Monday 29 August 2011

'I beg your pardon' translated incorrectly

In a local village in Vanuatu a father decided that the fastest way to get his 11 year old son to learn English for his studies in school would be to have him on weekends in their coconut thatched roof artifact stand {shop} and be the point of contact with tourists wanting to buy local artifacts. The father would be standing behind him, nearby in case a tourist uses some high level English terms not familiar with the boy, so he can clarify to him. In one occasion, a tourist wishing to buy a carving asks the young boy, who made the fine carving to which the boy responds with a name. Unsure if she heard it correctly, the tourist responded “I beg your pardon”. The young boy was now lost with this new English phrase, leaned back, signaling to his advisor at the back that he is lost and needed instant help. The father calmly leans forward and whispers to his ears “button up your shirt”.

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