For this installment of funny signs, let’s differentiate between the not-so-obvious errors and the glaring ones.
Arriving earlier than expected at a bus station in Cubao yesterday (April 10), a relative who was scheduled to take the night trip to Bicol went with me to a popular mall. But before going there, I can’t help but take a picture of a sign hanging on the door of a bus company.
The spelling of Naga, Ligao, Daraga and Tabaco (all of them in Bicol) is correct. What about the remaining one? The correct spelling should be Legazpi. I have to concede, however, that there are those who are wont to replace the “z” with an “s” in referring to this city, also in Bicol. Please note that this is wrong.
Inside a popular mall in Cubao, I noticed this summer promo at a retail outlet.
That the word “summer” was capitalized below is very minor. What proves to be unacceptable in English grammar is putting the letter “s” after the word “gear” which, in this particular case, is used as a collective noun.
The word “gears,” however, can be used when referring to the mechanism used to transmit and control motion from an engine. For example, our Honda Wave 125 has four gears. Our old-model Suzuki Vitara has automatic transmission with Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, 2 (second) and Low gears. (Hope you’re not thinking that I’m just using this post to link to my motorcycling and driving-related posts. Then again, I can’t blame you if you think that way.)
As regards our Vitara, I waited for my wife to arrive to consult her on the possibility of buying a cover for it. Even if expensive, we decided to buy one. When we arrived at our house, we were surprised by what we read on the label. Aside from the Vitara, other vehicles can use the cover, apparently even a misspelled one.
I am well aware that the series model of vehicles go by different names. What is known as Vitara in the Philippines, for example, is called Sidekick and Escudo in others. But the make (in this case Suzuki) never changes.
The same case holds for the Toyota. The current dry spell in the Philippines shouldn’t prompt us to rename it to Toyuta or Tuyota (tuyot, ah!). (For those who don’t know Filipino and don’t get the joke, tuyot means dry.)
Our last funny sign (definitely not from Cubao) was emailed by a former student, Julie Aurelio, who now works for one of the country’s leading broadsheets. She said that this was just forwarded to her by a reporter from another broadsheet, so I do not know who took this picture.
In any case, I think my earlier promise of ending with glaring errors has been fulfilled by this. Read it and try not to weep!
That’s all for now. Thank you for reading!
Hi, Danny! This reminds me of a bus sign I saw one time, which read, “MUNOMENTO.” Hehehe!
Reply: Hello. Where is Munomento? Is that near Calocan and Navutas? Very funny!
That last sign was a riot. I posted some articles regarding grammar on my other site (http://quago.wordpress.com). I was starting to think that it was my grammar that was in err. At least, now I know… Thanks!
Reply: Thanks for your comment. Grammar can be very tricky, especially when it comes to English. I remember a teacher in high school who kept on pronouncing “cursor” as KYUR-SOR and using the word “irregardless” in his lectures. Imagine my surprise when I realized much later that he was very wrong.
this is very common. ‘no? sometimes it’s funny but sometimes it’s irritating and confusing.
Reply: Mistakes have a dangerous tendency of being assumed to be true when used repeatedly. What could be funny for some could be irritating or confusing for others. From an editorial viewpoint, I resist the temptation of being irritated by grammatical lapses, especially in written works. There are times, however, when I can’t help it. We’re only human, after all. Cheers!
hmnnn.. the first 3 photos are funny.. i can relate to those mistakes and sometimes, =) most of the time, I can’t really help it.. in my mind the author is also criticizing this reply, constructively. I have to say I’ve learned something from this writing.
I believe the last one is intentionally written as it appears, perhaps the maker thinks that it could catch more attention without realizing its effect on the credibility for his products or services.
Very minor. Meaning the pinoys are hindi naman row 4, row 2 lang siguro yung iba. Errors made me smile but didn’t make me laugh … Good sign yon kasi nga minor lang. Pero cute pa rin. I believe nakita nyo na the funny chinese signs. Dami yan sa iba’t ibang sites. Yon! mamamatay ako sa kakatawa don, disaster talaga. I even keep them and keep reading them whenever wala akong pera. Good relief para tumawa ako ng tumawa kahit basahin ko ng paulit-ulit.
Sagot: Maraming salamat sa komento. I wish you all the best.
haha dami kong tawa dito!!!
nice ^_^