As you know, Milan is preparing for next year’s Expo. A lot of money is being invested in new projects and infrastructure, but less is being spent on translators. We can only assume that this road sign was the work of an Italian who didn’t speak any English, or of an automatic Internet translator. “Sidewalk closed unusable” isn’t disastrous, but “pawn left” is. Someone who walks is a pedestrian: a pawn is a chess piece! (there are eight of them and they stand in front of the king, queen, knights, bishops and rooks). But in this game the other seven have already been taken and the surviving pawn must go left (which is impossible in chess), if he wants to reach Piazza XXIV Maggio. A better translation would be: “Sidewalk closed. Pedestrians walking to Piazza XXIV Maggio must keep to the left.” Our thanks to Nina De-Zan for spotting this masterpiece! (Click here to enlarge the image).

If you see English mistakes (in Italy, the UK, anywhere!) that make you scream “Aarrgghh!!!” please take a photo and send it to redazione@speakupmagazine.it  We will publish the best (that is, the worst) both here and on our Facebook page.