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By Susan Banki (PhD '04)

Language Bank: Say Cheese!

When you want to take a photo
With your friends, or on a moto
How to get them all to smile?
Just say cheese, and wait a while.
But what if English no one knows?
How to get a perfect pose?
Fear not, dear friends, you will succeed
If the Language Bank you do heed.

Language Foreign Phrase/Transliteration Translation
Russian Sichas vyletit ptichka A small bird will fly out of the camera now
Italian Sorridi! Smile!
German Bitte laecheln Please smile
Portuguese Olha o passarinho! Look at the little bird!
Chinese Siu! Please smile!
Spanish Di Tequila Say tequila!
Japanese Hai chee-zu Say cheese
Hindi Say cheese Say cheese ("Well, we were colonized by English speakers, after all...")
Turkish Cekiyorum I'm taking the picture now
Danish Appelsin Say oranges!

NEXT ISSUE:

Sneezing's response...

What do you say when you hear someone sneeze? In English, we say, "God Bless You."

What is your language's equivalent?

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Comments? Write us at letter@fletcherledger.com

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