New Year equal opps shock for lift travellers
In a little remarked move from the European Equal Opportunities Commission it had been decreed that from January 2015 all lifts must be multilingual. The move is destined to give a much needed boost to the European translation industry.
Announcements made by lifts throughout the EU such as “Doors Closing” and “Second Floor” will have to be made in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, Serbo Croat, Italian, Somali and Czech as well as English. All lifts throughout the EU will remain stationary with the doors open until the new announcements are completed.
EU spokesman, Dr Nancy Glouberman, explained, “For too long monolingual lifts have been confusing Europe’s mobile workforce and effectively discriminating against speakers of different languages. This will level the international lift playing field at a stroke, n’est ce pas?”
It is reported that plans are well advanced for other talking technologies to be adapted. Supermarkets have been warned that self service checkouts will soon follow and will have to explain that there is an “unexpected item in the bagging area” in 22 languages.
Consumer spokesman Ron Angry complained, “This is yet another insane EU ruling which will test customers’ already fragile sanity. I foresee outbursts of lift rage and public disorder.”