Product Description

In today's world no self-respecting English-language enthusiast could have failed to notice the frequent and flagrant abuse of our native tongue by pesky foreigners? (Forgetting, for a moment, the fact that many nations speak our language better than we do). "Lost in Translation" features hundreds of genuine, original and utterly ridiculous examples of the misadventures in English discovered all over the world by the author and his intrepid team of researchers - everything from hotel signs to baffling advertisements, such as the German beauty product offering a 'Cream shower for pretentious skin' or the Japanese bar that boasts 'Special cocktails for ladies with nuts', or the French warning at a swimming pool - 'Swimming is forbidden in the absence of the saviour.' Published in paperback for the first time this autumn, "Lost in Translation" demonstrates how widely the English language has travelled, though unfortunately some of it seems to have got a bit scrambled en route.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4054 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
"'Too funny for public transport' Sunday Times travel magazine"

Scotland on Sunday, 1 Oct 06
"Croker amusingly highlights the mounting slush pile of
communicative catastrophe"

Sunday Mail, 8 Oct 06
a hilarious new book Lost in Translation is a collection of
linguistic lunacy from around the world.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant
Was browsing in a bookshop and came across this book. After about 10 seconds i started getting some strange looks. Most people avoided me...

I was laughing like a mad man - this book is funny!

Only one woman plucked up the courage to ask me what i was laughing at. I showed her the book and she bought one then and there.

If you are looking for a present get this book, but I recommend you buy this book for yourself too.

extremely funny
What a wonderful collection, gently poking fun at translations of English sentences which, whilst almost/technically accurate, completely ruin the meaning. You probably either enjoy this sort of humour or you don't. While some might see it as an arrogant and unfunny attempt to poke fun at people from other countries (whose language we couldn't even begin to speak), I completely disgaree. The introduction reminds us of the attitude we should take: we can have a giggle at the mistranslations of others whilst remaining humble of our own language abilities. Life's very short, and what's the point if you can't have a chuckle on the way? Oh yes, and have other reviewers have warned, do not read on public transport!!

This is hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing!
I was given this book as a gift for my birthday and wasn't sure but it was really funny. So easy to read on the tube, but embarrasing because it made me laugh out loud!