38 - Sunday, January 28, 1890 — North Shore News Translation from one tongue to another may result in some unintended humor RESEARCH IS pretty dull stuff — right? Wrong! At. least, not when you're researching an article based on in- ternational etiquette or ‘*‘How not to make a complete ass of vourself on a worldwide scope."' Some of the information Uve uncovered is hilarious. For starters, a lot of the material is aimed at those who wish to market North American products elsewhere. From it I've learned that: ¢ The origina! name of the Jockey underwear manufacturing com- pany was “The Kenosha Crotch Company.” @ When the Parker pen company tried to market their ink product, part of their English ads indicated that Quink would help” writers “avoid embarrassment’’ presum- ably meaning blots. In Spanish, the terms translated: “To avoid pregnancy."’ * Parker ran into another problem with their well-known ‘‘Jotter."” The term means ‘‘jockstrap’’ in certain Latin American countries, © Electrolux (vacuums) was bought by a Swedish company that sent their product back to the English- speaking world with the slogan, “Electrolux sucks better.”’ Imagine trying to sell that one on Lonsdale. akk It was also news to me that col- ors could have hidden meanings. Avoid: *Green hats in China. They advertise that your wife or sister is a prostitute. ¢ Purple in Brazil and Mexico — it’s the color of death. * White in Japan for the same reason. * Brightly-colored gift} wrap in Japan (reason unknown). keke Our use of English can he widely misinterpreted. Local slang and idioms are impossible for many foreigners to translate. ; The following story has ap- peared, in slightly different terms, in two of my reference books. A telex way sent from the U.S. head office to a subsidiary in Peru. It read: ‘Please send a head- count of the people in your factory and in your office, broken down by sex.’’ The reply: “Here is your head- count. We have 30 in the factory, If you can afford a vacation, you can afford a cruise! LAST CHANCE! Early huoking discount erpires Jan. 314990 leruisesiijpcente 985-7447 (sHIP) 1823 Capilano Rd., N.V. 15 in the office, five in hospital on sick leave, none broken down by sex. If you must know, our prob- lem here is with alcohol."* + + We're probably more at case with English as it is spoken in Bri- travel wise Barbara McCreadie Ben tain than an American traveller might be. Terms such as ‘‘lift’’ (elevator), “fla” (apartment), ‘‘knock-up” {a morning tap on the door) and ‘Yoo"’ (toilet) are familiar. However, | was unaware that a ‘pat on the fanny’? has separate — and far more intimate — von- jAK KK aK KKK RENO FOR SEVEN DAYS Kak kkk kk KK February 10th CIRCUS CIRCUS «0-156 § February 24th SANDS HOTEL +156 March 10th, 24th FRU 5189 April 14th, 18th From 5189 Other dates and maior hotels subject to prica end avaiahiity. Medical ineurence only $10.00 ecru. Cancellation insurance only $10.00 extra Pick up loornione thru-eut Lower Maintand end Frewur Valley. Coa fer datude. NORTH SHORE : North Vancouver VENTURE [SUMMER CHARTER FLIGHTS TO EUROPE FROM CAD $699 RETURN FROM VANCOUVER TO — LONDON PRESTWICK MANCHESTER FRANKFURT AMSTERDAM PARIS (from $799) BRING YOUR RELATIVES OVER FROM EUROPE TO VANCOUVER FOR THE SAME PRICE! All flights operated by Worldways Canada. Worldways is Canada’s third largest airline (largest charter airline). They have beer in operation since 1972, and own a flect of 11 aircrafts. (Flights to Paris operated by Nationair.) BOOK BY JANUARY 31/90 FOR GUARANTEED FARES 986-1377 | 140 East 14th St. (at Lonsdale) notations in both England and Australia. zak In my own travels Uve learned that the best thing to do with your hands is to sit on them. Gestures that we take fer granted as acceptable can be any- thing BUT elsewhere. For exam- ple, our “OK” siga (circled thumb and forefinger) can get you accus- ed of either soliciting or proposi- Uioning in some parts of the world. Want your travelling companion to join you? Watch how you signal! Use of a finger or arm gesturing towards you can get you arrested. Fingers waved in the air in a bar here would get us two or three more of the same drink. In some countries they could get you the full tray over your head -— you've just told the waiter to shove it. “Thumbs up"’ is encouraging or complimentary, right? In Brazil you’d get a ‘‘thank you’’ but in some countries you'd get more than you'd intended. eee Canadians are such nice people. We are polite, considerate and law abiding. But it may not get us the desired result. One friend of mine carefully signalled a left-turn by sticking his arm out the car window. A pedestrian stole his watch, nRk* Seaside & Portland, Oregon March Sth to 12th $249 p.p Whale Watching , Tofino apri2sins zen *125,, Seniors $449 pp Book Early irnited Seats ASK US GROUP SOACH CHARTERS. ANY SIZE GROUP OR ANY DESTINATION Call your travel agent or atias tours Canada -Days 1990 | One surprise to first-time travel- lers to Europe ar South America is the number of men carrying purses. They are small leather pouches, usually amached to the wrist by a leather sirap. These are so sensible — if nothing else they save wear and tear on pockets where loose change eventually wears @ hole. One caution, though. ! bought one for Brian to use overseas and he hated it. Women are used to hanging on to a handbag — men aren‘i. The first hour he carried it he left 1 behind in three different shops. 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