Author: roy@keivs.com

I have always been amazed that foreigners can learn English so well. Ours is a crazy language where compound words make no sense and where opposites are true. For example: An eggplant contains no egg and a hamburger contains no ham. Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square, and guinea pigs do not come from… Continue reading New Year’s Gift: Wonderful signs and bloopers to brighten your day

Our newsletter last month illustrated how simple words such as “reuse” or “recycle” cannot be translated directly in some languages because translations depend on how the words are used in context. This month we wanted to illustrate words in other languages that simply have no direct translations in English, regardless of context. If you try AI or… Continue reading Untranslatable words and Humorous signs: A Thanksgiving gift

November is here; the month of thanks and friendship and family gatherings. In many parts of the country, we rise to frosty mornings and sometimes a dusting of fresh snow. The days have gotten shorter and the evening darkness arrives sooner. The longer evenings provide the perfect setting to celebrate: King Tut Day Clean Your… Continue reading Drinking, Pigs, Water and the No-Fun Zone – It’s Friday Funnies

In general, simple words are simple to translate. Except when they aren’t. And AI programs usually make no distinctions and cause errors. For example, consider the sentence, “I felt welcomed by the warmth of the happy people.” Is the “I” speaker a male or female? The word “welcomed” changes endings in many languages, depending on… Continue reading Bloopers, and why easy translations are not so easy

The days are getting shorter and the fall breeze is cool. Hillsides are ablaze with colorful leaves. October is here and the delightful spookiness of Halloween is fast approaching. October is dominated by All Hallow’s Eve but it’s also a month filled with many celebratory days such as: National Cheese Curd DayInternational Day for FailureBe… Continue reading Ghosts and Goblins and Confusing Signs – it’s Friday Funnies