February 11, 2007

Book of the Week: English As She Is Spoke

This week there will be a departure from the my normal routine in the Book of the Week department. I usually do a write-up of a book I have read recently. One of the purposes of this section was to provide an incentive for me to read one book a week. In this endeavor I have been moderately successful.

This week, however, I want to feature a book I have never read, but will make every effort to read someday. I had never heard about English as She is Spoke until I read today's post over at Pyromaniacs.

The following is from a review found on Amazon.com:

In 1855, when Jose da Fonseca and Pedro Carolino wrote an English phrasebook for Portuguese students, they faced just one problem: they didn't know any English. Even worse, they didn't own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary. What they did have, though, was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary, and a French-to-English dictionary. The linguistic train wreck that ensued is a classic of unintentional humor, now revived in the first newly selected edition in a century.

Wikipedia has an article about the book, in which a few examples are given of the translations.

Portuguese Phrase: As paredes têm ouvidos.

Given Translation: The walls have hearsay.

Actual Meaning: The walls have ears.

Perhaps the funniest example given is this one:

Portuguese Phrase: Bem sei o que devo fazer ou me compete.

Given Translation: I know well who I have to make.

Actual Meaning: I know very well what I have to do and what my responsibilities are.

Upon reading English As She Is Spoke, none other than Mark Twain commented, "Nobody can add to the absurdity of this book, nobody can imitate it successfully, nobody can hope to produce its fellow; it is perfect."

Posted by Andrew on February 11, 2007 10:44 AM.