Funny English

As a native English speaker living in Japan, I frequently observe English used very unnaturally or incorrectly. I guess that's what happens when you have teachers who don't have very good English skills teaching others English. Sometimes they will say something in English that makes me laugh because it's so different from how a native English speaker would say it.

I also see phrases or slogans on t-shirts or in ads that make little or no sense and are just laughable.

I'd like to share those examples with you. Hopefully this will ad a little humor to your day or a smile to your face. Enjoy.

The following was observed on the back of a t-shirt:

"Harm becomes obvious in the permanent sound."

Another t-shirt read:

"Refind through by blow."

A Japanese junior high school English teacher was doing her best to tell the class about where she went on her summer vacation. She began by saying:

"In this summer vacation I go to... I climb....I am happy to..."

In another class a Japanese English teacher wanted to tell the students to take their paper and a pen with them when they got up to walk around the classroom and converse with other students. It came out this way:

"Have this paper and a pen."

What she was trying to say was - Take your copy of the activity sheet and your pen.

A teacher wanted to record a listening test for the students and wanted some help. He said:

"I want to record the test, but five minutes later."

I think what he meant to say was - I want to record the test in five minutes or, I want to record the test, but I need five minutes to prepare things first.

A teacher who taught a different subject, but who was trying to speak English and be friendly, offered a native English speaking assistant a cracker by holding a small basket in front of her and saying:

"How about this?

Translation - Would you like one?

A Japanese TV show slogan that was translated into English - "A lunch break is light hearted watching."

T-shirt in a store - "Time can be strong all yor crushing enemy." I'll just leave that one for you to figure out.

Another t-shirt read - "Look at it as you would normally. No art is required for seeing. I understand completely what you think. I'm fed up of watching. The assurance that comes from seeing. I'll come to see it at weekend. Seeing it will resolve everything. You saw it? What do you think? We'll find something. Great the Minority."

Check back later for more....