Something lost in translation

MARK Bradley’s amusing article on learning foreign languages (Yorkshire Post, August 2) touches on the unintended humour often found in mis-translations of foreign phrases into English.

This reminded me of one encountered in a Bangkok hotel when I worked in that fair city. A picture on the wall of our room had a caption underneath in Thai and “English”. The Thai version asked the guest not to remove the picture unless the guest wished to purchase it, in which case inquiries could be made of the housekeeper.

I can’t remember all the English translation but the last sentence read something like: “If you wish to have it off, please ring the housekeeper on Extension 644.”

Fresh faces at the BBC

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

WHAT a nice change to see some fresh faces on the BBC on Monday evening. The NUJ must be mad asking its members to go on strike. The BBC have said they are not going to alter their position whatever happens and there are more redundancies to come.

The corporation has been overmanned for years and those who work there should be thankful to have such well-paid jobs. Perhaps the savings could be used to make some decent programmes for a change.

There needs to be a vast improvement on some of the rubbish screened lately.

Carbon cost of online shopping

From: Ken Holmes, Cliffe Common, Selby.

IF what we are constantly being told is true about carbon footprints and climate change and gas-producing 4x4s and dairy cows, the biggest threat to our planet has got to be online shopping.

Everything that is ordered online has to be delivered by something on four wheels or more, spewing fumes.

How do the green brigade get round that one? The mind boggles.