Tag: language
-
Le “Bouchon” Weekend in Lyon
The word “Bouchon” in French has several popular meanings. Looking it up in Larousse, the word bouchon means, among other things, a “plug” (1. Objet qui, réalisé en diverses matières (bois, liège, plastique, métal, caoutchouc, etc.), sert à clore un contenant), and a “traffic jam” (2. Accumulation de véhicules qui gêne la circulation ; embouteillage), etc.; and…
-
Chinese Menu Translations
Shortly before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government made an attempt to improve the translation of Chinese menu by publishing guidelines and samples. I have to track that down as it would be quite a fun notice to read. Finding and deciphering these hilarious English menu is now a sport. The following is an…
-
“gristly, slithery, slimy, squelchy, crunchy, gloopy”
These are some terms that many english speakers describe the texture of certain Chinese dishes that they find disgusting (e.g., sea cucumber), according to Fuchsia Dunlop’s sweet-sour memoir “Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper”. I just finished the book in which she dedicated a full chapter (Ch. 8 The Rubber Factor) to tackle an often-maligned characteristics…