A rant regarding Chinese tool instructions!

[leehljp]

I don't see what the problem is. All of it makes full sense to me . . . Chinese writing and Japanese writing be close as they are! :biggrin:

"This depth gauge features holding the measured value at any position and zero setting at any position to make differential measures." What the hell did that just say?
. . . Maybe if you attempted to learned a little Japanese, then Chinese translations would sound so much easier! :biggrin:

There was an American or Canadian writer for one of the English language newspapers here many years ago that also was one of the English language proof readers. In his final column, he explained how he got fired.

It seemed to the editor thought this fellow was being paid too much for the amount of corrections he had to do for Japanese writers of English. He was paid by the total word count of each article. The editor said that he (editor) thought that it was too much to pay for each "a" "an" and "the". The proof reader responded, "I have a better idea, . . just pay double for each article (a, an, the) that needs to be corrected and each preposition that I have to correct and I will make more money!" (A direct implication against the Japanese writers at the time.) The editor didn't like that!

So, he got fired! Only he did make it a funny 'last' article!

One of our co-workers in Tokyo posted a link to a current ad that says "Buy your SunGrasses here!"

Another one of my American co-workers was almost kicked out of a neighborhood senior's club because she corrected the club president when he insisted that "walking" was what you do to make money and "working" was what you do on the sidewalk! :biggrin:

 

[TurnaPen]

The point is that the instructions should not have to be second guessed. That should apply to all instructions, whether a cheap or expensive item; obviously the operating manuals are being translated best as possible by those who don't have a clue about English, possibly even using the Internet language conversion.
BUT, the problem is even deeper than that; I work in an industry that repairs and installs Electronic equipment, LCD panels, TV's, Hi Fi's, Plasmas, Computers etc. the Asian manufacturers keep me in business, rarely does a day go by that I do not get a request something like this," I just purchased a new TV but I can't understand the instructions, can you come out and set it up?" Yes I can!, but only because years of experience has given me a background as to what button to press. By virtue of association I work out most problems; Often the manual will skip a vital point that assumes the uninitated would know; Along with that comes the unintelligible English that is spoken of in this thread.
Is someone responsible?? we tend to duck shove the responsibility, but someone must take the responsibility for the garbage shoved our way. Of course, we ourselves often deserve that garbage because we DEMAND "cheap" and cheap we get!!! That is my two bobs worth, Amos

 

[leehljp]

Often the manual will skip a vital point that assumes the uninitated would know;

A second problem at the point you mentioned is strictly cultural. I can't tell you how many little bitty "points" are "understood" and skipped in other languages, including English!

Early in my language acquisition I sounded sooo American at times when I gave a detailed explanation in Japanese. Many a times my language teacher would that much of my explanation was "understood" and redundant.