Personal musings on Israel, Jewish matters, history and how they all affect each other
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Passover?
I know what the Hebrew says. I don't know what the Arabic says (I'd ask Ibrahim, but being a fake, he's unlikely to know). To be honest, I don't know what the English says, either.
Ibrahim claims to be a linguist - is that fake also? (not that I claim to know what a linguist is it's just such an impressive sounding word that I want to make it part of my vocabulary) Silke
These sorts of English mistakes seem to be a chronic problem in Israel, do you have any insight as to why?
If you want to see another "Shander" in this category, there is a tree just off the Midrachov that was dedicated by then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and then Governor George Pataki. Ptaki (Sic) is misspelled!
I think its simply out of traditional expectations. Anglophones expect funny English in every non-English speaking country the visit, so Israel is just giving them what they want. Either that or the Anglophone Israelis are simply too well-educated and prominent to actually review the signs.
(Thanks for the gags, P)
Via a friend on Google Reader: "The Arabic says, 'Beware - trucks crossing the road' (pretty much the same as the Hebrew)."
ReplyDeleteIbrahim claims to be a linguist - is that fake also?
ReplyDelete(not that I claim to know what a linguist is it's just such an impressive sounding word that I want to make it part of my vocabulary)
Silke
With all of the anglophones living in Israel, I'm always amused when I see misspellings and poor grammar on signs, menus, etc.
ReplyDeleteThese sorts of English mistakes seem to be a chronic problem in Israel, do you have any insight as to why?
ReplyDeleteIf you want to see another "Shander" in this category, there is a tree just off the Midrachov that was dedicated by then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and then Governor George Pataki. Ptaki (Sic) is misspelled!
I think its simply out of traditional expectations. Anglophones expect funny English in every non-English speaking country the visit, so Israel is just giving them what they want. Either that or the Anglophone Israelis are simply too well-educated and prominent to actually review the signs.
ReplyDelete