I salute back.
This is another wonderful example of why Chinglish fascinates me. The signs aren't really wrong here, just that nowhere else in the world would a tourist be addressed like that. So I stand amazed and salute back.
Since many visitors of this site ask me to provide correct translations, I try to do so from now on. I will also be very happy to post your suggestions!
The first one in today's post, though, is already nearly untransferable in its genuine Chinese approach to the masses.
向自觉维护公共卫生的游客致敬。
could be turned into:
"We greet all environmentally conscious travellers."
(this, of course, takes out all the fun but tries to leave in a bit of its Chineseness)
and
文明整洁的环境是一种美的享受。
might be:
"Everybody loves a litter-free environment."
(文明 "civilisation, culture" again is very Chinese, why should one need to promote that on a public sign? I know why that promotion happens in China, so no need to explain it, i still omitted the word in my suggestion.)
Again, my fascination for Chinglish obviously also comes from the official educational approach to the public which is quite different from many Western societies' sign language where much of it contains commands and orders not to do this or that.
So when it comes to "Don't litter!" or "A clean environment is a kind of enjoyment" you choose for yourself ...
Found in the Forbidden City (Gugong) 故宫 in Beijing 北京.
Thanks, Hugh.
posted by olr — 纪韶融 @ 3/12/2007
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