonders

OFF WITH YOU: Not only copper, but sour milk too. For the adventurous diner, much more exciting than yoghurt and honey.

Photo: Paromita Sanatani

Signs and wonders

FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD: Just a mouthful, please, for the not-so-hungry.

Photo: Rene Beekman

Signs and wonders

COPPER TONE: ‘Med’ should be translated as honey - the etymology also gave the English language the word ‘mead’. Copper is said to be good against arthritis, but is unlikely to be alluring in a pancake.
Photo: Paromita Sanatani

In restaurants, on signposts and in all meanderings around Bulgaria, there is always the enchantment of being lost in translation, or is that mistransliteration?

Given that signs seldom have signatures, it is not that easy for the idle browser to find out how some of the more memorable howlers came about, but at least some are the result of changed rules of transliteration, or in some cases, one seems to detect the fine hand of a computer-based translation programme at work.

Then again, as evidenced in some of the photographs on these pages, the signs may be a noble effort to help the reader by offering not one but two languages at once. Or then again, maybe not.

Have you seen a sign that made you smile? Send your photograph, along with details of where and when it was taken to editor@sofiaecho.com.

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Comments

AnonymousJordanWed, May 13 2009 06:20 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained

Anonymous Karen Sat, May 09 2009 20:54 CET
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You know I have often wondered why if someone was going to spend the money to print a sign in English, they didn't spend a little more money to make sure they communicated something understandable in English

Anonymous sonia Sat, May 09 2009 14:09 CET
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Marvellous! To street signs and menus, I would add gallery descriptions of artists and exhibitions.

Anonymous Antony Miles Varna Sat, May 09 2009 10:56 CET
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Excellent! You could make a regular feature of this subject to give us all some fun in these difficult times! Wish I had used the camera on many menus we have come across in beautiful BG. Like the monks meatballs in Pamporovo. Didn't risk a taste!


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