Using foreign or “exotic” words in your business’ signage? Here’s a little sign advice: better be sure you understand what you’re putting up or else it might look silly to native speakers.

How about an anecdote illustrating the perils of poorly translated signage? In Shanghai,  during the run up to the Olympics, all sorts of establishments for the tourists and athletes were being built. And among them was a cafe called… “401 ERROR.” We’re not kidding! People there were taking anything they found on Google and putting it on their signs. They didn’t bother to look up what the words actually meant.

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