随着2008奥运的临近，给英文标识纠错的活动如今正如火如荼地在北京进行着，从长城标识、街道标牌到饭馆菜谱，统统都在改正之列。在深圳，为了实现成为国际化大都市的目标，规范深圳市公共场所外语标识的工作也已经启动。而在以英语为母语的英国，“简明英语组织”的倡导者和支持者们也不遗余力地开展了一场轰轰烈烈的“纠错”行动，目标就是街头巷尾的警示牌和商品的包装袋，“纠错”的原因并非因为语言不地道，而是过于婆婆妈妈，有侮辱受众智商之嫌。

Campaigners for the English language last week attacked a growing tendency for “obvious” public information posters, such as a police sign urging people: “Don’t Commit Crime*.”

Other examples given by the Plain English Campaign — which fights for the effective use of English — include “Warning: Platform ends here” on the end of rail station platforms, and “May cause drowsiness*” on sleeping pills.

“It’s a phenomenon we have noticed in recent years. There are so many examples,” said a spokesman, citing notably packets of nuts* labelled* “Warning: contains nuts.”

“The ‘best’ one I have come across was a sign reading ‘Caution: water on road during rain’.

“They assume* a lack of intelligence* on the part of the reader. ‘Do not commit crime. Pay for your fuel’ is hardly a deterrent* to a criminal who has every intention of driving off without paying.”

Hertfordshire Police in the United Kingdom said the “Don’t Commit Crime” sign was part of a campaign aimed at stopping motorists driving away from petrol stations without paying for fuel.

“If this helps reduce crime or has any impact, we will do it,” said a spokeswoman. “We are not saying it is going to stop hardened* criminals, but it may make someone who is nervous think twice.”

The Plain English Campaign cited other examples including:

■ “May irritate* eyes” — on a can of self-defense pepper spray*;

■ “Do not open door while airborne* except in emergency” — on emergency exit doors in planes;

■ “Removing the wheel can influence the performance of the bicycle” — from a Dutch bicycle manual*;

■ “Do not iron clothes on body” — from packaging on a steam iron*.

Supermarket Tesco — which warns shoppers that cream contains milk and that salted butter contains milk and salt — defended itself, saying it gave customers “all the possible information they should need.”

The Plain English Campaign said politicians were also guilty of the trend.

“Politicians declaring ‘We are taking the terrorist threat very seriously,’ or ‘We are committed to improving the health service’ is just rhetoric*,” the spokeman said.

(SD-Agencies)