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Found mistranslated signs (April 25, 2011)
Tēmas autors: RominaZ
RominaZ
RominaZ  Identity Verified
Argentīna
angļu - spāņu
+ ...
Apr 25, 2011

This thread is part of the Translator playground: a place for translators to have fun, to network, to learn, and to hone their translation or linguistic skills. See the announcement here.

Need a quick break from work? In this forum translators and language professionals can share pictures of found mistranslations, comics, images representing translation, etc.

All are welcome to participate and to add new items to this and the other areas of the Translator playground; have fun with it! If you need help or would like to propose an addition to the Translator playground, contact site staff through the online support system.



Have you ever seen translation go wrong in signs, menus, brochures? This is the time to share. Here are some examples:







And remember, next time you spot a mistranslation take a photo and share it here.


 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
ASV
Local time: 07:17
angļu - vācu
+ ...
In memoriam
More... Apr 25, 2011







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Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei  Identity Verified
Gana
Local time: 14:17
japāņu - angļu
The first sign Apr 25, 2011

Shockingly enough, "how to wash your buttocks" is not a mistranslation. It's a perfectly accurate translation of what is written there, which is presumably the instructions of use for a bidet.

 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Nīderlande
Local time: 16:17
Biedrs (kopš 2006)
angļu - afrikandu
+ ...
Useless without commentary Apr 25, 2011

RominaZ wrote:
Have you ever seen translation go wrong in signs, menus, brochures?


These images are useless without commentary or explanation of what the translation error is. Sometimes it may actually not be a translation error at all, but simply something which is normal in one culture but strange in the American culture.


 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
ASV
Local time: 07:17
angļu - vācu
+ ...
In memoriam
Not really, IMO Apr 25, 2011

Samuel Murray wrote:

These images are useless without commentary or explanation of what the translation error is. Sometimes it may actually not be a translation error at all, but simply something which is normal in one culture but strange in the American culture.


In regard to the bidet example: Bidets are common in the US, so this has nothing to do with differences in culture. However, nobody would phrase it like that in English...

I hope I understood your concern correctly.


 
Daniela Gehringer
Daniela Gehringer  Identity Verified
Vācija
Local time: 16:17
angļu - vācu
+ ...
Collection of Engrish signs Apr 26, 2011

I love mistranslations (this sounds so wrong in a translators' forum!) and when I need a good laugh, I go to http://www.engrish.com. The titles and captions to the pictures are almost as funny as the pictures themselves. This site never fails to lighten my mood, I highly recommend it

 
Dave Bindon
Dave Bindon  Identity Verified
Grieķija
Local time: 17:17
grieķu - angļu
In memoriam
From a Greek swimming pool: Apr 26, 2011



 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Hidden by poster's request
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:17
franču - angļu
+ ...
In memoriam
Gambian menu Apr 26, 2011

I've already posted this example in a previous forum, but I'll send it again.

Seen last month on a menu in The Gambia:

"BABA GHANOUCH
Grilled aborigines with tomatoes, parsley and nuts".

Later, we saw some shiny purple aborignes on sale in the vegetable market ...



 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: By poster request
Andrew Weston
Andrew Weston  Identity Verified
Jaunzēlande
Local time: 02:17
japāņu - angļu
+ ...
A few signs we found in China and Hong Kong May 3, 2011




This was trumped by another I saw but regret never photographing: "Slide Carefully".

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This was trumped by another I saw but regret never photographing: "Slide Carefully".




I tried this switch many times but never found out what a sockel was.




Read carefully - you have to wonder what is in these buns!




Feeling confident about reading that menu?


We don't want your protests here.


You might think you're God - but you're not.




"Speeling" turned up more than once in a similar context. A new coinage, perhaps?
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Ashley Wans
Ashley Wans  Identity Verified
ASV
Local time: 07:17
spāņu - angļu
+ ...
They are?! May 3, 2011

Nicole Schnell wrote:

Samuel Murray wrote:

These images are useless without commentary or explanation of what the translation error is. Sometimes it may actually not be a translation error at all, but simply something which is normal in one culture but strange in the American culture.


In regard to the bidet example: Bidets are common in the US, so this has nothing to do with differences in culture. However, nobody would phrase it like that in English...

I hope I understood your concern correctly.


I have lived in the US all my life, and have never come across a bidet. Yes, we know what they are here, but I have never actually seen one in real life.


 
Michiel Leeuwenburgh
Michiel Leeuwenburgh  Identity Verified
Nīderlande
Local time: 16:17
Biedrs (kopš 2009)
angļu - holandiešu
For the fans: May 3, 2011

Check http://www.engrish.com/ for loads and loads more...!
Enjoy.

I just noticed that Daniela recommended the same site! I guess it shows how funny it is (and how I should read previous posts a bit more carefully...).


[Bijgewerkt op 2011-05-03 09:21 GMT]


 
roberto bormann
roberto bormann  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:17
angļu - portugāļu
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
It´s simply wrong. May 6, 2011

Samuel Murray wrote:

RominaZ wrote:
Have you ever seen translation go wrong in signs, menus, brochures?


These images are useless without commentary or explanation of what the translation error is. Sometimes it may actually not be a translation error at all, but simply something which is normal in one culture but strange in the American culture.


Well, IMHO, if the translated context seems weird to the target culture reader, I call it wrong translation.


 
AllegroTrans
AllegroTrans  Identity Verified
Apvienotā Karaliste
Local time: 15:17
franču - angļu
+ ...
C'mon Samuel Murray May 25, 2011

Lighten up, these are all plain funny, that's what this forum is about anyway

 
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Found mistranslated signs (April 25, 2011)






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