If we do go with bilingual signs, I really hope we get a better design than what we currently have.
The Expressway signs of are a classic example, is Te Ara Puke the name of this expressway, or the name for an expressway? The sign doesn’t provide that information.
I really don’t understand the pushback on this. If you’ve ever been to Canada, you will find every sign is either a symbol, or dual-language. In fact, all signs, including food packaging, must include English and French. It’s not confusing, and you immediately gloss over the bits you don’t understand.
It’s such a trivial thing to show support for the other official language of New Zealand.
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/canadian-stop-sign-gm585804008-100533903
I do note they put English first on the signs.
I’m not sure why it really matters, but this one is the other way round
https://images.app.goo.gl/qU5xQSWwjm8FoLhA9
Wales seems to have a mix
So?
I’m not familiar with New Zealand signage as it stands, but being from Ireland, we’ve had dual signage since forever, from my perspective. Not confusing at all. The Irish is in italics, the English in capitals, so your brain automatically goes to where is easy for you and it’s clear that it’s the same info twice.
I found this NZ news article. Irish is the official first language, so it’s first, but English is more commonly spoken and understood, so it’s more prominent with capital letters.
Standard signs, like stop, are just in English, or Irish if in an Irish speaking area.
Using typography to distinguish the two sounds like a great idea.
Our (current) bilingual signs do not.
The Irish is in italics, the English in capitals,
Our current signs use the same font for everything, we’re not that advanced unfortunately.
It’s extra confusing with the number of Te Reo place names we have, so it’s not immediately obvious if it’s a place name or a Maori word on the sign.
It probably helps that most of the English names are just a different pronunciation of when they came and mangled the existing Irish name. Some are completely different.
Using typography to distinguish the two sounds like a great idea.
Our (current) bilingual signs do not.
This is the only valid criticism I’ve seen to bilingual signage. Like is a “Kura School” a type of school or is it “Kura” and “School”? Italicising or using different fonts would break them up, but it’d probably piss someone off with ‘who’ gets to be italicised.
Yes, I think the English is more prominent, but the Irish comes first. Seems fair.
I had thought these were already scrapped. I think I have gotten mixed up with things National said on one occasion in the election campaign that they would do, vs what ended up in the coalition agreement after the election.
The Expressway signs of are a classic example, is Te Ara Puke the name of this expressway, or the name for an expressway? The sign doesn’t provide that information.
It’s “Te Ara Puaki”, which I mention because I spent too long looking for a “Te Ara Puke” sign to see what it looks like.
I initially thought I agreed that it’s not clear if it’s the name or a translation, but then I thought as soon as you see a sign the same on another expressway you’ll work it out. Plus, even if you accidentally assume that it’s the name and not a translation, the real world consequences of that are small.
I thought as soon as you see a sign the same on another expressway you’ll work it out.
Do you know how many expressways are in the Wellington region?
Plus, even if you accidentally assume that it’s the name and not a translation, the real world consequences of that are small.
The 111 operator having to fish for information from someone who thinks they’re on “the Te Ara Puaki expressway” is only a minor consequence, I guess.
It’s just poor design, and I’m amazed and disappointed it went into production.
The 111 operator having to fish for information from someone who thinks they’re on “the Te Ara Puaki expressway” is only a minor consequence, I guess.
This already happens.
Many years ago I called the ambulance while driving along a short section of highway that everyone in the region just calls “the bypass”. They asked me if it was suchandsuch road. I literally had no idea. I’ve called it “the bypass” since its existence. I had to describe to the operator, while driving, where we were so they could find it on a map.
Do you know how many expressways are in the Wellington region?
To my knowledge, two, which is enough. But anyway, how many people never leave Wellington? And I don’t think it matters if people mistake it for a road name.
The 111 operator having to fish for information from someone who thinks they’re on “the Te Ara Puaki expressway” is only a minor consequence, I guess.
I considered this, and I don’t think it would make a substantial difference. If you didn’t have Te Ara Puaki on the sign, then the 111 operator will have to deal with someone who doesn’t know the name at all. And as soon as they say where they are, if they remember this name it will probably make it easier for the operator to find them.
Remember, when someone calls and says they are on Queen St or Church St, that’s way less information than Te Ara Puaki Expressway. As soon as they are more specific with the area, then your argument about how few expressways there are now works in their favour. As far as I can tell, there are just 6 in the whole country.
It’s just poor design, and I’m amazed and disappointed it went into production.
I’d guess it’s probably based on international signs that were part of the research into the safety of bilingual signs. I don’t really have a problem with the design. It’s just words conveying information. Maybe they could be better but I don’t have a better design to prove it.
Maybe they could be better but I don’t have a better design to prove it.
Yes we do, the Irish road signs, which italicise Irish, are an example of this idea done far better.
Haha yes, I also saw those responses after writing this. Italics for one does seem like a good idea to differentiate them.
