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First English Blog of 2019

1/13/2019

12 Comments

 

​So, first off, let me just say happy 2019. I have decided to start a blog again, but this time with a limited scope and concrete content. This is going to be a weekly blog about English language related topics. Hopefully, it serves as a basis for current and former students to practice their English, in addition to any friends who might want to chime in from time to time.

This week, I went to a Dayak Ngaju wedding here in Palangka Raya. A short Christian service followed traditional dance and ceremony. In it, they sang the classic gospel song "Bringing in the Sheaves," but had changed the lyrics to Indonesian, "Bawa berkasnya." When I heard it I thought "what the heck?" because "berkas" means paper docs, so that they were literally singing "bring in the documents." Then, I thought about the original English lyrics. "Sheaves" is not a well-known or used word. I knew it meant some kind of bundles of grain, so that people joining the church or finding the truth were compared to bundles of grain. I also thought it meant stacks of paper maybe, so I used my smart phone to look it up. Yep, also meant paper. So, it was a funny and perfect example of what happens when you aren't careful with a translation in English. I'm not sure if every Christian church in Kalimantan or even Indonesia is singing "bringing in the documents, but it definitely doesn't have the symbolism or meaning that "bundles of grain" does . . .

In my life as an English teacher I've seen lots of examples of nonsensical, silly, or even stupid English being used because people were careless about translation, or even worse, they just don't care. That's right. If a native speaker tells them their English translation on their store sign, menu, brochure, or in a song is incorrect or doesn't make any sense at all, I've found that they usually refuse to change it. Amazing. Japan is famous for messing up English and posting it on signs and tshirts. There are many funny websites like http://www.funnysigns.net/category/engrish/   where you can explore them and have a good laugh.

It would be great if people were more careful when they translated things into English. In today's age, with all the digital tools they can use, there really isn't any excuse for it. They can even find someone online to check their work before they put it on a tshirt, sign, or store window. But, they won't . . .
Update: come to find out, "berkas" has an obscure second meaning of amounts of rice, just like "sheaves". So it's actually a valid or good translation and I'm letting everyone know; I don't want to be one of those people who won't change their language post after they've been told its wrong...
12 Comments
Nur Azzahro
3/12/2019 06:54:15 pm

I have check this link http://www.funnysigns.net/category/engrish/ , there is serious problem in Japan-English translation it's so mess but yet so funny to be scrolled. This is my favorite quote "Don't drink a car under the influence of alcohol" and who wanna drink a car dude, it will hurt so much, it will never happen even they are under the influence of alcohol LOL

Reply
Elisa karlina
3/12/2019 06:59:36 pm

Humourus 😂, it is a lesson to me, in order to make me more care about translation and be aware of being a conscientious student.

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Levika Egita Sulistiyana
3/12/2019 08:39:06 pm

Don't give up elisa,we can learn about how to use good translation whenever and wherever we are😂

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Levika Egita Sulistiyana
3/12/2019 08:29:58 pm

LOL I often find the wrong translation in my environment. This is like "sama-sama" in Indonesian and must be translated with (you are welcome or etc) but mostly people translate it become "same-same"😅This is important thing when we learn translation. Thank you Mr. Hobbs, your blog as a lesson for me. Now I am conscious of learning English actively

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Rina Ariyanti
3/13/2019 10:23:05 pm

"Sama same" I heard that from boy(m.boy.s). 😂

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Yuda Hadi
3/12/2019 10:37:24 pm

It's amusing me to see those Funny signs from the blog that you share, and in case of Indonesian people, i think they made many mistakes because of how they just nonchalantly type a word in many translater apps without using any good Grammar from Bahasa too..

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Rizky Al Hidayati
3/12/2019 10:55:51 pm

all hail Google Translate hahahaha

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Saiful anwar
3/13/2019 10:49:30 am

😂😂😂 you are right.awowokwokwowk

Rizky Al Hidayati
3/12/2019 10:54:42 pm

This is a common thing in Indonesia and you can find it everywhere, especially when riding a motorcycle and I accidentally saw funny English writing on the road. like "sea foot" restaurants, and salons that offer "krim bat, faisal, dan cuci blow"
but because i remind my safety. I have to hold my laughter along the road,,,

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Rina Ariyanti
3/13/2019 10:33:01 pm

well. that's the real condition of indonesia people in translating word. I'm sure,, you've heard many times the wrong translation in English especially. so what would you do if you heard it sir? would you laughing in deep in your heart? or? 😂

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AULA MUKARRAMAH
3/14/2019 08:54:40 pm

LOL, yaps I agree with you, about more careful when translated things into English, as viral right now, a youtuber from Indonesia named Atta Halilintar. he often said Aasyiaaap which means ready that sounded like "uh she up". so many people use that word for a joke. 😂 .and thank you for funny website that you recommend.☺🙏

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Niely Fawaidah Virgin
6/21/2019 09:35:01 pm

LOL... yeah, most of indonesian still does many mistakes in speaking English or choosing some words (confusing words) when they make a sentence or others. Most of indonesian translate the original sentence of bahasa into english. So, when they translate it into the english, it will be english with bahasa version, for example "keep spirit" usually we (the Indonesian) use it when we want to support the other, but actually the right one is "never give up". It is just a simple thing but we are still confused to distinguish which one is indonesian version and original english 😌. hehe i think this fault just happens in Indonesia. but after reading your blog... i've just known that it happens also in another where English used as the second language 😌

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    Don Hobbs, a long-time EFL teacher and current English Language Fellow in Kalimantan, Indonesia

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