Speaking of funny translations...

[Denis]

Here's a few I've run across...

On a Japanese model kit for a VW Beetle, instead of "split window" it was "sprit window". Classic.

In my Moto Guzzi SP owners manual, instead of saying "do not exceed 80mph with luggage mounted on the motorcycle" it came out as "do not exceed 80mph with bags intact". I guess if they are mounted but broken that's okay!

In my MG Lemans owners manual, whatever they MEANT to say came out as "This is a racing type motorcycle and should be ridden as such". I love that one.

[Highlander]

The translation of UFO's Light's Out in a Japanese single read, "In the back steets, there's a roaring, smell of tea..." perhaps they just didn't like the thoughts of "anarchy" on their back-streets...

[Lightyear]

I've had many sets of service documentation that are in the first translation or "japlish"

One line that sticks with me 20 years later is  ".....most positively holding to pushing in switch in affirmation..."  Which I  believe should have been " press and hold the switch" 

It's funny now but try working on something when you had 300 pages of that crap as your only reference

[Highlander]

Try going the other way - I have a manual (actually, it's in two parts) for a single camera made by a German company called Mobotix - runs to nearly 400 pages - clever beastie... but where the h*ll do you start...!!!

an obvious and essential link much used in the past - some of it is not really for kids, iirc...



http://www.engrish.com/