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Translation - art & business » Lighter side of trans/interp »
Off topic: calidad?! another great example of translation in the media
Thread poster: Rose Jenkinson
Rose Jenkinson
Rose Jenkinson  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:31
French to English
+ ...
May 19, 2008

Dear fellow Prozians,

It's only the local rag, so am not going to get too indignant about it, but I saw this article today which made me cringe and thought it might amuse somebody.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1050181_citys_most_overdue_library_book
 
Narcis Lozano Drago
Narcis Lozano Drago  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 14:31
Member (2007)
English to Spanish
+ ...
"Quality me!!" May 19, 2008

Just go to Babel Fish and type "Goodness Me!". You will find who was the "translator" used by this "journalist"^^.

Narcis



[Editado a las 2008-05-19 18:14]
 
Luisa Ramos, CT
Luisa Ramos, CT  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:31
English to Spanish
A good laugh May 20, 2008

Thanks for the good laugh. I live in Miami; you would not believe the things I see and hear, day in, day out.
 
Nesrin
Nesrin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:31
English to Arabic
+ ...
Trying to be funny May 20, 2008

I think the journalist's just trying to be funny... at least I hope he is.
 
Susan Welsh
Susan Welsh  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:31
Russian to English
+ ...
What do construction contractors do in their spare time? (German) May 20, 2008

I found a funny one on the LEO German online dictionary the other day (normally a very useful source.) The definition for "rasche Montage" is given as "fast erection [constr.]."
(I called it to their attention, and they'll hopefully fix it when they get a chance.)


[Edited at 2008-05-20 10:54]
 
lexical
lexical  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 14:31
Portuguese to English
Reminds me... May 20, 2008

...of an English ex-pat living in the Algarve who, at best, spoke proto-Portuguese. When someone spoke rubbish, he would exclaim "Lixo!" which is Portuguese for the rubbish/trash you put out weekly for the collectors, instead of "Que disparate!" (Nonsense!).

It can be surprisingly difficult sometimes to persuade proto-speakers that their logic is wrong.
 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:31
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Michael Caine May 20, 2008

Slightly off the subject, but still ...
There's a story (possibly apocryphal) that Michael Caine was filming in Spain and, during a break at a café and hearing others calling "Oiga!" to attract a waiter, asked a his table companion "Get me an oiga, would you?"
Jenny
 
Rose Jenkinson
Rose Jenkinson  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:31
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
babelfish May 20, 2008

Of course, babelfish - I should have guessed! It's frightening that so many people outside the translation community think of it as a serious translation tool. Miami must be an interesting place to live Luisa, I bet you could write a book about all the strange linguistic mix-ups and misunderstandings!
 


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