In 1855, when Pedro Carolino wrote an English phrasebook for Portuguese students, he faced just one problem: he didn't know any English...Even worse, he didn't own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary! What he did have, though, was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary written by José da Fonseca, and a French-to-English dictionary. The linguistic train wreck that ensued is a classic of unintentional humor, revived in several book editions. Armed with Fonseca and Carolino's guide, a Portuguese traveler can insult a barber ('What news tell me? All hairs dresser are newsmonger'), complain about the orchestra ('It is a noise which to cleve the head'), go hunting ('let aim it! let make fire him'), and consult a handy selection of truly mystifying 'Idiotisms and Proverbs'.
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