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<H2>They Thought You'd Say This: Unlikely phrases from real phrasebooks </H2>
<p><i>I've always been fascinated by phrasebooks; my parents like to tell the story of my trying to talk to an Italian couple in Syracuse at the age of seven, using nothing but </i>Berlitz Italian. <i>Phrasebooks offer the seductive illusion of mastering a language at little cost— flip the pages and handle any situation, from booking a room to going on a date to setting a broken leg.
<p>Mostly they are little marvels of pragmatic compression. But for that very reason, I like to find the occasional oddity— sentences you can hardly conceive of ever using, little tidbits of inexplicability in an otherwise ruthlessly disciplined little work.
<p>All the following sentences are culled from real phrasebooks. (As opposed to <a href="phrases.html">a fake phrasebook</a>.)
<p>—Mark Rosenfelder</i>
<hr>
<h3><a name="HINDI">HINDI</a> </h3>
<i>Lonely planet 1998</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Can we film here?</dt>
<dd>Zarā ham yahã: filming kar lē?</dd>
<dt>Do you practice safe sex?</dt>
<dd>Kyā āp kānḍam kā istemāl [karte/kartī] haĩ?</dd>
<dt>Is there compulsory voting here?</dt>
<dd>Kyā sabhī logõ ko voṭ dena: paṛtā hai?</dd>
<dt>I believe in destiny/fate.</dt>
<dd>Maĩ bhāgyavādī hũ̄.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="RUSSIAN">RUSSIAN</a> </h3>
<i>Berlitz Russian for Travellers 1973</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I can't do the cha-cha.
<dd>Ja ne umeju tantsevatj cha-cha-cha.
<dt>I want a specimen of your urine.</dt>
<dd>Ja vozjmu u vas mochu na analiz.
<dt>I'd like to buy a pair of binoculars.</dt>
<dd>Ja khotel by kupitj binoklj.
<dt>I would like some game or fowl.</dt>
<dd>Ja by vzjal dichi ili ptitsy.
<dt>Here's to future cooperation between our organizations!</dt>
<dd>Za nashe budushchee sotrudnichestvo!
<dt>I'd like to go to a Komsomol party.</dt>
<dd>Ja khotel by pojti na komsomoljskij vecher.
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="PORTUGUESE">PORTUGUESE</a> </h3>
<i>Berlitz Portuguese for Travellers 1970</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Why are you laughing?</dt>
<dd>Porque está a rir?
<dt>Must I swallow them whole?</dt>
<dd>Devo engoli-los inteiros?
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="GERMAN">GERMAN</a> </h3>
<i>Follett pocket dictionary 1966; Say It In German</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I want to rent a deck-chair.</dt>
<dd>Ich möchte einen Liegestuhl mieten.</dd>
<dt>Drive us around for one hour.</dt>
<dd>Fahren Sie eine Stunde herum!</dd>
<dt>Use insecticide.</dt>
<dd>Gebrauchen Sie Insektenvertilgungsmittel.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="VIETNAMESE">VIETNAMESE</a> </h3>
<i>Vietnamese Phrasebook </i>1976
<blockquote>
<dt>Because I was out buying a pair of wooden shoes.</dt>
<dd>Vi³ toi məc² mua dɔi³ guoc².
<dt>Take me to the Protestant church.</dt>
<dd>Dya toi den² ña³ tʰɯ³ Tin⁵-Lañ³. </dd>
<dt>There will be no trouble.</dt>
<dd>Khong saɔ dɯu.</dd>
<dt>I like to sleep a lot.</dt>
<dd>Toi tʰich ngu⁴ ñieu³.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="SWEDISH">SWEDISH</a> </h3>
<i>Say It In Swedish </i> 1979
<blockquote>
<dt>Have you something more attractively furnished?</dt>
<dd>Har Ni något som är trevligare möblerat?
<dt>Let's take a walk around the botanical garden.</dt>
<dd>Låt oss ta en promenad i botaniska trädgården.</dd>
<dt>Clean and set this wig.</dt>
<dd>Vill Ni tvätta och lägga den här peruken?</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="YIDDISH">YIDDISH</a> </h3>
<i>Say It In Yiddish </i>1958
<blockquote>
<dt>Please play a foxtrot.</dt>
<dd>Shpilt, zayt azoy gut, a fɔkstrɔt.
<dt>The firm is bankrupt.</dt>
<dd>Di firme iz bankrɔt.</dd>
<dt>I need something for a tourniquet.</dt>
<dd>Ikh darf epes oyf a turniket.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="INDONESIAN">INDONESIAN</a> </h3>
<i>Lonely Planet</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I have my own syringe.</dt>
<dd>Saya punya suntikan saya sendiri.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="POLISH">POLISH</a> </h3>
<i>Penguin Polish phrasebook</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>What do we pay for the children?</dt>
<dd>Ile placimy za dzieci?</dd>
<dt>How does the heating work?</dt>
<dd>Jak dziala ogrzewanie?</dd>
<dt>The villa has been burgled.</dt>
<dd>Bylo wlamanie do willi.</dd>
<dt>May I have peas instead of beans?</dt>
<dd>Czy moge, prosić o groszek zamiast fasolki?</dd>
<dt>Is evening dress necessary?</dt>
<dd>Czy strój wieczorowy jest konieczny?
<dt>I will X-ray your teeth.</dt>
<dd>Prześwietlȩ panu zȩby.
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="GREEK">GREEK</a> </h3>
<i>Harrap's Greek phrasebook</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I'm absolutely knackered.</dt>
<dd>Eímai ptóma stin koúrasi.</dd>
<dt>He swims like a fish. </dt>
<dd>Kolumpáei san delfíni.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="SPANISH">SPANISH</a> </h3>
<i>Barron's Spanish at a glance; Burgess & Bowes Midget Dictionary</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I have the highest card.</dt>
<dd>Tengo la carta más alta.</dd>
<dt>Is it customary to dine there as well?</dt>
<dd>¿Se puede comer allá también?</dd>
<dt>When does the parade of the bullfighters begin?</dt>
<dd>¿Cuándo empieza el desfile de la cuadrilla?</dd>
<dt>I just want to stretch out in the sand.</dt>
<dd>Sólo quiero estirarme en la arena.</dd>
<dt>Is your husband here?</dt>
<dd>¿Está aquí su esposo?</dd>
<dt>She was born on the 5th July, 1884.</dt>
<dd>Nació el 5 de Julio de 1884.
<dt>I want the latest edition with gilt edges.</dt>
<dd>Deseo la última edición con cantos dorados.</dd>
<dt>Where is my rug?</dt>
<dd>¿Dónde está mi manta?</dd>
<dt>Have you found your sea legs?</dt>
<dd>¿Ya no se marea?</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="KOREAN">KOREAN</a> </h3>
<i>Lonely planet </i>
<blockquote>
<dt>What is your monthly salary?</dt>
<dd>wôl-gûp-i ôl-ma-im-ni-kka?</dd>
<dt>Don't smoke!</dt>
<dd>dam-bae p'i-u-ji ma-ship-ship-yo!</dd>
<dt>Who lived here?</dt>
<dd>nu-ga sal-ass-jûm-ni-kka?</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="DUTCH">DUTCH</a> </h3>
<blockquote>
<dt>This person saw it happen.</dt>
<dd>Deze persoon heeft het gezien.</dd>
<dt>We're having a terrible time.</dt>
<dd>We hebben het helemaal niet naar onze zin.</dd>
<dt>I'm going to prescribe some suppositories.</dt>
<dd>Ik geef u een recept voor zetpillen.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="CHINESE">CHINESE</a> </h3>
<i>Fingertip Chinese</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>I can't bear Shanghai in August.</dt>
<dd>Wǒ shòubùliǎo Bāyuède Shànghǎi.</dd>
<dt>How much rent do you pay?</dt>
<dd>Nǐ fāngzū shì duōshǎo?</dd>
<dt>Do you eat this?</dt>
<dd>Nǐ chī zhège ma?</dd>
<dt>I play the clarinet.</dt>
<dd>Wǒ lá dānhuángguǎn.</dd>
<dt>The countryside looks very poor.</dt>
<dd>Nóngcūn kàngqǐlái hěn píngqióng.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="WELSH">WELSH</a> </h3>
<i>Get by in Welsh </i>1979
<blockquote>
<dt>All the road signs have been pulled down.</dt>
<dd>Mae'r holl arwyddion wedi'u tynnu i lawr.</dd>
<dt>No, I'm taking the little train.</dt>
<dd>Na, rwy'n mynd ar y trên bach.</dd>
<dt>What's the barn in the middle of the field?</dt>
<dd>Beth yw'r ysgubor ar ganol y cae?</dd>
<dt>Cricket is a silly game.</dt>
<dd>Gêm ddwl yw criced.</dd>
<dt>Don't pester the girls in the next tent.</dt>
<dd>Peidiwch â phoeni'r merched yn y babell nesa.</dd>
<dt>She has excellent breasts.</dt>
<dd>Mae bronnau ardderchog da hi.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="SETSWANA">SETSWANA</a> </h3>
<i>Setswana-English phrasebook </i>1979
<blockquote>
<dt>Let it be well rubbed with a rag.</dt>
<dd>A e phimolwê thata ka sebata.</dd>
<dt>Inspan the oxen.</dt>
<dd>Golêga dikgomo.</dd>
<dt>What year is it?</dt>
<dd>Ke ngwaga wa bokaye?</dd>
<dt>Go and pick up the bird.</dt>
<dd>Ya go sêla nônyane.</dd>
<dt>Is this the first time you marry?</dt>
<dd>A ke gônê o émang?
<dt>Sew nicely with skill.</dt>
<dd>Roka sentlê ka botswerere.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="HAWAI'IAN">HAWAI'IAN</a> </h3>
<i>Hawaiian phrasebook </i>1906
<blockquote>
<dt>Such is the fashion now.</dt>
<dd>O ka paikini ia i keia wa.</dd>
<dt>She also remarked that I ate greedily.</dt>
<dd>Ua hoopuka pu ae la oia, he pakela ai au.</dd>
<dt>It is true, you are wise and we are foolish.</dt>
<dd>He oiaio ua naauao oukou a he poe hupo makou.</dd>
<dt>I will try a small piece of that cold mutton.</dt>
<dd>E hoa'o ana au i apana uuku o kela hipa maalili.</dd>
<dt>How much for that lot of razors, scissors, knives, horseshoes, and yokes?</dt>
<dd>Heaha ko kela puu pahi umiumi, upa, pahi, kamaa lio me na lei-pipi?</dd>
<dt>I had yams and fish for two days, and then I ate fern roots.</dt>
<dd>He ape ne ka i-a ka'u no elua la, a mahope ai au i ka hapuu.</dd>
<dt>Are you not ashamed?</dt>
<dd>Aohe ou hilahila?</dd>
<dt>I am afraid of the war.</dt>
<dd>Makau au i ke kaua.</dd>
<dt>A man was stabbed in the breast last night.</dt>
<dd>Ua hou pahi ia he kanaka ma ka umauma i ka po nei.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="NEPALI">NEPALI</a> </h3>
<i>Lonely planet</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Carry me, slowly.</dt>
<dd>Malai bistaarai bhoknuhos.</dd>
<dt>Where was this cheese made?</dt>
<dd>Yo chij kahaan baneko ho?</dd>
<dt>How many years will you stay in Nepal?</dt>
<dd>Nepaalmaa kati barsa basne?</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="CHECHEN">CHECHEN</a> </h3>
<i>Hippocrene Chechen-English/English-Chechen (1997) (supplied by Mark Wise)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Is the bridge still standing?</dt>
<dd>Tsun t'okhal doodush t'ai hintsa lattash dui?</dd>
<dt>Don't shoot! </dt>
<dd>Gerza ma tooghalah'!</dd>
<dt>Can you take me to the minefields?</dt>
<dd>Minii aaree yolcha vugar vari ah'so?</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="SOMALI">SOMALI</a> </h3>
<i>Somali Handbook (Dunwoody Press, 1992) (supplied by Mark Wise)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Do you have any valuables? </dt>
<dd>Wax qiimo leh ma sidataa?</dd>
<dt>Do not be afraid. </dt>
<dd>Ha baqin.</dd>
<dt>I won't hurt you. </dt>
<dd>Waxba kuu dhimi mayo.</dd>
<dt>Put your hands over your head! </dt>
<dd>Gacmaha madaxa saar!</dd>
<dt>Are the snakes here dangerous? </dt>
<dd>Masaska halkaan khatar miyaa?
<dt>I must operate on you. </dt>
<dd>Waa inaan ku qalaa.</dd>
<dt>We must bury her. </dt>
<dd>Waa inaan duugnaa isaga.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="TELUGU">TELUGU</a> </h3>
<i>Learn Telugu in 30 Days (1986) (supplied by Mark Wise)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Don't hear his word.</dt>
<dd>A ta ni ma ta vi na va ddu. </dd>
<dt>I am with hungry.</dt>
<dd>Ne nu a ka li to u nna nu.</dd>
<dt>Cannot Sir, The price has gone up. </dt>
<dd>Ra dam di, dha ra pe ri gi po yi na di.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="GAELIC">GAELIC</a> </h3>
<i>Handbook of Gaelic Phrases and Sentences (1939) (supplied by James Campbell)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Hand me that hat-box.</dt>
<dd>Sìn thugam am bòsdan sin.</dd>
<dt>You will get a candle on the table.</dt>
<dd>Gheibh sibh coinneal air a' bhòrd.</dd>
<dt>We shall troll along the coast.</dt>
<dd>Ni sinn sgrìob suas ris a' chladach.</dd>
<dt>Are you feeling spry to-day?.</dt>
<dd>A bheil sùrd math oirbh an diugh?</dd>
<dt>Hand me over those moccasins. —— They will not help you much, they are like a singed cat.</dt>
<dd>Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. ——
Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="TONGAN">TONGAN</a> </h3>
<i>A Simplified Dictionary of Modern Tongan</i>,
Appendix 3: Some Common Phrases (supplied by Philip Newton)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>He/she will have a courtcase tomorrow for overstaying.</dt>
<dd>’E hopo ’apongipongi ko e (nofo) ’ova.</dd>
<dt>Fiona's solo dance was very good indeed.</dt>
<dd>Mâlie mo`oni ko e tau’olunga ’a Fiona.</dd>
<dt>The corpse will be taken to Tonga.</dt>
<dd>’E ’ave ’a e me’afaka’eiki ki Tonga.</dd>
<dt>We (3 or more) will be late for the singing practice.</dt>
<dd>Te mau tômui ki he akohiva.</dd>
<dt>Homes are dear in Ponsonby.</dt>
<dd>’Oku mamafa ’a e ’û ’api ’i Ponsonby.</dd>
</blockquote>
<h3><a name="PERSIAN">PERSIAN</a> <img src="new.gif" align="absmiddle"> </h3>
<i>Simple Colloquial Persian</i> (Longmans 1937) (supplied by J.D. Crutchfield)</i>
<blockquote>
<dt>Take the lazy man out.</dt>
<dd>Mard-e-tambal rā birūn bebar.</dd>
<dt>Is the large bridge here?</dt>
<dd>Pol-e-buzurg injāst?</dd>
<dt>Your stockings are nice.</dt>
<dd>Jūrāb-e-shumā qashang ast.</dd>
<dt>Formerly you did not wear stockings.</dt>
<dd>Pish jūrāb na-mipūshidid.</dd>
<dt>I have not put the machine right yet.</dt>
<dd>Hanūz māshin rā durust nakardé-am.</dd>
</blockquote>
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