Beijing to erase lost-in-translation items before Olympics

时间：2006-12-22 05:12:16

（单词翻译:单击）


Photo taken on Dec. 12, 2005 shows a restaurant in Beijing. Beijing authorities are aiming to stamp out translation gaffes1 on restaurant menus they fear could make Beijing a laughing stock during the 2008 Olympics.
 
Dec. 22 - Beijing authorities are aiming to stamp out translation gaffes on restaurant menus they fear could make Beijing a laughing stock during the 2008 Olympics.

 

Determined2 to burnish3 its reputation as a international city, Beijing wants to erase4 lost-in-translation items such as "fried rice with crap", instead of crab5, from English-language menus.

 

Menus often list dishes that raise a chuckle6, including "worm pig stomach", "corrugated7 iron beef" and "cow bowel8 in sauce".

 

Labels and road signs are among other linguistic9 offenders10. Beijing's Park of Ethnic11 Minorities is signposted "Racist12 Park", while emergency exits at Beijing's international airport read: "No entry on peacetime".

 

"In recent years many Beijing restaurants have produced foreign language menus. However, due to geographical13 and food culture differences, and lack of standardised translations, they often cause international ridicule," said a city government-run website.

 

The move is part of a wider drive to improve Beijing's image ahead of the Olympics, including training taxi drivers in basic English and improving the standard of bilingual road signs.

 

The city has already launched a 'smile" campaign to encourage residents to be more friendly and outgoing while campaigning against spitting, queue jumping and general rudeness and lack of courtesy.

 

To improve restaurant menus, Beijing's government-backed English promotion14 organization, the Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme, said it had standardised translations of more than 1,000 dishes and drinks so far.

 

The goal is to provide official names for "all dishes and drinks served in the city's restaurants" by the end of January 2007, the organization said on its website.

 

The Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau is also requiring the city's 4,000 unrated hotels to translate their names, service hours, room rates, menus and notices for guests into English in order to offer accommodation to visitors for the Games.

 

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 gaffes 881b79948e576b12f08dd0dedb16ddc3     
n.失礼，出丑( gaffe的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The presidential candidate made three mistakes, or gaffes, during his speech. 校长候选人在演讲中出了三次错，或失态。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
  • When the microphones were on, gaffes gushed from his lips. 而当电话响起，他却口无遮拦，屡屡失言。 来自互联网
2 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
3 burnish gSayI     
v.磨光；使光滑
参考例句：
  • Many people,fearful for their jobs,are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.许多人因为担心自己的工作，正在努力抹去和其他公司接触的痕迹。
  • I burnish joyful sparks from my sorrows.我从伤痛里擦亮喜悦的火花。
4 erase woMxN     
v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹
参考例句：
  • He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
  • Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。
5 crab xoozE     
n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气
参考例句：
  • I can't remember when I last had crab.我不记得上次吃蟹是什么时候了。
  • The skin on my face felt as hard as a crab's back.我脸上的皮仿佛僵硬了，就象螃蟹的壳似的。
6 chuckle Tr1zZ     
vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑
参考例句：
  • He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
  • I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个，我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。
7 corrugated 9720623d9668b6525e9b06a2e68734c3     
adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
  • a corrugated iron roof 波纹铁屋顶
  • His brow corrugated with the effort of thinking. 他皱着眉头用心地思考。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 bowel Bszzy     
n.肠(尤指人肠)；内部，深处
参考例句：
  • Irritable bowel syndrome seems to affect more women than men.女性比男性更易患肠易激综合征。
  • Have you had a bowel movement today?你今天有排便吗？
9 linguistic k0zxn     
adj.语言的，语言学的
参考例句：
  • She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
  • The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。
10 offenders dee5aee0bcfb96f370137cdbb4b5cc8d     
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）
参考例句：
  • Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
  • Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
11 ethnic jiAz3     
adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的
参考例句：
  • This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
  • The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
12 racist GSRxZ     
n.种族主义者，种族主义分子
参考例句：
  • a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
  • His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。
13 geographical Cgjxb     
adj.地理的；地区(性)的
参考例句：
  • The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
  • These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。
14 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传
参考例句：
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

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