Pardon?
Okay, so my own skills in languages other than English are as near as non-existent and I wouldn't claim to be perfect in my native language but who can turn down the opportunity to poke a little fun at some classic Engrish. The sample pictured right appears on a box of Lego-like children's building blocks.
While we're massacring the language, it's disturbing to see the way "harsh interrogation techniques" has slipped into common usage. Listening to AM on Radio National today I was disturbed to hear the phrase being used unchallenged in a news item. Thank goodness Wikipedia call it as it is. Torture. I've never written a complaint to the ABC or any other broadcaster before but my compaint sent to the ABC also appears below.
With regard to the AM item:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/18/2278417.htm
I hope that in future the ABC and report Kim Landers won't so uncritically adopt the Orwellian phrase "harsh interrogation techniques".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_interrogation_techniques
Please call a spade a spade
Regards
Grant