I figure one convent sign deserves another…
Perhaps my Russian friends can tell me if the original is less humorous.
Lest you think this blog is going downhill fast, here’s a link to translation issue that I think may be helpful to some in clarifying how “dynamic equivalence” in translation works. “Dynamic equivalence” is a bad word in circles I come from and it shouldn’t be. The reality is that dynamic equivalence is often a more accurate method of translation than a literal approach. Read “What’s the Joke” at Better Bibles Blog.
According to the Russians at my work, it’s supposed to be translated T-shirts and not underwear.
It reminds me of this sign I saw when we visited the Armenians:
http://webpages.charter.net/sandalow/Armenian-Compound-Rules-WEB.jpg
No hands in pockets. No crossing legs. Why?
The Russian word “майка” [maika] means “undershirt,” known as “wifebeater” in the United States. The Russian version of the sign prohibits entering the area wearing a “wifebeater” only and no outer shirt. Since this is considered to be an undergarment in most cultures, “underwear” probably is not exactly an erroneous translation. To answer your question, the Russian version of the sign is far less humorous than the English version.
Very funny! well don’t laugh at the Russians, laugh at the translators. The sign is perfectly normal in Russian, it could very well be posted outside of many russian churches that don’t allow women to wear pants, and come without head covering (the English translation has nothing about pants). Maybe it isn’t because of such accurate translations.