Anyone who has travelled to a foreign country is familiar with the sense of mild amusement that comes from finding public signs horribly mistranslated. Examples of bad translations can be found on any number of websites devoted to such mistakes, and terms such as Spanglish, Engrish, Franglish, etc. have been coined to refer to them. One country, however, has decided to do something about it by turning to its most widely available resource- the public.
Shenzhen, a major city in southern China, has launched a campaign asking citizens to report incorrect translations on public signs, and is offering a reward for doing so. Officials note that Shenzhen is making a drive to become an international city, and recognizes the need for accurate English on public signs. Citizens who send in documented photos or reports of incorrect translations will receive certificates, English study books, free English training or, for the top ten submitters, an invitation to attend a seminar on Shenzhen’s drive to become an international city.
Other programs in the past have been started to try to correct these mistakes throughout all of China, with varying degrees of success. Officials in Shenzhen, however, are hoping to clear up their city specifically in order to support a growing tourist trade of over 7.8 million trips and a permanent foreign population of over 20,000 citizens.
