When you come to a new country which is multilingual and English speaking, where the number of languages most people speak is at least two, if not more, you tend to think, at first, that you understand signs and what they mean when they are in English.
Until you realize that you don’t, quite.
After six months in Singapore, it’s still hard for me to know when Singaporeans are serious and when they are tongue-in-cheek, when it’s a genuine mistake in translation and when it’s simply a different usage of English (from what I’ve been used to) and when there is some history behind a term I’m totally unaware of because of which I just didn’t get it.
I’ve passed by this sign for a restaurant at a beautiful mall in Bugis. I thought I’d take a picture of it today. There is a picture of a whole skinned chicken next to it.
There are signs for sales everywhere. This kind of humour is something I’m more familiar with:
The construction taking place all over the island is accompanied by a ubiquitous term that I wouldn’t have used quite the same way but I’m getting more and more used to it– “business as usual.”
Sometimes there are signs where I think there is an issue with translation when it isn’t an issue at all.
The caption is from an older post but I found out later that this is a dish invented by a husband and wife duo and not what it seems like at all.
Other occasions show signs for more practical reasons but they still seem unfamiliar (to me). These cutouts of cows representing various professions of people here on the occasion of fifty years of Singaporean independence are in many places. But also accompanying them is a sign:
I’m sure that as I spend more time here, either this list will become longer or shorter depending on whether I spot more and more signs or whether I get so integrated that I stop seeing them.
For those of you who are not familiar with this part of the world, I’ll leave you to decipher the following sign:
bottledworder 
Well, a written blog. Keep up the Good Work. Thanks for sharing the post.
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thank,s
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like, http://www.grsirgamismurah.net
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i like
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I Like Singapore. There is so many beautiful place..
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When can I get there?
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Singapore is a small country but it has been developed. Indonesia big countries but is still in the process of being developed and developing countries . Why be retarded?
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for us it may seem strange
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As a local, I am at times amused by these signs. Although the majority of her citizens speak at least two languages, with English as a first, their proficiency vary – often with hilarious results, as is evident in the pictures 😊
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I was just recenly in Bangkok and I posted a couple like this on my facebook page. If I could post them here I would. One was instructions for opening the hotel safe – google translate I’m sure. Too long to post here. The other was a sign that said, “Beware of your belongings.”
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funny!–BW
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My father talks about durians in his memoir. I believe there are certain cheeses you are not supposed to transport on trains in France, because of the smell.
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Durians are a fruit that, though delicious and popular, have a very intense and generally unsavory odor, especially while opening them. I’m assuming this sign is there to prevent the offensive odor in that area.
Still hilarious.
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correct answer :)–BW
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Singapore is unique. Singlish – Singaporean English. Hope you will have really great time there
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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“No Durians” is hilarious:0)
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Talk about strange, I don’t know how I would cope I would be as confused as hell by the signs
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I have to wonder what the cows are up to, that they require surveillance. Hmmmmm……
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apparently the cut outs were being taken away or stolen . . .
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