This sign was in the train, and I looked for the safety chain that I would have to hang on to if the doors were defective. After my dad read the Chinese, I understood that they really meant to say: Affix caution tape when doors are not operating.
That's funny and odd on a couple of levels. Assuming this is an instruction to the railway maintenance workers, then: - why do the need the sign at all? Isn't it obvious what they should do? - why is it translated (or mistranslated as is the case) into English? Are there workers who cannot speak Mandarin?
I wondered about that too. My dad also thought that it was information for workers, but then why the English text? Then I thought maybe it is a task for the customers to carry out-there was a little cupboard under a seat where I might have found the "safety chain"- and the maintenance staff would then know that the door needed attention.
That's funny and odd on a couple of levels. Assuming this is an instruction to the railway maintenance workers, then:
ReplyDelete- why do the need the sign at all? Isn't it obvious what they should do?
- why is it translated (or mistranslated as is the case) into English? Are there workers who cannot speak Mandarin?
I wondered about that too. My dad also thought that it was information for workers, but then why the English text? Then I thought maybe it is a task for the customers to carry out-there was a little cupboard under a seat where I might have found the "safety chain"- and the maintenance staff would then know that the door needed attention.
ReplyDelete