Washirweng.

April 2, 2014 by languagehat 5 Comments

This Log post by Victor Mair has one of the most impenetrable bits of alleged English it’s ever been my pleasure to see. The central four lines of the “circa 1880 advertisement” read:

WASHIRWENG.
WAS CLANRSS & EKPEACAILY
WASHING WIH
WHASSEWR KIUDS CLOFHSEK

The letters are perfectly clear; the sense (except for WASHING) perfectly opaque. There are plenty of theories at the Log thread, but I suspect we’ll never know exactly what services Zeng Shing of 26 East Kashing Road, Hongkew, Shanghai was offering.

Comments

Paul T. says

April 3, 2014 at 6:46 am

“& especially washing with whatever kinds clothes” ?
Yaroslav says

April 3, 2014 at 9:25 am

I am also vote for “especially”, “kinds” and “clothes”
Luke says

April 3, 2014 at 10:35 am

pics or it didn’t happen
languagehat says

April 3, 2014 at 10:49 am

pic at linked site
风水师 says

April 3, 2014 at 9:43 pm

WAS CLANRSS & EKPEACAILY = Cleans and Express Daily?

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