(この記事は、『札幌英会話ニュースレター #10」の英語訳です。）
‘Bicycle-parking space maintenance construction is performed, so I’ll causeyoutrouble, but please take care. It should be noted , is placed with the points please offer to staff .’ X 🤣
I ran across this sign with its garbled English translation in front of the Maruzen and Junkudo Sapporo Bookstore at Odori 🙄
Those able to read English are likely to end up standing in front of the sign for several seconds in bewilderment while wondering what these sentences mean. Since no one even slightly proficient in English would write such gibberish, I’m fairly certain that the person in charge of making this sign used translation software and printed what came out without checking to see if it was okay or not. There are a lot of different translation tools available on the internet, but when you use one to translate a Japanese sentence, it’s pretty likely that the resulting English translation won’t make much sense at all.
The reason that translation tools and programs are still unable—even in this day and age—to produce well-written translated sentences is that at their roots the Japanese and English languages are based on fundamentally different grammar structures. For example, while English has twelve basic verb tenses, Japanese has only four, so using translation programs alone won’t result in one’s coming up with appropriate English sentences. Translation tools are more useful for trying to figure out the meaning of written English sentences than they are for writing them.
When you’re trying to compose a sentence in English, use a dictionary and your own knowledge of English grammar. The results will surely be much better than if you relied on some random translation program.
In order to help improve the quality of English signs in Sapporo, I will gladly offer translation advice if you buy me a few drinks. In addition to giving private English conversation lessons, I can also teach you how to improve your skills in composition, translation, editing and academic writing 🌟 🌈 😇
At South 1 West 1 in Chuo Ward, Sapporo 📸
Sapporo English Conversation Newsletter
Related Articles
Improving Your English Speaking Skills
Sapporo English Signs Lost in Translation ~ Grammar Lesson #13