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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

First time I've seen this one: Electronic noticeboard for the new light rail line in Jerusalem (L3) offers an estimate of about seven minutes for arrival of the train after next. If you're going to guesstimate, why bother posting a schedule at all? #LRT #LinguisticLandscape

Next light rail arrivals: 1 min, ~7 mins

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Challenging Aristotelian logic in a department store: The top sign offers "Cold drinks" while the bottom sign counters with "The drinks are not cold" #LinguisticLandscape #Paradox #SchroedingersDrinks

A vending machine with soft drinks under Hebrew sign entitled "Soft drinks". On the machine, a note is hung with the legend "The drinks are not cold"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Nope. ("Wohl Rose Garden" is not named after Wohl Rose, regardless of the Arabic version of the sign) ##LinguisticLandscape #translation_fails

Rose Wohl Garden sign in Hebrew, English and Arabic. The Arabic text reads "Hadiqat Wohl Rose," indicating that the garden is named after Wohl Rose, rather than translating the word "rose" into Arabic, e.g., wurud)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Finally completed the #PhD journey, with a dissertation focusing on workplace communication between Jews and Arabs in colleges. Hope to share some results in the future... #Linguistics #Sociolinguistics

Photo shows a row of graduates from behind, wearing cap and gown

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

A lot to unpack in this "Nablus Road" / "Shekhem Road" sign from East Jerusalem, such as the choice to write "Shkhem" in English rather than Nablus, and the puzzling "Street St." or "Road St." in all three languages #LinguisticLandscape #linguistics

Shekhem/Nablus Road sign in Hebrew, Arabic and English

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

"Welcome" in Hebrew, Arabic, English (twice!), Russian, French, Greek... how many languages can you spot? Taken at the entrance to the train station in Jerusalem #multilingualism #Langsky #LinguisticLandscape

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Poster (in Hebrew) protesting against erasure of women in the public space. "Here was erased a woman in the public space" reads the heading, adding that "Her history can't be erased." Featured in the poster: Poet Leah Goldberg #LinguisticLandscape

Poster against erasure of women in the public space, featuring poet Leah Goldberg. At the bottom of the poster is a request for people who see such erasure to report it to @hozrot.latmuna (Instagram & TikTok)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

"Bro, recycle me": This cardboard box comes with a Hebrew caption urging people to recycle, and taking a familiar, solidarity tone. Does that increase the chance of recycling? Your guess is as good as mine #LinguisticLandscape #linguistics

Cardboard with Hebrew caption, "Bro [literally, "my brother:], recycle me!"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Spotted this airborne song in central Jerusalem last month (a prime example of "top-down" linguistic landscape, heh heh). Hebrew readers will recognize the lyrics as Naomi Shemer's "Jerusalem of Gold". Best viewed from a bird's-eye perspective! #LinguisticLandscape

Lyrics to "Jerusalem of Gold" displayed above the heads of passersby in central Jerusalem

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Another "old vs. new" comparison, after the revamp of street signs in Jerusalem: There was an improvement in the last name of the street sign (Klein rather than Klayn), but I find the apostrophe in "Shmu'el" unnecessary, making it unwieldy rather than easier to read ##Jerusalem #LinguisticLandscape

New street sign: Shmuel Klein (written Shmu'el)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Puzzle for #Yiddish speakers: This Jerusalem coffee shop ("Power Coffee") features a bilingual sign, but English and Yiddish only, no Hebrew. Any ideas on the meaning of the Yiddish caption (roughly: "tsu hakn oyf ale bakn")? #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky

Coffee shop sign in English and Yiddish: Power Coffee: Artisanal Coffee Roastery. Yiddish caption: tsu hakn oyf ale bakn

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Another good one, this time from the First Station in Jerusalem: Check out the English text from the visitor center poster. Would you say it's a museum-level translation? Seriously, would you actually come out and say it?? #LinguisticLandscape #translation_fails #LLM_fails

Explanatory text from the First Station in Jerusalem, entitled "The Railway that Changed Jerusalem"

Concluding paragraph of the translation, declaring it a "refined, museum-level Hebrew translation"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

I guess once you put up so many municipal street signs in Jerusalem, a few mistakes are inevitable, but this one goes a bit too far (Hebrew and English: Tsidkiyahu; Arabic: Yehuda??) #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #translation_fails

Trilingual "Tsidkiyahu" street sign - Hebrew and English read "Tsidkiyahu" while Arabic reads "Yehuda"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

One-word roadside art in Hebrew: "ḥubaqti" = I was embraced. Spotted in the Jerusalem hills #LinguisticLandscape

"I was embraced" roadside art in Hebrew, pink letters on a light blue background, with a peaceful backdrop of trees and rocks

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Delighted to learn that a puzzle or jigsaw is known in Spanish as "rompecabezas," or head-breaker. If this is indeed in usage (not just in DuoLingo), I find it both excellent and easily memorable #Langsky #Spanish

Puzzle pieces spread out on the floor
Image by Mike Sweeney, Pixabay

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Rabinovich Park, perhaps. Or Rabinovitch. Even Rabinowitz. But "Rabinoviz" is a new one for me... The park, a Jerusalem landmark, is also known as the "Mifletzet" (Monster) Park, after Niki de St. Phalle's "Golem" sculpture/triple slide #LinguisticLandscape #transliteration_fails #StreetArt

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

On the occasion of #HebrewLanguageDay, a shoutout to all those who speak and appreciate the language. Take a word like "Tov" (good), for example, which can be found in the Bible (Genesis 1:4) but also in modern-day graffiti (below: "Most people are good") #LinguisticLandscape #langsky

Graffiti in Hebrew: "Most people are good" (rov ha-anashim tovim)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Was delighted to learn, during my latest visit to the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, that the capybara's name in Arabic is "water pig" (khanzir al-ma'a), makes it sound even cuter #LinguisticLandscape #langsky

Trilingual sign at the Biblical Zoo for the Capybara, in Hebrew, English and Arabic (Capybara or "water pig")

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

In the Old City of Jerusalem, street signs show greater variation between the languages - more translation, not just transliteration. For St. James Street, the Hebrew offers "James ha-qadosh" (the saint), while the Arabic equivalent is "al-qadis Yaqub" #trilingual #LinguisticLandscape #linguistics

Trilingual street sign for St. James Street - Hebrew, Arabic and English

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Happy World Arabic Language Day to all those who use and appreciate Arabic! أطيب التهاني بمناسبة اليوم العالمي للغة العربية #Arabic #Langsky

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Does this rhyme in your dialect? I think the a in "pasta" would have to be pronounced as in "past" to make it work (captured at a Jerusalem pasta eatery) #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics

Inscription on the wall of a pasta eatery: "Run fasta, eat pasta"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Over time, I have become more aware of language in public spaces, and evolved a more accepting attitude towards code-switching/translanguaging at home. That's one takeaway for me from #sociolinguistics: How has linguistics changed your attitude towards everyday language? #WorldLinguisticsDay

Scrabble tiles scattered on a table, with the word "TALK" in the center

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

"Gingy burgers": The Hebrew "gingi" for redhead appears to be derived from UK English "ginger"; I wonder if there are similar derivatives in other languages. The Portuguese "dindi" (as in the Jobim song) appears to be, alas, an unrelated term of endearment #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky #Linguistics

Orange sign captioned "Gingy Burgers" with a red-haired young man winking

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

A lot to unpack in this billboard featuring an ad for yogurt, from the prominent English-in-Hebrew letters ("Save the date") to the emotional language ("come and rejoice with mango and banana"). C'mon, it's just a fruit-flavored yogurt, not a family wedding #AdSpeak #LinguisticLandscape #Foodscape

"Save the date": an ad for yogurt inviting customers to "come and rejoice with mango and banana"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

From the mistaken "Amamya" in Arabic to the gratuitous apostrophe in English, this "Amatzya" street sign needs an overhaul #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #Transliteration_fails

Trilingual street sign for Amatzya street

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

See under: hyperbole: For the start of the academic year, the municipality invites people to "Study in the center of the galaxy". While medieval maps cast Jerusalem as the center of the world, this takes it to a whole new level #LinguisticLandscape #AdSpeak

Poster for the start of the academic year in Jerusalem is captioned "Study in the center of the galaxy"; graphic shows an astronaut sitting on a globe and reading a book

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

This sign I spotted at Lindos (Rhodes) is an interesting example of nominally bilingual signage that in practice, highlights the English and backgrounds the Greek. It's pretty clear who needs guidance for getting around the (lovely) town... #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #Langsky #Greece

Bilingual Greek-English sign showing directions to Lindos Beach, Main Square and St. Paul Beach

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Sometimes municipal signage does change for the better: After the #Jerusalem municipality revamped their signs in the city center, the Arabic on this "Sukkat Shalom" sign looks much improved, compared to the older, incorrect "Iskat Shalom" version #Diachronic #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics

Trilingual "Sukkat Shalom" street sign, with correct Arabic

Old trilingual "Sukkat Shalom" street sign, with Arabic reading "Iskat Shalom" incorrectly

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

When icons leave the digital world and appear in real life... not clear to me what the message is here though (beyond "we're digitally literate") #LinguisticLandscape #Eilat #StreetArt

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

This howler in Google Maps ("Hose San Martin") is probably the result of an unfortunate transliteration from Hebrew, but that's still no excuse. I assume this was meant to be José de San Martín St. #transliteration_fails #DigitalLL

An excerpt from Google Maps of Jerusalem presenting "Hose San Martin" Street, which should probably read José de San Martín Street

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Pesach is traditionally a season for holiday-oriented ad copy; here, a play on words between Hebrew/Aramaic phrase for "on one hand-on the other" (meḥad gisa-me'idach gisa) and Had Gadya liturgical song. All that is supposed to whet one's appetite for tuna fish... #Linguistics #Langsky #DigitalLL

Ad for tuna products, saying "Mehad Gadya" it's tasty and nutritious, and "Meidach Gadya" it's Kosher for Pesach

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

And this is why diacritics matter: Hebrew: New (referring to new traffic light) English: New Arabic: Iron ("ḥadid" rather than "jadid") #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #translation_fails

Sign for a new traffic light reading "New" in Hebrew and English but "Iron" in Arabic due to missing diacritic ("ḥadid" rather than "jadid")

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

No man is an island: What do you do when Hebrew street name already has a perfectly good spelling in English, but pronunciation is different? 2 signs, 2 solutions (IMO, writing "Island" doesn't work here, should just write "Iceland") #Linguistics #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky #transliteration_fails

Island (Iceland) street sign in three languages

Island street sign in three languages - should read "Iceland" in English

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Two nearby signs leading to the Jerusalem Zoo Road ("Gan Hahayot Rd) show just how messed up Arabic signage can be- one has "darb" as road, but the other offers "min khilal" since Hebrew derech can also mean "through." cf. Latin "via" #Linguistics #LinguisticLandscape #langsky #translation_fails

Street sign with "Gan Hahayot Road" (Zoo Road) in English and Hebrew, but incorrect Arabic indicating "through the zoo"

Street sign with "Gan Hahayot Road" (Zoo Road) in English and Hebrew, with a better Arabic translation for Road ("darb")

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

I may be calculating this wrong, but if Phil the groundhog sees its shadow on Feb 2, then there are six more months of wintry weather, which takes the cold all the way into August... oh wait. It's six more WEEKS, not six months. Sorry for the scare www.almanac.com/groundhog-day

Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day, a day that some believe indicates whether spring is on its way or more wintry weather is coming. The Old Farmers Almanac explains that if a groundhog (Punxsutawney Phil) sees its shadow on this day, it means there will be six more months of wintry weather; if it doesn’t, then spring is around the corner.

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Happy World Arabic Language Day to all those who speak, learn or appreciate the language! #WorldArabicLanguageDay أطيب التهاني بمناسبة أليوم العالمي للغة العربية

Chart showing the Arabic alphabet (image: Pixabay)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

This café demonstrates the adding of Hebrew vowels to signs in English characters: here, two ḥiriqs and a pataḥ (to make it even clearer how to read "Michali's"). As @aharoni.bsky.social explains, it can also give a sense of familiarity to the Hebrew reader #LinguisticLandscape #linguistics #langsky

Cafe sign reads "Michali's" with Hebrew vowels added

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

I think of these as party horns, but this Curious George (not the original series, though) book suggests "party blowers"

Excerpt from "Curious George and the Birthday Surprise": "In the living room George found party blowers... and hats"

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

An interesting addition to the #LinguisticLandscape in Jerusalem: it looks like sign language but one ISL informant was unable to make sense of it. So just performative, or perhaps another sign language? Input welcome #Linguistics #Langsky

A sign atop a building showing various hand gestures, possibly sign language

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Art at the promenade: "The Pomegranate" (Zoe Sever, 2001), a sculpture and monument in memory of the Jewish families of Macedonia and Salonika that perished in the Holocaust. A closer look shows the names of the families on the sculpture, making this part of the Jerusalem #LinguisticLandscape

The Pomegranate - sculpture located near the Sherover Promenade

The Pomegranate - explanatory text in Hebrew and English

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Hebrew is not always dominant in Jerusalem #LinguisticLandscape: The Muffin Boutique, founded by Montrealers, is almost exclusively in English (also promising "Montréal bagels"). But a sharp eye can spot the Hebrew: Kazeh `od lo ta`amta" - You haven't tasted anything like it #Linguistics #Langsky

Muffin Boutique in Jerusalem (sign reads: Coffee and Bakery, and in Hebrew: You haven't tasted anything like it"). Vertically printed is the legend: Montréal bagels

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

It's not. That. Difficult. To get the Arabic right on street signs. In this case: "Geralyahu Alon" instead of Gedalyahu Alon. And don't get me started on the vowels #transliteration_fails #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #Langsky

Trilingual street sign that says "Gedalyahu Alon" in Hebrew and English but "Geralyahu Alon" in Arabic

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Creature might have been right at home Where the Wild Things Are

Scene from Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, showing Max and the Wild Things hanging from trees

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Bilingual graffiti spotted in Jerusalem: "Woodstock for Peace" (Hebrew and Arabic). Apparently an ad for an upcoming festival, not just a reference to the original #LinguisticLandscape #Linguistics #Langsky

Graffiti showing a dove with the caption "Woodstock for Peace" in Hebrew and Arabic

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 07/08/2024

Sometimes you get the feeling that the Arabic sign makers are just phoning it in... On this bike rental sign, look at "annual subscription" versus "3 month subscription" #translation_fails #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky 🐦🐦

On this sign, compare Arabic for "annual subscription" to Arabic for "3 month subscription" (hint: it's six of one and half a dozen of the other)

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 28/06/2024

Spotted downtown: "Yeru-salam," in combined Hebrew and Arabic script. So "Jerusalem," but with peace included Photo: Hagit #LinguisticLandscape #graffiti #Langsky 🐦🐦

"Yeru-salam" graffiti in combined Hebrew and Arabic

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 10/05/2024

Another sign that tries but fails: Is it Choyin? Is it Chofin? At least in English it's Chopin #transliteration_fails #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky 🐦🐦

Trilingual "Frederic Chopin" sign in Hebrew, Arabic and English

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

A rare case of top-down versus bottom-up signage for the same site: the municipality put up a sign for Rosanes Street facing one way, so it looks like the residents put up a makeshift sign for the other side... but still kept it trilingual #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky 🐦🐦

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OrenH @langpoljer.bsky.social · 16/01/2024

I've seen many variations of this Breslav slogan, "Na Naḥ Naḥma Naḥman MeUman," but this is the first Hebrew-Arabic version I've seen. Not quite sure what the pragmatics of this one are... (who exactly is the target audience?) #Bilingual #LinguisticLandscape #Langsky 🐦🐦

Sticker with the inscription "Na Naḥ Naḥma Naḥman MeUman"; the last word is in Hebrew and all the rest, unusually, is in Arabic script

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