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Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!decwrl!qubix!lab
From: lab@qubix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Direct Translations
Message-ID: <336@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jun-83 14:56:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: qubix.336
Posted: Tue Jun 21 14:56:52 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jun-83 07:36:54 EDT
Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, Saratoga, CA
Lines: 26

I'm sure you have heard of the computer translating
	"Mary suspended for youthful prank"
from English to Russian and back to English, getting
	"Mary hung for juvenile deliquency."
(If you haven't, you have now.)
(Yes, I know correct English would use "hanged.")

But perhaps more amusing are the more-or-less direct translations
of foreign phrases into English. Foreign hotels are the best
places to find them, but occasionally they are delivered to your
doorstep, as these were with a foreign-made laser printer:

	"It becomes the cause of trouble that form is an
	unacceptable take-out." (i.e., problems if the paper
	doesn't eject smoothly from the machine)

	"Do not pull out as the drum is hurt" (attached to the
	drum itself, which will be damaged if you pull it out)

	"If do not use this equipment of long time or in
	maintaining, turn this switch off." (Obvious but awkward)

	"Shake lightly the casette back and forth." (And throw
	some hay to the cow over the fence.)

There's gotta be some better ones out there.