Japlish, or Enganese?

A sign outside my local police station, explaining in a couple of languages what you are supposed to do when confronted by the respective symbol when out on the road. I have no idea what the Korean is like, but check the close-ups below to see the state of the English.

Japanese signage is, to me anyway, often very attractive. Whether it be the overall good design sense of it, or the clever cuteness of it, or even the dazzling flashiness of it, especially when it's in neon. Maybe part of that is because I can't often read it, so the physical appearance is all I can judge by. But Japanese signage in English is another matter. I presume it is their for non-Japanese to read, so in many cases I presume it is of some importance. Of course, there is a lot of English used for product names, bar and cafe names, band names, hair salon names (hair and make salons, usually!), etc. The use of English here is just fashion, and further evidence of the constant spread of American culture. So if these signs don't make sense, it doesn't really matter. It is mostly just amusing, or if not funny, puzzling.

When the sign is there for some important function though, or information, or directions, it would be good if it was readable. Of course it often is, but then again it very often isn't. Sometimes it is just a small spelling mistake, which does not really alter the meaning. This is just a little amusing. But sometimers it is so grammatically horrible, that even wild speculation fails to establish any  clue to its  intended purpose. Here are a few examples  that I gathered in the space of a day or so, just in my travels, without going out of my way.

The breakfast sign in the elevator only contains a small spelling error (Buffe) which would not fool anyone. But I guess the pasted over time of closure was originally P.M., which would have caused some concern. The sign above, outside an elevator in the same hotel, well, what that means is up to you.  I do not usually have any visitors lodged firmly anywhere in or on my person, so I have no idea. The Ajino restaurant sign has only a small slip, but just who is satisfied?

And below, I guess the 'GIVE WEY' would really only cause Little Miss Muppet any real consternation, and the stop sign probably intends you to come to a stuttering stop, but the one on the right? 'TULL TOLD'? I guess it is a sign to stop you at a toll road, but believe me, that is a very wild guess!

I have no idea why it happens. Sure, they are written by non-native speakers of English, so mistakes are very possible, even probable. But there are  so many English teachers residing in Japan these days, and so many English schools all over Japan, that to get some proof reading done is difficult? I don't think so. I don't like to criticise the Japanese, but I think it is a matter of misplaced pride. I 'm sure that if we were writing signage in Japanese in a foreign country, we would be toddling down to the local Japanese department at the nearest University, or even the consulate, to get a little proofing done.

Comments

[Masahiro]

Hi, I happened to visit your blog. I enjoyed this article. I felt the phrase "decline an entrance to guest room" also strange, but because I am not a native speaker, I am not sure if it is correct or wrong.

[Ray Kinnane]

No, it's the whole 'sentence' that is a problem, especially the 'visitor of lodging firmly'. The grammar, vocabulary and syntax are all so bad it is difficult for a native speaker to even understand it. It is actually probably easier for a non-native speaker of English to understand!

Thanks for visiting, and for your kind comments.

[Masahiro]

Thank you for your response. As a non-native speaker, I guess they wanted to say in English like this: "We firmly decline visitors entering guest room floors except for those who are lodging." But I don't think this is a good English sentense as well. The place of the word "firmly" in the original sentense is very "Japanese".

[Ray Kinnane]

And it should say 'We firmly REFUSE...'.
Decline is not the best choice, although the meaning is close. And VISITORS is a bit suspect, too. It seems to have visitors and guests confused.

Ray Kinnane

[joakim]

i can't explain "give wey" but the other two "stopp/signal" and "tull/told" are scandinavian signs. the first alerting that a traffic signal/light is coming up and you're supposed to stop at the sign not the light possibly a bit ahead, the second that you're reaching a customs checkpoint - it's bilingual, customs is tull in swedish, told in danish.

just though i'd mention it. just came back from a trip to japan, wonderful country. loved the trip, and enjoying your blog.

[Ray Kinnane]

Thanks for the explanation, joakim. It prompts me to ask the question though, as to why there are explanations of Scandanavian traffic signs on display outside a Saga, Japan police station?

Nice to have your comment, thank you.