Caution: Funny Signs Ahead

Lists: Doug Lansky picks his favorite photos from a new "Signspotting" book

12.22.09 | 11:48 AM ET

The English language has passed the 1 million-word mark, but before we get carried away with just how rich our language has become, let’s take a look at some nuggets of miscommunication getting left by the side of the road.

You may be familiar with the funny signs from around the world captured in my books, “Signspotting” 1 and 2—some of them were featured in a World Hum audio slideshow. Herewith, some of my favorites from the most recent collection, Signspotting 3.

Mertola, Portugal. Photo by Sarah Eriksen.

Caution: It’s raining men.

Norfolk, England. Photo by Tim Bentinck.

British Telecom has a wicked sense of humor.

Nairobi, Kenya. Photo by Tom Harm.

Finally, a restaurant that combines the famous taste of railway cuisine with the practicality of a stomach clinic.

Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photo by Adrian Liston.

Pre-internet chat room.

Chaing Mai, Thailand. Photo by Kelly Dyer.

You don’t want to piss off mom.

Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. Photo by Nancy Corbett.

Welcome to bear puppet theatre!

Newfoundland. Photo by Kathleen Ninneman.

Great moments in history: “This place is just beautiful and I know exactly what I’m going to call it.”

Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Kasper Hemmer Pihl.

You know us tourists, always jamming our heads into the toilet and using the water to wash our clothes. How else are we supposed to achieve that special tourist smell?