Those who know me would be aware of my unhealthy obsession with bad translations of foreign material, with a particular interest in instructions for electronic products. This now ties in nicely with my equally unhealthy obsession with the
New Yorker, from the 16 November 1940 issue of which comes this extract from the preface for a book published in China entitled "Correctly English in Hundred Days". If they typed it correctly, and I have re-typed it correctly, it is all "sic".
This book is prepared for the Chinese young man who wished to served for the foreign firms. It divided nearly hundred and ninety pages. It contains full of ordinary speak and write language. This book is clearly, easily, to the Chinese young man or scholar. If it is quite understood, that will be satisfaction.
Indeed it will.
