English As She Is SpokeIn the 19th century a Portuguese man named Pedro Carolino wrote and published

English As She Is SpokeIn the 19th century a Portuguese man named Pedro Carolino wrote and published a Portuguese to English phrase book detailing phrases from everyday conversation.  There was a serious problem, however, in the fat that Carolino could not speak English.  One has to wonder, how could a person who did not speak English manage to write a Portuguese to English phrase book?  As it turns out, Carolino was fluent in French.  So he took a Portuguese to French phrasebook written by Jose de Fonseca, copied it word for word, then translated it word for word using a French to English dictionary.  The result was an absolute disaster, a phrase book that was almost completely incomprehensible as Carolino essentially translated it from Portuguese to French to English with no regard for grammar and syntax. The worst victims of Carolino’s blunder were common English idioms, which became nonsensical after being subjected to Carolino’s “translations”. For example,Anda de gatinhas (He’s crawling) —- He go to four feetQuem cala consente.(Silence gives consent) —- That not says a word, consent.Este lago parece-me bem piscoso. Vamos pescar para nos divertirmos. (This lake looks full of fish. Lets have some fun fishing. —- That pond it seems me many multiplied of fishes. Let us amuse rather to the fishing.Bem sei o que devo fazer ou me compete. (I know very well what I have to do and what my responsibilities are.) — I know well who I have to make.Tenho vontade de vomitar. ( I feel sick) — I have mind to vomitEven the book’s title “How English is spoken” was morphed into the goofy phrase “English as she is spoke”.“English As She Is Spoke” was first published in 1853 and immediately became the butt of many jokes in various English speaking countries.  Subsequent editions were published, marketed as novelties, including an edition with a satirical introduction from Mark Twain.  -- source link

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