Translators have very important jobs. Good translators know that it is not just about translating word for word.
Elizabeth Elting, President and CEO, TransPerfect Translations, one of the world's leading translation companies
says, "Accurately conveying the meaning when translating from one language to another is absolutely critical. Depending upon the subject matter, sometimes this can mean sticking closely to the source text and other times it requires a looser translation in order to best deliver the central meaning. A good translator knows this and that understanding and ability can make all the difference between getting your message across the way you intended and having your message misconstrued."
Here are some examples of bad translations that really ruined the message:
* "Drop your pants here for best results."
-sign at a dry cleaning store in Tokyo
* "We take your bags and send them in all directions."
-sign at a Scandinavian airport
* "Ladies may have a fit upstairs."
-sign at a dry cleaning store in Bangkok
* "Please leave your values at the front desk."
-sign in a hotel in Paris.
* "Here speeching American."
-sign in a Moroccan shop.
* "No smoothen the lion."
-sign in a zoo in the Czech Republic.
* "The lift is being fixed. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable."
-sign in Bucharest hotel lobby
* "Teeth extracted by latest methodists."
-sign in Hong Kong dentist's office.
* "STOP! Drive Sideways."
-detour sign in Japan.
* "Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time."
-sign in a Rome laundry.
* "If you consider our help impolite, you should see the manager."
-sign in an Athens hotel.
* "Our wines leave you nothing to hope for."
-on the menu of a Swiss restaurant
* "It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man."
-in a Bangkok temple
* "Fur coats made for ladies from their own skin."
-window of a Swedish furrier
* "Specialist in women and other diseases."
-doctor's office in Rome
* "When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor."
-car rental brochure in Tokyo.
There is no question that bad translators translated these signs and the results are funny. But when it comes to the legal, pharmaceutical or financial areas, it is not so funny and could be dangerous. As one of the leading translation companies in the world, TransPerfect Translations' Liz Elting, "The reason we are so careful is that our business is no laughing matter. Could you imagine an improper translation of directions on a prescription drug packet or a misinterpretation of a legal brief? Translators must not only be experts in language but they also must be experts in the area of business." Elting continues, "One of the biggest failures of a product was for the Chevy Nova in Latin American countries. 'No va" in Spanish means no go, not a good name brand for a car."
About TransPerfect Translations
TransPerfect Translations is one of the world's leading translation companies. With 19 offices on 3 continents, it provides a full range of
language services in over 100 languages to multinational companies worldwide. TransPerfect Translations has a network of over 4,000 linguists and subject-area specialists worldwide. The wide range of services it provides includes translation, interpreting, multilingual typesetting/graphic services, web site globalization, software localization, multimedia presentations, subtitling and voice-overs as well as multicultural marketing. It is the country's leading legal
translation company. Headquarters are in New York City.
