Monday, August 01, 2005
English as She is Spoke
(Being a Comprehensive Phrasebook of the English Language, Written by Men to Whom English was Entirely Unknown)
From mangled English signage to an hilariously addled phrase book, about which Mark Twain pronounced, Check out these excerpts, of which all 'typos' are as originally printed:"Nobody can add to the absurdity of this book, nobody can imitate it successfully, nobody can hope to produce its fellow; it is perfect."
Background: This 1855 English phrase book for Portuguese students was compiled by people who not only knew no English but didn't even own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary. What they did have was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary, and a French-to-English dictionary - hence the hilarity.
In fact, I now see that its origins are more interesting and murkier than I thought.
That comment was directed to me and *I* decide whether to respond or delete.
May I suggest you be a little less interested in reading *my* blog? That way you'll be saved having to read what is clearly an intimate message meant for me and me alone.
Yes one *can* delete comments but I choose to let yours stay as an warning to others.