Dynamics of Document Design

Creating texts for readers, The process of interpretation

Words simply mean different things to you or I depending on age, sex, culture and upbringing. We can be privy to the various associations and indeed, hold cognitively dissonant ideas about different words, but it’s the primary meanings in relation to us, the individual that matters.

via engrish.com

There’s a number of brilliant Engrish-isms embedded in the article body. Certainly, while they are grammatically and even fundamentally incorrect, I find these charming not because I’m deriding the people who made them, but because I can gain an insight into how their language is structured and what symbolic meanings and emphases their culture has. Take for example:

“Please leave your values at the front desk.” (Paris hotel elevator)

Considering both French and English are Latin based languages, what is the implied meaning of ‘values’ in place of ‘valuables’? An honest mistake via Google translate? Or perhaps the word for valuables and values are the same in French, implying a high regard for principles?

The Japanese one is a little easier for me to break down.

“It is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing please not read notis.”

The implication of ‘please’ is grammatically at the end of sentences. While it is disingenuous to ask a person not to read a precedent sentence, the literal meaning of ‘please not read notis’ is to ‘disregard the notice’. As in, completely disavow its existence.

The Roman one is genius though, unintentional or otherwise:

“Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.”

via Dynamics in document design : creating texts for readers