In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have seen many similar examples and not only from small businesses but also from government bodies but the Italians are not the only ones making this type of mistake. Your should see some translations from English into Italian, French or Spanish as I have seen over the years. Every translation that is going to be printed or included in a web site needs to be professionally translated and proofread.
Having some knowledge of a foreign language does not make that person a qualified translator. Translating is a profession but very few people realise this...
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Carole B;109179]
If only they realised what a [I]brutta figura[/I] they convey because they don't...[/quote]
I have to disagree, slightly. I find it charming if it is clear that the restaurant menu, or the hotel website, [I]hasn't [/I]been translated by a 'native English speaker'! Otherwise, you might as well be in a MacDonalds...
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I find the best howlers are on restaurant menu's. The latest one I saw was in an Italian Restaurant near Tower Bridge, London
The special of the day? Cozze in vino bianco e aglio =Muscles in white wine and garlic!
In Prague, another Italian restaurant (yes they're everywhere), Penne Arrabbiata had been translated to "angry pasta", but later in the menu, pizza vesuvio, had turned into an "very annoyed volcano pizza". I hadn't the heart to explain.
Lamb to Lamp is a common one and easy to appreciate why, when you ask an Italian to read the word out loud.
I see there is another thread on how bad some of us Brits are with our Italian, so it's even stevens.
Any more for any more?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nielo;109221] Would you buy a puppy from someone who stated all their dogs were ‘pure bread’? would you book ‘accomodation’ through a site that couldn’t even spell accommodation?
If they can’t even be bothered to read their own site, in their own language, or get it spell checked or proof read, what sort of service could you expect?[/quote]
I don't know about that Nielo. Our friend's website also says badrooms, instead of bedrooms and they are incredible hosts, very welcoming and providie delicious meals and spotless rooms that are cleaned and tidied up daily.
[IMG]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Happy/happy-018.gif[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Next time you park your car at the Santa Maria Novella Parking in Florence, try to read some of the English versions of the different signs. Hilarious!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Official notices are just as bad;-
The ATMs at the bank tell me to 'hide my fingering',
and, until it was removed a couple of years ago, there was a sign telling me that in order to be allowed to park in the town, I needed a 'permitted white man' from the Commune [Permessso Blanco].
.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nielo;109244]Is it a conscious decision of your friends to have ‘badroons’ or a mistake they have yet to rectify?[/quote]This could get interesting!
[IMG]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Fantasy/fantasy-19.gif[/IMG]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Having worked for many years in a journalistic organisation that used maeterial from foreign sources, I was confronted often by poor translations, both from foreign and native speakers of English.
Just a few examples of dodgy headlines:
Fighting breaks out in eastern Bosnia: general comes on the spot
Iranian foreign minister meditates in Nagorno-Karabakh (an extraneous "t")
Polish primate in cross erection cessation appeal (i.e. Archbishop Glemp eappealing to people not to put up crucifixes outside the Auschwitz camp)
Russian chief rabbit meets Orthodox patriarch
And one of my own. A French policeman was arrested on suspicion of an arson attack on a business run by a known Corsican separatist. I wrote the story and added the headline:
Corsica: policeman held over restaurant fire
So easy to do.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Happens even without translators:
A hole has appeared in the road - the council is looking into it.
Cycle stolen from police station - police have nothing to go on.
(I'll get my coat!)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nielo;109221] translated spaghetti as nodlees[/quote]Now you've done it. It's going to be "nodlees" in my head until the day I die.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
There used to be a large roadside sign on the Cassia Bis, north of Rome, that said "TITTY TWISTER BAR". Unfortunately, I was newly married at the time, so I never got the chance to explore what delights awaited within.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Marc;109387]There used to be a large roadside sign on the Cassia Bis, north of Rome, that said "TITTY TWISTER BAR". Unfortunately, I was newly married at the time, so I never got the chance to explore what delights awaited within.[/quote]
But Mark, I assume you are now no longer "just married" and so could (on behalf of the forum) venture in and report back on just how twisted the titties are:laughs: Tough job, but somebody's got to do it.:bigergrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Neil T;109276]
Cycle stolen from police station - police have nothing to go on.
(I'll get my coat!)[/quote]
I always thought it was "Toilet Seat"
My fav in the same vain..........10.000 dog collars stolen,,,,,,,,,,police looking for a lead :laughs::laughs::laughs:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Marc;109387]There used to be a large roadside sign on the Cassia Bis, north of Rome, that said "TITTY TWISTER BAR". Unfortunately, I was newly married at the time, so I never got the chance to explore what delights awaited within.[/quote]
I went there once.......I got thrown out by the bouncers................boom boom
The problems are many with such sites... many owners have 'friends' with children who are learning English and are told "Oh my Giovanni speaks English - he can do that for you!".
Others use an electronic translator for a DIY (aka 'cheap') solution.
Yet others also produce flyers for their sites and their printer or web designer is not up to the job, or does not make use of a competent translator or even a proof reader.... it all costs them money out of their profit margin.
If only they realised what a [I]brutta figura[/I] they convey because they don't...