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Restaurant Language Interpreting Services

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Beijing Restaurants Encouraged to Change Menu Descriptions

English speakers who have traveled to Beijing probably noticed the sometimes funny, sometimes offensive, and sometimes just plain mysterious items on English-language menus.  Take these dishes for example: Cowboy leg and Tofu made by woman with freckles.

It’s no surprise to the locals that the Chinese menus translated to English sound silly. The Chinese language and the English language differ greatly; it’s not a simple task to translate, and, as a result, menu items often come off sounding absurd.

Many Chinese individuals aren’t happy with the translations and the perceptions that many English speakers have acquired as a result, which is why the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office and Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme published a book (196 pages in all) that describes the most common Chinese dishes and their “proper” English names.

Now, instead “tofu made by a woman with a face full of freckles,” it should be the transliterated “ma po tofu.”

The book was published just in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and was revised again in 2011. With close to 70,000 restaurants in the city, it was hoped that restaurants would revise their menus in time for the onslaught of tourists. Some obliged, and many others did not. The translations are only encouraged, not required.

Whether it’s because the Chinglish (Chinese and English combined words) has significance to the restaurateur or because the work required to update the menus is not a priority, English speakers are still likely to find the funny-sounding menu items when visiting the city.

Keylingo Translations™ is a multi-language translation and interpretation company with offices across Canada and the US.  We provide exceptional local service combined with global technology and infrastructure.  Contact your local Keylingo office today.

Sources:

http://www.rahoi.com/2006/03/may-i-take-your-order/

http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/eat/restaurants-china-why-theyll-never-be-much-fun-838716

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/what-chinas-talking-about-today-restaurant-menu-chinglish/254437/


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