Funny Sign Friday
I found this little gem on my way up the mountain in Seven Star Park in Guilin, Guangxi.
lighting
–noun
1. the act of igniting or illuminating
prone
–adjective
1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable:
Despite the obvious grammatical error, this sign seems to insinuate that a “lighting-prone” (hyphenated even!) area is somehow dangerous. Maybe the light gets so intense that you are blinded as you climb? I suppose that could be dangerous. Sort of like snow blindness or something. Maybe because it is prone to lighting it is not always well lit, but occasionally it gets bright very suddenly. Like a flash of light. Thanks to John Travolta we all know the dangers of flashes of light. They can be great at first, but eventually they prove fatal. Maybe the people (not person, there was definitely a committee on this bad boy; this is China after all) who made this have seen one too many bad sci-fi movies?
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Great sign. I always look forward to Funny Sign Fridays. Watch out for the light!!!
Thanks Alan, I’m glad my little series is working out (so far). Seriously, that light can be dangerous, sometimes it just sneaks up on you.
Yes, humorous Graham. But, aren’t you a little thankful they made an attempt at English? Given the number of English speaking/reading visitors they don’t really need to, do they? As much as we all laugh at bad Chinglish signage there should be some recognition of trying to meet foreigners half-way.
I’ll get off my soap box now.
I think they are trying to warn you about electrical wires in the area. My guess anyway! Love Mom
Post, post, post.
It’s Thursday. Come on.
@Stevo: yes, you are 100% correct. Considering the sheer number of Chinese tourists as opposed to foreign tourists, the Chinese really don’t need to translate their signs. However, foreign tourism in China is a huge industry (I’m actually teaching a lesson on it today) because almost every foreign tourist can speak/read at least some English. In 1998 foreign tourism generated $12.8 billion USD for China. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
@Mom: your guess is as good as mine
@Conrad: fix, fix, fix. The internet. Make it faster and more reliable and I will post every day if you want.