Signs and Banners

One of the joys of living here is reading the compositions written by people working in their second language. Thus we hereby present a selection of signs, banners and newspaper clippings:

Just how soon is soonly?

Whether by good management or good luck, this car will be fine!

Please, be civilised. At least use your napkin properly.

Don't know what this is, but I want to go there.

Alas, we have not taken our camera everywhere, so here are some we remember.


Foster's Grammar School: "Excellence is our Perseverence"
Would you send your child here?




Around a big park in which there were tables and stalls set up were banners loudly proclaiming "Expoo Style Shoping"





News paper headline a few days ago:
"Government Urged to Reign in Deficit"
(We assume they meant 'rein in the deficit' but there is more truth here than the writer imagined)

we are guilty

Efforts to produce English written material means we see some great signs and read some really funny literature here. When we get our act together, we'll share some of the best stuff with you.

Of course, we are also guilty of doing the same thing in the local language.

My latest addition to my language teacher's daily dose of humor is as follows:
Me (pointing to the sky): There are a lot of clouds in the sky today.
Her (looking puzzled): What?
Me (with less confidence): There are a lot of clouds in the sky?
Her: tell me in English please.
Me: There are a lot of clouds in the sky.
Her (after pulling herself off the floor laughing): supplying the proper word for clouds said there aren't a lot of monkey's in the sky.

Snoono

Concluding poem in children's packet received while flying Kuwait Airlines:

I'm the little captain
Flying in the sky
Feeling so much happy
Do not ask me why
My mother wants me to be a captain
And in the sky I'm high
On board Kuwait Airways
I will always fly

We think it strikes that subtle balance between promoting the airline and remaining appropriately humble. We can only hope in the original language it flows better.