And you wonder why I'm having problems with English?

[ban-all-sheds]

Or the one where the phrase "out of sight out of mind" was translated into Chinese by an English - Chinese interpreter and then back into English by another Chinese - English interpreter, the resulting phrase that came back was "invisible idiot" !!

Probably an urban myth, but I so want it to be true!!

Urban myth, I reckon, as I when I first heard it in the languages were English & Russian, and it came back as "blind and insane".

The version I heard also had the translating of "hydraulic ram", which came back as "water sheep".

 

[Nige F]

Number 9..we don`t shoot doves and That`s an Americanism .shot the dove and it dived is wot we says

 

[Moz]

the chinese did some good film translations that were quite funny but I cannot find the link ,heres some I can remember


Pretty Woman = Nice lady wh*re

Contact =Rich in the Future

Eraser= Satan Destroys Everything

Jerry Maguire= Success in Love

Good Will Hunting= Inside Your Heart

Parent Trap= The Best Couple

Mr. Magoo =Mr. Crazy/Mr. Clumsy

Sliding Doors= Two-faced lovers

Deep Impact= A Planet Will Hit the Earth

Armageddon =The End of the World

City of Angels =Ex-Lovers

Money Train= Silver Stone

Face Off =Change Faces

Flipper =Flying Baby

Free Willy =A Very Powerful Whale Runs to Heaven

GI Jane =Satan Female Soldier

My Best Friend's Wedding= The Bride is not Me

Risky Business= Just Send Him to University Unqualified


lol

 

[WoodYouLike]

It this a pease piece or a piece of pease? Please?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Serious question now:
who can (simple but effective) explain to me when I have use 'then' and when 'than'?
It sounds the same and I do know then is somehow time-related, but I still can't get the hang of it.

(same with to or too and of or off)

 

[kendor]

Serious question now:
who can (simple but effective) explain to me when I have use 'then' and when 'than'?
It sounds the same and I do know then is somehow time-related, but I still can't get the hang of it.

(same with to or too and of or off)

"we used to do it this way then"
"we do it this way now than how we did it before."

 

[WoodYouLike]

Thanks Kendor, but sorry, not distinctive enough I'm afraid.
Must be me that I don't really 'get' the difference so that I don't have to think about it and use the correct one instantly.

 

[kendor]

Thanks Kendor, but sorry, not distinctive enough I'm afraid.
Must be me that I don't really 'get' the difference so that I don't have to think about it and use the correct one instantly.

Then i can't help sorry, was hoping it would make more sense than before

 

[JohnD]

"we do it this way now than how we did it before."

That's not a sentence construction I would use (Southern England)

I might have said "Fred is taller than Joe"

or

"Today is warmer than yesterday (was)"

 

[WoodYouLike]

Thanks Kendor, but sorry, not distinctive enough I'm afraid.
Must be me that I don't really 'get' the difference so that I don't have to think about it and use the correct one instantly.

Then i can't help sorry, was hoping it would make more sense than before

By Jove I've got it! It has to be Than I can't help, hoping it would make more sense then before

Than meaning a difference - not that's not correct, more a 'statement'? - , then meaning a time before, after etc.

 

[WoodYouLike]

I might have said "Fred is taller than Joe"

or

"Today is warmer than yesterday (was)"

You are confusing me again. Last sentence should then yesterday (time related?)

 

[kendor]

this may help?
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/t.html

 

[JohnD]

I might have said "Fred is taller than Joe"

or

"Today is warmer than yesterday (was)"

You are confusing me again. Last sentence should then yesterday (time related?)

No, because it's comparative. Like saying "Lisbon is warmer than Moscow" "White is lighter than black" "Steel is harder than butter"

 

[WoodYouLike]

this may help?
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/t.html[/QUOTE]

This was the word I was looking for

Than, as used in comparatives

Thanks Kendor, by Jove I've got it

 

[WoodYouLike]

No, because it's comparative. Like saying "Lisbon is warmer than Moscow" "White is lighter than black" "Steel is harder than butter"

Than you only confused me with the type of comparision you used (today versus yesterday) I know better now then before I asked the question