English As She Is Spoke
What can two intrepid translators, who don’t know the target language, and don’t have a dictionary of their language and the target language, but do have a dictionary of their language and a third language and that third language and the target language accomplish? Well, they can serve as a warning to others. José da Fonesca and Pedro Carolino were the two Portuguese gentlemen who, in 1855, armed with a Portuguese-French and a French-English dictionary produced a Portuguese-English phrasebook.
I’ve just picked up a nifty new edition of *English as She is Spoke*, as the result came to be known, and it certainly is something else.
Não podêmos ouvÃr nos.
Do not might one’s understand to speak.
Gásta-se múita lênha n’éssa cása.
One’s make us very much of the wood in that house there.
I’m not even sure what the intent of that phrase was.
On the other hand, I can’t wait to use
Quê negócio vó ôu ô demorôo?
What business has staced you?
As soon as I can figure out a suitable meaning for stace. I’m thinking something like, “This project is so staced.”
For an updated take on it, check out English As She Is Spoke vs. Babelfish!.