Page 109 - Literacy in the New Media Age

98 LITERACY IN THE NEW MEDIA AGE

It is possible to add to this set, ad infinitum (and friends who know my
fascination with this kind of text take delight in finding and sending me new
examples, from Japanese hotels, from University changing rooms and so on). My
three examples go across some fifteen years and two hemispheres. But just to
show the ubiquity and stability of the form, here is one other – without
discussion – from a Japanese hotel, circa 1999.

Since hotels are public service institutions and their doors are open to all
guests at all times, we have to devise some rules and regulations to
maintain the dignity of the hotel and the security of our guests. Therefore,
we request you to observe the following regulations revised on the basis of
Article 11 of the Provisions Governing Accommodations:

1 Kindly do not smoke in bed or any other place liable to catch fire.
2 Use of a heating apparatus, cooking appliance or an iron inside the
hotel is prohibited.
3 Do not bring the following into the hotel:
(a) Animals or any kinds of pets.
(b) Any goods emitting foul odor.
(c) Goods considerably large in number, quantity or size.
(d) Inflammable powords, oils or dangerous goods.
(e) Guns or swords not authorized for possession.
4 Moving about in the corridor or outside the guest rooms while in
Yukata (informal kimono) or slippers is undesirable.
5 Please do not invite visitors to your room.
6 Refrain from making noise or singing loud enough to disturb other
guests in the hotel.
7 Gambling or doing anything which is hostile to public morality in the
hotel is highly objectionable.
8 Minors, who are not accompanied by their guardian, may be refused
accommodation at the hotel.
9 The distribution and display of advertisements and the sale of goods
inside the hotel are not allowed.
10 Outside orders for food and drinks are not accepted.
11 Attaching items to the windows which will spoil the outside
appearance of this hotel is undesirable.
12 Please do not throw items out of the window.
13 The use, without permission, of hotel facilities and furnishings for
purposes other than those originally intended is prohibited.
14 Do not transfer the hotel facilities and furnishings from one position to
another or change their original positions without permission from the
management.
In case of non-conformity with the above regulations, the guest may
be refused further accommodation and use of the hotel facilities in