How do you say *facepalm* in Russian?
I've seen many examples of bad English while I've been here. And not willful bad English - simple mistakes. Mistakes that any English speaker would have caught, or maybe anyone with an electronic dictionary. Hell, I've often said that if a company wanted to slip a little extra cash under the table, there's a whole host of native speakers in Japan who would be willing to proofread signs so that you don't have "noncomburnable garbage" or "sanitarized" or "erectronic dictionaries."
But then I think, "Well, it's a kindness that there's any English at all. 99% of the people who see those signs won't be English speakers and probably won't know there's a laughable error." So I can understand.
But you, State Department. I expect better from you.
Hillary Clinton met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov recently and presented him with a shiny red button. In English it read, "Reset." As in, "Let's reset our relationship." In Russian it read "Peregruzka."
Which does not mean "reset." It means "overcharge." The word they wanted, according to the article, was "Perezagruzka." Lavrov pointed out the error immediately, bless him, and a good laugh was had by all. With, I assume, Hillary violently executing someone when they got back to their hotel suites. Because that's what I would have done if someone had failed to triple-check the foreign word on a State Gift. And a gimmicky State Gift at that.
Want to know the worst part? Condi Rice wouldn't have screwed that up. Of course, she speaks fluent Russian, so we should hope not. But still, wherever she is now I bet she's laughing her ass off....
But then I think, "Well, it's a kindness that there's any English at all. 99% of the people who see those signs won't be English speakers and probably won't know there's a laughable error." So I can understand.
But you, State Department. I expect better from you.
Hillary Clinton met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov recently and presented him with a shiny red button. In English it read, "Reset." As in, "Let's reset our relationship." In Russian it read "Peregruzka."
Which does not mean "reset." It means "overcharge." The word they wanted, according to the article, was "Perezagruzka." Lavrov pointed out the error immediately, bless him, and a good laugh was had by all. With, I assume, Hillary violently executing someone when they got back to their hotel suites. Because that's what I would have done if someone had failed to triple-check the foreign word on a State Gift. And a gimmicky State Gift at that.
Want to know the worst part? Condi Rice wouldn't have screwed that up. Of course, she speaks fluent Russian, so we should hope not. But still, wherever she is now I bet she's laughing her ass off....