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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2019)
OPINION Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER January 7, 2019 Volume 29 Number 1 January 7, 2019 ISSN: 1094-9453 The Asian Reporter is published on the first and third Monday each month. Please send all correspondence to: The Asian Reporter 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217 Phone: (503) 283-4440, Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com Advertising Department e-mail: ads@asianreporter.com General e-mail: info@asianreporter.com Website: www.asianreporter.com Please send reader feedback, Asian-related press releases, and community interest ideas/stories to the addresses listed above. Please include a contact phone number. Advertising information available upon request. Publisher Jaime Lim Contributing Editors Ronault L.S. Catalani (Polo), Jeff Wenger Correspondents Ian Blazina, Josephine Bridges, Pamela Ellgen, Maileen Hamto, Edward J. Han, A.P. Kryza, Marie Lo, Simeon Mamaril, Julie Stegeman, Toni Tabora-Roberts, Allison Voigts Illustrator Jonathan Hill News Service Associated Press/Newsfinder Copyright 2019. Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Member Associated Press/Newsfinder Asian American Journalists Association Better Business Bureau Pacific Northwest Minority Publishers (PNMP) Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon MY TURN n Wayne Chan Give me liberty or give me beef satay! Correspondence: The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. 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Back issues of The Asian Reporter may be ordered by mail at the following rates: First copy: $1.50 Additional copies ordered at the same time: $1.00 each Send orders to: Asian Reporter Back Issues, 922 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217-2220 The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. If you have a comment on a story we have printed, or have an Asian-related personal or community focus idea, please contact us. Please include a contact name, address, and phone number on all correspondence. Thank you. ile this one under “Non-earth-shattering nobody thought, “Hmm, maybe we ought to run this news.” past a native English speaker.” I’m headed home after a two-week journey But hey, what do I know? There are plenty of to Hong Kong, Taipei, and Phuket. It’s been a great western businesses that, at first glance, seem trip! I was able to visit with friends and family and nonsensical. I still don’t know what a “Starbucks” is sample food from different parts of the globe. supposed to represent. Maybe in the next couple But there’s something I’ve years we’ll all be saying “Let’s often wondered about since grab a cup of coffee at Funky P’s starting the trip. Actually, it’s and talk about it.” something I have always Maybe there’s some historic thought about when travelling reference in Thailand related to to these countries. protein and freedom. “Give me Why do they have such liberty or give me beef satay!” I awful English signage? admit it, I’m clueless. Now, before you start The real reason I’ve been writing letters complaining wondering about all this is that that I’m a typical ugly if I were starting a business in American who thinks the the U.S. and decided to think of world revolves around us, a Chinese name, based on my please give me a chance. Chinese speaking abilities, you What I’m talking about isn’t better believe I’d take a moment your typical translated and send a copy to a friend or English rushed out to explain colleague and ask, “Does this something to my fellow make sense?” clueless Americans. What I’m Why? Because I know right talking about is major now what would happen if I business signage. Allow me to I’ve often wondered why some of the English didn’t. It would look something signage in Hong Kong, Taipei, and Phuket is give you some examples. like this (Chinese translated “Wooderful Life” — This pretty bad. I know if I created a business name into English, of course): in Chinese to use in the U.S., I would consult a sign is on a boutique in Taiwan “Round Dough Smashed in friend or colleague and ask, “Does this make that sells trinkets and wooden sense?” Face with Fresh Wind” — I’ve music boxes. always wanted to start an “What Do You Fab” — This one is for another gift artisan pizza place. And who doesn’t like the smell store in Taiwan. It carries no products remotely or oregano? “Foot Wrapped with Fresh Wind” — A shoe store resembling The Beatles. “Meat Liberty” — I found this restaurant in where all the shoes are pre-scented with lavender. Who wouldn’t like that? Bangkok. “Puncture Hole Dough” — We can always use “DIKE” — This is a speaker company. I kid you more donut shops, am I right? not. Actually, I think I’m starting to get the hang of “Funkpeanuts Coffee” — Well … It’s a coffee this. Look out world! Freshly Wind, LLC, here I house. “F.A.T.” — Far Eastern Air Transport. Yes, an come! airline. TALKING STORY IN Opinions “Gift Shop: We considerate more for you!” — I ASIAN AMERICA expressed in don’t really remember the place, but my guess is that it is a gift shop. this newspaper In each of these cases, the business owner came are those of up with the name then presumably decided to spend the authors thousands of dollars on professional signage above and not their store, in print ads, and on all of their n Polo necessarily stationary. They are not translated signs of a business named in their own language. They are the those of this Polo’s “Talking Story” actual names of the stores. Apparently when they column will return soon. publication. were brainstorming to think of an English name, F