Beijing's War of Words

This story warms the heart of any English-speaking foreigner who has lived in China. From Singapore's Today newspaper:

A campaign to correct the notoriously goofy English translations on city signs in time for next year's Olympics could mean the end for the misnomers that have confused and amused visitors for years.

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Officials are taking aim at menu items such as "Fried Crap" and "Acid Food", and slippery-when-wet signs that read: "To take notice of safe: The slippery are very crafty".

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The campaign began last year to avoid causing confusion and possible offence when visitors from around the world descend on a city that has for years featured a "Racist Park" dedicated to ethnic minorities.

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But to some, the "pubic toilets" and "harsh browns" will be missed.

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"It's too bad. They give the city a little more character," said Mr Ian McCulloch, a Briton who studies Chinese at a local university.

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"It's almost worth a walk down the street just for that."

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Officials have launched several parallel campaigns — some aim to discourage spitting and queue-jumping while others encourage smiling and other civilities — in a bid to soften a city that has its share of rough edges.

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But the authorities have pushed the language effort as much as any other, sending out camera-wielding inspectors to comb the streets in search of offenders like "Deformed Men" on handicapped restroom stalls, and "liquor heads" seen on signs banning public drinking.

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