Clarity
Warning: Confusing Warning Signs Ahead!
Posted 27 Nov 2008
Events, Language, Places, Signs | 3 Comments
The Cliffs of Moher are amazing and breath-taking. Where the Atlantic ocean hits Ireland, these cliffs provide one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.
To cope with the hundreds of thousands of visitors that come each year, the cliff edge has been protected by a wall and warning signs abound of the dangers.
Visitors to the cliffs are admonished to avoid karate-kicking the wall blocking access to the cliff edge.
Come close to read the small text explaining what the extreme danger is, only to realize the warning indicates that the cliff you now are standing on is “Extremely Unstable”.
Hopefully you readers can provide some thoughts on what this last warning sign might mean. Please help!
Guerillas threaten gorillas!
Posted 20 Nov 2008
Why all this guerilla on gorilla violence!? Won’t somebody please think of the homonyms?!?
Please note that the editors of chickenmonkeydog do not support violence and do not condone the endangerment of the mountain gorillas.
Thanks to a reader from Chicago for the contribution.
A marketed difference
Posted 12 Nov 2008
Daily Life, Language, Places, Signs | Leave a Comment
When I first moved to the UK, back in 2002, I was surprised by the manner in which restaurants in particular marketed themselves on their signage and hoarding. Restaurants were claiming to be ‘probably the best’. Below is a similar sort of sign:
I used to laugh when I saw those sorts of signs. Only the best in this area? Probably the best? Yet over time, I have developed more of a sense of and appreciation for British culture. Thus, I came to appreciate their sense of understatement. Being seen as too cocky or forward might put customers off.
It was a real lesson in marketing the right message to the intended audience. Claiming to be ‘probably the best’ would never work in America; hey, America is the home of the World Series, where only American and Canadian teams compete. We like things big and loud with a showy sense of confidence. But clearly, that wouldn’t work here in the UK. It probably also wouldn’t work elsewhere as well.
So, I’d like to ask our international audience here, on chickenmonkeydog, how is marketing done in your corner of the world? What cultural differences on marketing need to be considered in your neck of the woods?
I know thee, therefore I hate thee…
Posted 7 Nov 2008
Language, The Little Things | 2 Comments
If one is familiar with the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt“, does that mean one must be contemptuous of the phrase?
A child’s challenge
Posted 3 Nov 2008
Daily Life, Language | 3 Comments
Earlier today, I was stumped by a question asked by a young child: What does the word ‘and’ mean?
Yes, there is the Cambridge dictionary definition, but can you come up with a succinct definition that would be comprehensible by a four year old? I really struggled with it.
