The eyes say it all

Monday morning rush hour. The train is packed. I'm in the train already, close to the door. A guy runs in before the door closes. I saw him on the bus earlier. Sharp, handsome, not very tall. He looks Pinoy (Filipino).

Three stops later, I position myself to get off the still-crowded train. He turned his head and looked at me. I nodded.

When the train stopped and the doors opened, he stepped off the train and stood to one side so that I, and others behind me, could get off.

What just happened?

The eyes said it all.

He looked at me with eyes that said, "Are you getting off?" I nodded to say, "Yes."

Pinoys communicate with their facial expressions, not so much the rest of their body. So, technically, I can't call it body language, rather facial language. Observe Filipinos talking to each other. Yes, they talk a lot! (No offence here. I love Filipinos and have lots of good Filipino friends!) Very often, they use their eyes to say something, raise their eyebrows to say "yes", or purse their lips in a direction to point to something. (No, they're not offering to kiss you.) It is quite easy to read their facial language. I find it a very effective way to communicate. Words not required.

Some nationalities talk with their hands. I do. Filipinos talk with their faces.

Body language surpasses the need to know another's language in order to communicate. Then again, body language is a language in itself!

Have fun learning to communicate cross-culturally!

Clueless in translation

I spotted this sign in the toilet at a coffee shop in Singapore. While I understood what the Chinese text was trying to say, I was baffled at what the English text was supposed to mean. Another case of "lost in translation". Maybe even "clueless in translation".

Let's first dissect the Chinese text 来也匆匆，去也冲冲.

This is a play of two words having similar sounds. (I cannot say the sounds are the same because the Hanyu Pinyin for 匆匆 is cong1 cong1, while the Hanyu Pinyin for 冲冲 is chong1 chong1. Sounds similar to the untrained ear, but very different when you have to input the characters in a text.) The first part of the sentence 来也匆匆 means "enter hurriedly". The second part of the sentence 去也冲冲 means "flush (the toilet) when you leave". Given that this is a sign in a toilet, it makes perfect sense. A simple reminder to keep the toilet clean for the next user.

But what does "easy come, easy go" have to do with toilet cleanliness? Usually, this phrase is used to describe the difficulty in saving money. This is definitely the wrong context for this phrase. Someone who cannot read Chinese would look at this phrase and wonder what the management is trying to tell him/her. The picture tells me the phrase has something to do with using the toilet. But what am I supposed to do other than just use it?

Perhaps I am reading too much into a sign.

But aren't signs supposed to tell you something clearly?

A picture paints a thousand words. In this case, I have no idea what the picture or the English words are trying to say.

So much for reminding me to keep the toilet clean.

Lost? Clueless? Yes, that's me right now.

Have fun with languages!

The Le-ers don't even ma-er, or do they?

It

Similar sounds, different meanings

Have you ever gotten two very similar words mixed up, and ended up with an entirely different meaning to your sentence?

Here's an example I saw on someone's PowerPoint presentation on social ills. The presenter wrote "phonography" instead of "pornography".

Phonography is "phonetic representation or spelling".

Pornography is "printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement".

Not only are these two words very different in meaning, they are completely unrelated to each other. In the context of social ills, phonography has absolutely no place.

I do not think the presenter knew that he had made a mistake. For that matter, I do not think any of the audience noticed the grave error! Or, if anyone did, perhaps he was too polite to say anything. Whatever the case, a mistake is a mistake.

If in doubt, always check the dictionary. It is far more reliable than auto-correct.

A small error can cost you a lot.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Construction or contraction?

My friend spotted this sign in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. His comment was, "No wonder they are hard at labor."

The words in Khmer say, "Under Construction". This is correct. The one who provided the English text needs to go back to school. It's probably a man, since men do not have contractions.

Maybe his English is under construction, or under contraction so he can't think straight.

Whichever the case, it always pays to check a few times before sending the final text for print.

Have fun with English!

Porn or Prone?

A friend posted this picture on Facebook.

Can Porn be an accident? Hmmm. Well, some men would tell you they were searching for something on the internet and a porn website popped up. Accident? Yes. But only if he shut it quickly. No, if he could not take his eyes off the pictures.

I digress.

This sign should read:

ACCIDENT PRONE AREA

Accident Prone means you are highly likely to meet with an accident in the vicinity. Therefore, you should stay clear or walk at your own risk. Whoever painted the sign obviously cannot spell. After all, "porn" and "prone" have the same letters in different order.

It pays to check several times, and with someone who has better English, than to end up being a laughing stock. With today's technology, a misspelled sign can go viral and make you a laughing stock worldwide. If you enjoy that kind of publicity, be my guest. I would rather be correct and unnoticed.

Correct spelling does have its benefits.

Have fun with English!

There is no "Aunty" and "Uncle" in Mandarin

Chinese New Year is coming up in a few days.  How am I going to navigate the multiple relatives, making sure I address the correct Aunty or Uncle in the correct term?  Here's a handy guide from Focus on the Family Singapore.



There is no "Aunty" and "Uncle" in Mandarin



Here's wishing you 身体健康 (good health)！