It Translation In Lost Is

India has been a fascinating place to study language because there is not just one official language here. There are in fact, about twenty recognized languages in India with hundreds more local dialects. So with 1.2 billion diverse people speaking hundreds of different languages India's concept of communication is, understandably, quite different from almost anywhere else in the world. The official languages of government and business in India are Hindi and English and most schools require both languages on top of whatever local dialect the area uses. As a result, a lot of Indians, depending on education, are trilingual. English is fairly widespread but I've met everyone from Indians who speak better English than I do to those who don't speak a word. Having English as an official language while also having many people who don't actually speak it means that English is used everywhere, but often it's a very strange interpretation of the language. I have been collecting pictures over my two extended stays in India of interesting versions of English and I've finally decided to share some of my favorites.

A notebook purchased at the University of Hyderabad. A random assortment of English words almost as random as the assortment of images.

The attempt at making Mexican food was as butchered as the attempt to describe it.

You asked for it.

The monkeys always go straight for your goggles and packets.

An understandable warning against swimming.

A less understandable warning against swimming.

Delisious fruts?

Someone was using a thesaurus.

For those watching their veight.

An unlikely place for Pink Floyd.

Don't miss to check the dream heaven on the rof top!

A bad choice of name for an aquarium store.

From the Central Museum in Jaipur. No need for specifics.


And I saved the best for last. A mysterious dessert item offered at an otherwise normal restaurant in Udaipur:

Yes, amusing English is everywhere in this part of the world. The mistakes and strange choices of phrasing are funny, but I have to assume that for Indians, my butchered Hindi is probably even funnier.