Signage Without Copy Editors

2005_01_chees.jpg

The NY Times Metro section tackles the world of mis-spelled signs, mostly by immigrants, even titling the article, "The Grate American Dreem." The article dips into the sociological waters of the American immigrant experience, namely the New York one, with pockets of so many different cultures, but all of them prone to some funny misspellings. As Gothamist has trouble with the English language ourselves, we found the story charming, because our experiences are certainly informed by the signs we see on a daily basis. Like knowing that the pizza place that serves "lazange" when we need it.

The above photograph was taken by Rachelle Bowden at the Port Authority. And countless New York signs can be seen at Mike Epstein's Satan's Laundromat.

Email This Entry

Comments (7) [rss]

user-pic

Oh, yeah? What about the pretentious names for cosmetics, i.e., Lancome stuff?

user-pic

Not NY-centric, but don't forget:
http://www.engrish.com/

user-pic

There is a subway sign somewhere, I forget where, but way uptown, maybe 184th? Where the word is spelled :

STRETT

I kid you not.
I used to have a picture of it, but lost it in the digital shuffle.

user-pic

In my hometown a few years ago, a new housing development went up where all the streets were named after trees. My brother was walking around it right after they put the street signs up and noticed one that read "Dessert Palm." They fixed it later, unfortunately.

user-pic

And then there's the restaurant just today which was advertising "jumblia" as its soup of the day. (Jambalaya)

user-pic

Isn't this what the NYC Department of Corrections is for?

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

Spaniard gored to death during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS