Tel Aviv, Israel

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: Eliezer Ben-Yehuda has a special place in the history of Israel because he developed the modern Hebrew language. Culture: Three languages + three alphabets = one street sign design. [2010]

Toulouse, France

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: Toulouse may be French speaking (place) today, but in the past it spoke the langue d'oc (plaça). Culture: The region of France south of the Loire River still thinks of itself as culturally distinct from the Paris Basin and uses its ancient language to maintain an identity as Occitania. [2005]

Brussels, Belgium

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: The "ancient" names are on display. Culture: Belgium's two largest cultural-linguistic communities are given equal time: French (rue) is first because Brussels in predominantly French-speaking; Flemish (or Dutch) follows (straat). This is the street of worms. [2015]

Tel Aviv, Israel

Perhaps translating your name into the local language, Hebrew, will not be enough to keep you company in business. Just ask Subway. The chain closed its Israeli operations, including this store on Dizengoff Square, in 2004. Their operations in Jordan and Georgia seemed to work out better. [1996]

Seoul, South Korea

Even though the chain tried to insinuate itself into Korean culture by transliterating its name into the Hangul script, Hardee's did not last long in the ROK. The first store opened in 1990 and the last store closed in 2004. Now, if we could just get CKE brands to withdraw from Russia, where it operates 15 Carl's Jr. restaurants. [2000]

Cairo, Egypt

Pizza Hut has 85 stores in Egypt. To insinuate itself into local markets, the chain has transliterated its name into Arabic. Remember: Both Hebrew and Arabic are linguistic cousins that are read right to left. P.S.: Thanks again, Pizza Hut, for pulling out of Russia! [2000]

Beersheba, Israel

Pizza Hut has 90 stores in Israel. To insinuate itself into local markets, the chain has transliterated its name into Hebrew, which is read right to left. The company's official logo, in the middle, is in English. P.S.: Thanks, Pizza Hut, for pulling out of Russia! [1997]

Cairo, Egypt

KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In Arabic, the "Fried" is dropped. Read from right to left, the sign reads Chicken (translated) Kentucky (transliterated). Colonel Sanders, himself, really doesn't translate very well, but chicken has always been popular throughout the Arab realm, and almost everywhere in the world. [2000]

Amman, Jordan

Read the top sign right to left. Read the bottom sign left to right. That's the difference between Arabic and English. And, that's why the colors are reversed. The Arabic alphabet is relatively easy to learn because it is a phonetic alphabet: Letters stand for specific sounds. The two blue dots and two orange dots (top) sound like the e/E in FedEx. [2001]

Fes, Morocco

Arabic doesn't have a nice round O sound like the one you hear when you say Mobil. Arabs use the U sound instead: See the red letters in the dueling Mobil signs? What's the third language to show up here? French, of course. As for the handshake: That grip is so American. The Arab handshake is soft and gentle, not a vice to show someone how powerful you are. [1989]

Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia

When Subway came to Georgia in 2014, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, Subway looked to the native Mkhedruli alphabet for signage. Yet, it did not abandon the Latin Alphabet. There are over 40,000 Subway restaurants around the world. [2015]

Seoul, South Korea

When Subway came to South Korea in 1992, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, Subway looked to the Hangul alphabet for signage. Of course, they also had to adapt to at least some different gustatory preferences: You can order a Korea BBQ or a Beef Bulgogi sub.  [2000]

Tel Aviv, Israel

When Dunkin' Donuts came to Israel in 1996, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, DD looked to the Hebrew alphabet for signage (read right to left and look for the D sound). Alas, not even the native alphabet could keep the chain afloat in Israel. Dunkin's last donut shop closed in 2001. [2000]

Seoul, South Korea

When Dunkin' Donuts came to Korea in 1992, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, DD looked to the Hangul alphabet for signage. It must have worked because Korea has been one of the chain's largest international markets. In orange: Deon-Kin. In pink: Do-Neo-Cheu. [2000]

Tbilisi, Georgia

Read it as you would English: from left to right. It's Georgian, a unique language related only to a few others (Svan, Mingrelian, Laz) in one of the world's premier linguistic refuge areas, the Caucasus Mountains, a place where a passel of ancient tongues holds on for dear life. [2015]

Amman, Jordan

Remember: Read right to left. It's Arabic. This global company's logo has changed, but do you recognize it? If so, you can read Arabic. It shares a letter with one we learned last month when we looked at Coca-Cola in Tunis. It begins the second word of the company's name, transliterated (but not translated!) into Arabic. Here's a hint. [2001]

Tunis, Tunisia

Tunisia is an Arabic-speaking country. So, what happens when a product from the Anglophone world is introduced? The name is often translated into Arabic. Reading right to left, can you figure out the Arabic letters from the transliteration of Coca Cola? You should be able to identify the k sound because it appears three times and is a very distinctive letter. [2004]

Amman, Jordan

Jordan is an Arabic-speaking country. So, what happens when a product from the Anglophone world is introduced? The name is often translated into Arabic. That seems to be the case with Pepsi. But wait? There is no p sound in Levantine Arabic. Pepsi, therefore, gets transliterated as Beebsi because there is a b sound. Remember: Read right to left. [1997]

Brussels, Belgium

During the first 15 years of the Surveillance Era (post-1999), "big brother" felt obligated to let you know if you were being watched (post-1984, the book, not the year). Now, we all assume we are being both watched and recorded every time we step out of our private space and into public view. Amazingly, we don't seem to care! [2015]

El Rosario, Michoacán, Mexico

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Welcome Signs: Welcome signs may glow with local character, exude national ambition, or, in this case, compliment the international community for establishing a biosphere reserve. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. See also: Geographically Yours Welcome. [2008]