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30 Mar 04 - 08:19 PM (#1150559) Subject: BS: bad translations From: dianavan My daughter and I were grabbing a bite to eat while waiting for a train in Genoa. It was late but we found a little restaurant within walking distance that had an Italian/English menu. I told my daughter I would like to try the 3rd item on the menu and waited for her response. The English translation said, "Handkerchief with slick!" It was actually lasagna with basil sauce. My favorite is a restaurant which advertises. "Fired rice and Nooldes" I suppose this isn't a bad translation but poor spelling. What are some of the "funnies" you have seen? d |
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30 Mar 04 - 08:31 PM (#1150566) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Peace Was supposed to have been an ad for Coke that was being sold in Japan. It was when Coke was using the slogan, "Coca Cola, the life of the party." Some how it ended up translated, "Coca Cola, if it's not at your party, you are dead." I heard that, and I'm not sure I have all the facts correct. However, . . . . |
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30 Mar 04 - 11:02 PM (#1150640) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: rangeroger dianavan, could that be "Fried Rice and No 'Oldes Barred"? rr |
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31 Mar 04 - 12:49 AM (#1150674) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Johnny in OKC Phrase book for visitors to America: "The English How she is Spoke" Love, Johnny |
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31 Mar 04 - 12:51 AM (#1150675) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Johnny in OKC From a cartoon I saw many years ago ... Translator sitting between two dignitaries: "He wants to plant a perpetual friendly flower in the fragrant nose of your distinguished fellowship, or something." Love, Johnny |
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31 Mar 04 - 02:24 AM (#1150706) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,freda An African chieftain flew to the United States to visit the president. When he arrived at the airport, a host of newsmen and television cameramen met him. One of the reporters asked the chief if he had a comfortable flight. The chief made a series of weird noises...."screech, scratch, honk, buzz, whistle, z-z-z-z-"...and then added in perfect English, "Yes, I had a very nice flight." Another reporter asked, "Chief, do you plan to visit the Washington Monument while you're in the area? The chief made the same noises..."screech, scratch, honk, buzz, whistle, z-z-z-z"...and then said, "Yes, and I also plan to visit the White House and the Capitol Building." "Where did you learn to speak such flawless English?" asked the next reporter. The chief replied, "Screech, scratch, honk, buzz, whistle, z-z-z-z...from the short-wave radio." |
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31 Mar 04 - 07:34 AM (#1150851) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,A wandering Minstrel These three from genuine greek restaurants I ate in last summer Fishing with Muscles (bouillabaisse) rice bondaged with garbage leaves (dolmades) roast beer (Beef! I hope) |
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31 Mar 04 - 07:56 AM (#1150867) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Jeanie Maybe some of you might like to pay a virtual (or real) visit to the Camping de Cognac campsite in France. Amongst the many attractions on offer: "For most courageous, the track of balls will be grounds of exploit between friends." Alternatively, you could go in for a little "Church Romance" or visit one of the laundrettes which are listed under "cultural and historic treasures" as being worth a trip. Become intoxicated by this campsite which, they tell us, is "full of Cognac air." Oh, and they thoughtfully provide "sets of various children" - so you can leave your own ones at home. Bonnes vacances, mes amis ! - jeanie |
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31 Mar 04 - 10:03 AM (#1150955) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Amos The government of Uzbekistan explains today: "In the process of being detained, 20 terrorists blew themselves up." Oh, those terrorists!! Always up in the air about something. A |
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31 Mar 04 - 10:13 AM (#1150967) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Crane Driver The bad spelling in restaurant menus is intended to distract your attention from the bad maths in your bill. Andrew |
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31 Mar 04 - 04:06 PM (#1151251) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Cluin The one I heard was that the "Come Alive With Pepsi" slogan was interpreted in Chinese as "Pepsi Brings Your Dead Ancestors Back From the Grave". And similarly, the words "Coca Cola" were translated in China to mean "Bite the Wax Tadpole". |
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31 Mar 04 - 04:10 PM (#1151254) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: TheBigPinkLad Ford Motor Company had trouble selling it's Nova model in Mexico. |
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31 Mar 04 - 04:20 PM (#1151260) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Peace Cluin: You have it. My memory is fading with age. Well I knew it was the Orient AND a soft drink, didn' I? |
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31 Mar 04 - 05:34 PM (#1151319) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Shanghaiceltic I have seen bean shoots as bean shits. Tasty At an aerospace expo I saw the translation of the term 'fire and forget' (it was for an air to air missile system) as'fire and I cannot remember' At a technical presentation given by a French company the title was meant to have been 'The shift if sensing technology' but unfortunately the F had been missed out. |
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31 Mar 04 - 06:28 PM (#1151372) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: TheBigPinkLad Those rench, hey? |
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31 Mar 04 - 06:47 PM (#1151393) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: michaelr This may be apocryphal, but purportedly comes from instructions in English at a Japanese car rental company: When pedestrian of foot heave into view, first tootle him melodiously. If he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigor. Cheers, Michael |
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31 Mar 04 - 07:11 PM (#1151410) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Donuel The Grandaddy of them all was in China where Coca Cola phonetically means "bite the wax tadpole" The phonetic name has been changed. |
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31 Mar 04 - 08:02 PM (#1151446) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Johnny in OKC Ancient story probably told by Mark Twain: Seated next to an oriental gentleman at a formal dinner, the American attempted to make conversation. "You like-ee soup-ee?" he inquired. The oriental nodded pleasantly. "You like-ee salad-ee?" Again a nod. "You like-ee beef-ee?" Nodding again. At that point, the host rose to introduce the evening's guest speaker, Mr. Yung Chee Loo. The oriental man spoke for half an hour on economics, in perfect, beautiful English. Returning to his seat, he asked the American, "You like-ee speech-ee?" Love, Johnny in OKC |
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31 Mar 04 - 08:08 PM (#1151451) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Uncle_DaveO On the other hand, it is classic that educated foreign persons who learn English may be much more precise in their use of their new tongue. The dapper Frenchman sat down in the restaurant, and indicated, as part of his order, that he desired "peaches and cream". When he was served, lo and behold, the beautiful fresh peaches had been sliced into a bowl and nice fresh cream poured over. He complained: "I asked for peaches and cream. You have brought me peaches with cream!" Quoth the waitress, "That's the same thing, isn't it?" "Ah, no! Mademoiselle, would you say that a woman and child is the same thing as a woman with child?" Dave Oesterreich |
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31 Mar 04 - 08:48 PM (#1151469) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Blackcatter Yeah, but who the hell orders Peaches and cream the way he wanted it? ------------ My Cannon printer give a low-ink waring like this: "Although printing is in progress, a low ink warning occurs." Not particularly funny or bad, but just an odd sentence structure from a company that's been invested in the U.S. market for many, many years. I love it everytime I see it. It's almost haiku-like. |
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31 Mar 04 - 11:54 PM (#1151563) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: LadyJean I had a French teacher in high school who had a master's degree from the Sorbonne. She told us about the time she went into a Parisian butcher's and asked for Chicken cleavage. My sister spent a month in Spain asking waiters for the hillside, La Quenta instead of La Questa, the bill. Eventually a waiter set them straight. She and her friend laughed. All the other customers in the restaurant wanted to know what the Americans were laughing at. The waiter told them. They then heard laughter coming from the kitchen, and as they left the restaurant, a small group followed them, chanting La Questa La Questa La Questa. I bought my sister a Squirting Spouting Dolphin, mostly because of the directions on the back, that included such gems as, "After Playing the Dolphin the batteries must be removed out." I thought the directions would amuse our blind cousin. I didn't think he'd try to feel the dolphin as it was doing laps in a dishpan, or that it would shoot a jet of water right in his face when he did. But it certainly did enliven Christmas. Does anyone know where I can get another Squirting Spouting Dolphin? Several friends are looking for them. |
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01 Apr 04 - 12:01 AM (#1151567) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull heloo., i think fiat panda means shit in mexican, but i'm not sure really.john |
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01 Apr 04 - 12:14 AM (#1151579) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull any way= Malcom is the spanish word for shit, not sure who posted itm but might have been wolfgang or mudgaued, not sure really, sk Malcum Douglas, he will know. |
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01 Apr 04 - 12:56 AM (#1151598) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST Ooh, bad curry tonight, jOhn? Blackcatter -- you may enjoy these (not sure where they're from): In Japan, they have replaced the impersonal and unhelpful Microsoft error messages with Haiku poetry messages. Haiku poetry has strict construction rules - each poem has only 17 syllables; 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, 5 in the third. They are used to communicate a timeless message, often achieving a wistful, yearning and powerful insight through extreme brevity. Here are 16 actual error messages from Japan. ------------------------------------------------------------ The Web site you seek Cannot be located, but Countless more exist. -------------------------------------------- Chaos reigns within. Reflect, repent, and reboot. Order shall return. ----------------------------------------------- Program aborting: Close all that you have worked on. You ask far too much. ------------------------------------------------ Windows NT crashed. I am the Blue Screen of Death. No one hears your screams. -------------------------------------------------- Yesterday it worked. Today it is not working. Windows is like that. --------------------------------------------------- Your file was so big. It might be very useful. But now it is gone. ------------------------------------------- Stay the patient course. Of little worth is your ire. The network is down. --------------------------------------------------- A crash reduces Your expensive computer To a simple stone. -------------------------------------------------- Three things are certain: Death, taxes and lost data. Guess which has occurred. --------------------------------------------------- You step in the stream, But the water has moved on. This page is not here. --------------------------------------------------- Out of memory. We wish to hold the whole sky, But ! we never will. ------------------------------------------------ Having been erased, The document you're seeking Must now be retyped. --------------------------------------------------- Serious error. All shortcuts have disappeared. Screen. Mind. Both are blank. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Michael |
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01 Apr 04 - 01:04 AM (#1151602) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: michaelr My cookie had gone. Then I re-registered, and Again all is well. Cheers, Michael |
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01 Apr 04 - 01:21 AM (#1151610) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Amos Too late, it seems Macintosh users Were right all along |
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01 Apr 04 - 01:40 AM (#1151618) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: michaelr Scansion, Amos, scansion!! |
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01 Apr 04 - 01:48 AM (#1151624) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Blackcatter Michael - remember, if Microsoft is using haiku, Apple HAS to be different! |
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01 Apr 04 - 02:21 AM (#1151645) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Gurney Not sure now where I read it, but it seems that if you translate the english phrase 'Out of sight, out of mind' into Russian, it comes out as 'Invisible lunatic.' |
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01 Apr 04 - 04:20 AM (#1151723) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Dáithí I heard that the Phrase "The Flesh is willing but the Spirit is weak", when translated by a software program into Russian, then back in to English, reads: "The meat is rotten but the vodka is diluted" Great fun, this thread! Dáithí |
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01 Apr 04 - 10:17 AM (#1151959) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Uncle_DaveO The "Japanese" haikus above are delightful, but I'm extremely doubtful that they're actual Japanese real-world error messages. For one thing, in Japanese the syllable count would be off from haiku specs. In other words, they are haikus only in English. Sorry to be a wet blanket. Dave Oesterreich |
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01 Apr 04 - 03:21 PM (#1152188) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: mike the knife Babelfish is the source for some spectacularly bad translations. When I was living in Germany I made a few bad mistakes: - Once told my girlfriend's mother I was preparing a vegetable Enema(Einlauf) when I meant to say Cassarole (Auflauf). - Same girlfriend- told her & her friends that the cheese I had brought to the party was purchased from a crazy person (Irrer) with an erection (Stander) on the market, rather than from an Irishman (Irer) with a Stand (Stand) on the market. A good laugh at my expense... Here's a good link (or two) for English/German wordplay: http://www.chronik.ch/sprulex.shtml http://www.susanne-und-dirk.de/runaways.html http://www.frigger.de/engl.htm |
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03 Apr 04 - 12:56 AM (#1153355) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: JennyO Mitsubishi doesn't sell their Pajero SUV under the same name in Spain, as they do in the rest of Europe, because in vernacular Spanish "pajero", or something that is pronounced similarly, not sure, can mean something like, ahem, "wanker". |
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03 Apr 04 - 03:35 AM (#1153394) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: darkriver You folks might like this site, which deals a lot with the phenomenon of the Japanese use of English for commercial purposes (signs, ads, etc.). Some hair-raising examples there, with plenty of photos. For example, a sign in Japanese and English: NOTICE OF TAKE STAIRCASE
regards, doug aka darkriver |
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03 Apr 04 - 04:12 AM (#1153400) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: darkriver whoops, sorry. The link I just posted doesn't work, but this one does: Engrish.com |
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03 Apr 04 - 04:25 PM (#1153714) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Arnie I always smiled when passing the Bradford curry house that catered for Weeding parties. Bring your own trowel?? |
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23 Apr 04 - 12:06 PM (#1169056) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,apricot Try this site too loaded with really funny stuff. www.seoulsearching.com/language/mistranslations.html |
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23 Apr 04 - 01:51 PM (#1169180) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: SueB Wolf Rains, a Japanese anime DVD with English subtitles, contains phrase "lofty teeth". What are lofty teeth? We have never been able to discover. |
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23 Apr 04 - 04:15 PM (#1169305) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Firecat Another anime, called "Ah! My Goddess!" that my best mates Becky and Stacey introduced me to, has the following lyrics as part of the theme song "Even though I give you a puzzle, you cannot work it out becase you are slow", "Cover me gently with your shirt", "I pinch your arm, can you tell how I feel?", and "Though the bride is happy, you yawn hugely"! I also like the instructions on a Korean kitchen knife "Keep out of children" |
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23 Apr 04 - 04:21 PM (#1169312) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: dianavan Lofty teeth??????? Maybe the upper set. I remember Yoko saying that as a child, she was instructed not to "smile like a shopkeeper" because it was undignified. Is it still considered slightly "common" to show your teeth? |
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23 Apr 04 - 04:23 PM (#1169318) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Amos Lofty teeth? I know a girl who had 'em when I was a young man -- made kissing interesting... A |
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24 Apr 04 - 04:39 PM (#1169916) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Chanteyranger In a Japanese hotel: "You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid." In a Chinese restaurant menu in Berkeley, California: "Sweat Breads" (sweet breads). Going around the 'net some time ago was this, from a sign in a Swedish shop: "Ears pierced while you wait." |
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24 Apr 04 - 06:59 PM (#1170006) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: SueB Thanks for the tip, Firecat - my children are always on the lookout for new anime - we'll be looking for Ah! My Goddess! |
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26 Apr 04 - 10:36 PM (#1171861) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Melani In my developmentally disabled son's IEP (written by a native English speaker): "It is important to note that the teacher believes Daniel has the same skills as his mother." |
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26 Apr 04 - 10:42 PM (#1171866) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: dianavan Melani - I hope you asked for that sentence to be corrected. |
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27 Apr 04 - 05:09 PM (#1172664) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Joe_F An old story has it that a telegram "Your son suspended for minor offenses" was translated from English to Russian, then retranslated to English, and was received by the parents as "Your son hanged for juvenile crimes". |
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28 Apr 04 - 02:36 PM (#1173366) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Melani Actually, dianavan, there are a few things he does better than I do! |
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28 Apr 04 - 05:32 PM (#1173506) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Sunga You can have great fun at this online translator by translating sentences or paragraphs from English in to another language and then back to English. For example, I just did this with the sentence: "Who's to say who's right or wrong?" and ended up with: "Who has for saying who has right or forgery?" I'd imagine you could keep going back & forth until there was almost no resemblence at all to the original - rather like the old game of telephone. |
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30 Apr 04 - 09:50 AM (#1174933) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: JennyO I decided to copy something from the "Eh Up" thread, and translate it from "English" to French, then back again, and this is what I got: Noow then `owd Muppit me lad. Grand t see thee abowt. Geeetins from` East Raaadin uv Gods awn Coonty. Thas nowt wron wi Bratfud al av thee nar! Wen thas a part `t graatest cownti in all a`tEngland, tha`s ar` rayt wi mee! Now sithi al the Shufildrs an Barslyeytes. Dont thi gun gittin thi sens upset. Wi love thee us well even if the ant got thi own Raadin! :-) Owd Muppit de ` de Noow puis je jeune homme. T grand voient l'abowt de thee. Les dieux UV est de Raaadin de from` de Geeetins ébarbent Coonty. Thee de poids du commerce d'Al de Bratfud de wi de wron de nowt de Thas nar ! Thas de Wen un cownti graatest du ` t de pièce dans tout l'a`tEngland, mee de wi de rayt d'ar` de tha`s ! Maintenant Al de sithi le Shufildrs un Barslyeytes. Les sens de thi de gittin de pistolet de thi ne dérangent pas. Le thee d'amour de Wi nous bien même si la fourmi obtenait le thi possèdent Raadin ! : -) Owd Muppit of ` of Noow then I young man. T large sees the abowt thee. Gods UV is of Raaadin of from` of Geeetins trim Coonty. Thee of weight of the Al trade of Bratfud of wi of wron of nowt of Thas nar! Thas de Wen a cownti graatest of the ` T of part in all the a`tEngland, mee of wi of rayt of ar` of tha`s! Now Al of sithi Shufildrs Barslyeytes. The directions the thi one of gittin of gun the thi one do not disturb. The thee of love of Wi us well even if the ant obtained the thi one have Raadin! : -) Well it wasn't all that easy to follow in the first place, but now? How did they get "do not disturb"? |
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30 Apr 04 - 10:07 AM (#1174947) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Allan C. Sunga, you can have the same fun with the Translate function you'll find available at the foot of each post here. Some time back we had a lot of fun translating and retranslating some common songs. Maybe someone can link the thread. I can't find it. |
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30 Apr 04 - 02:11 PM (#1175174) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: robomatic When I was at school in California, the toilet lids were labeled with the name of the dormitary in which they were initially installed: "Devoro". My friend Marta thought it was hilarious because it was Spanish for "I devour". |
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30 Apr 04 - 09:27 PM (#1175478) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: izzy We have a bottle of Bordeaux on the table on the back of which it says "This wine has a delightful warm fruity nose". I don't know about you but that reminds me of a dog... |
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08 Oct 09 - 08:52 PM (#2741634) Subject: bloopers & bad translations of business signs From: Genie From a Singapore construction zone sign: ERECTION IN PROGRESS (One o' Bobert's floozettes walking by, no doubt.) From another construction site in Singapore: ANGER: KEEP OUT (She ignored their wolf whistles, maybe?) |
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08 Oct 09 - 09:26 PM (#2741651) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Ed T "jam and eggs", I saw on a breakfast menu in Caracus |
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08 Oct 09 - 10:46 PM (#2741681) Subject: RE: BS: Badly Translated Business Signs From: Genie Restaurant sign in Shanghai, China - Smart Noshery Makes You Slobber (Specialty of the house is pablum perhaps?) I especially like this sign from China - (Sure, people may talk trash on their cell phones, but "poopie" is a bit harsh.) and you've gotta see the sign on this recycling machine in Seoul, S. Korea: CANS / BOTTLES / P E T S ("Recycling" program run by the restaurant next door, no doubt.) |
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09 Oct 09 - 01:36 AM (#2741759) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: MGM·Lion Not exactly a translation: but a similar sort of misapprehension. My mother-in-law's village church had been decorated at the height of the Arts&Crafts revival, with fancy archaic-style lettering, including the long-s [ſ], for the Biblical slogans: which caused both my wife and me to read their version of "For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" as "For of fuck is the Kingdom of Heaven" — a sentiment we would have been happy to endorse. (We did not mention this to her mother, who would not have been amused.) |
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09 Oct 09 - 09:05 AM (#2741952) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mr Happy Was there an archaic letter 'h' which resembled a modern letter 'k'? |
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09 Oct 09 - 09:59 AM (#2741988) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Uncle_DaveO MtheGM, the problem there was a misunderstanding of that letter form. It's called "the medial S", because it's to be used only in the middle of a word. Dave Oesterreich |
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09 Oct 09 - 12:01 PM (#2742090) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: MGM·Lion Yes, I knew that - tho I think at certain periods it could begin a word, tho could never come at end. Yes, Mr Happy, the 'h' was given a sort of curlicue to its right hand tail which made it look like a script 'k': have searched my Character Palette without finding precise analogue; but think the l.c, 'h' on the Jokerman or AppleChancery typefaces might not be a million miles from it. |
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09 Oct 09 - 03:42 PM (#2742291) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Gurney I was just watching the DVD 'The Buena Vista Social Club.' I loved the passionate music, but I felt there was something lost in the translations to English. Or perhaps you CAN"T translate it with the appropriate animation. Examples. "I'm just going down to the port to unload my truck, and then I'm finished for the week." "(Somebody) went to bed and left the candle burning. The bedroom is on fire! Call the fire brigade!" |
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09 Oct 09 - 04:11 PM (#2742322) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: SINSULL I am reading Love In The Time Of Cholera. Most of it is beautifully translated but too often him/her and he/she get mixed up making a total mess of the dialog. Very frustrating. |
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09 Oct 09 - 05:26 PM (#2742377) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Donuel I loved the Carson comedy sketch of President Reagan being briefed on his meeting with Chairman Hoo. It turned into a whos on first classic. A far fetched sketch of Schwartzenegger as president being translated so badly that a nuclear war was in the balance. There are many forms whose cheif job is to avoid the unfortunate cognates in a foreign language. |
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09 Oct 09 - 09:21 PM (#2742536) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: MGM·Lion Anyone recall a rather charming French film of the mid-40s called Edouard Et Caroline? They quarrel, of course. At one point, the phone rings, & Caroline, erroneously thinking it's Edouard calling, picks it up & yells "Merde merde merde merde merde!", thoughtfully rendered by the subtitler as "Blank blank blank blank blank!" Later on, she meets the man who was actually calling: "Tu m'as dit 'merde!'" he tells her: subtitled as "You spoke to me in 'blank' verse'!" Ah, for such innocent days back again! Not! |
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10 Oct 09 - 03:56 AM (#2742640) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: HuwG I have worked on a number of computer projects where the language tables for the core product was professionally translated but the unfortunate developers had to provide the translations for new features themselves. I don't know what the marketing people who boasted of their command of foreign languages were doing, but it was certain they never dared handle translation tables. I contrived to tell users of an ATM that "Your card has breathed out". Well, the dictionary gave that word for "expired". |
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10 Oct 09 - 04:00 AM (#2742642) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Monique There's a book called L'anglais, it is not the joy with lots of bad translations (if someone wants to buy it, I recommend Amazon.fr -€6.50= CND$10- against Amazon.ca -CDN$64 -not available on the other Amazon sites. The author is a French teacher of English and she gathered them all in her students' works -or so she says. I once went to Gerona (Catalonia, Spain) and the menu was full of these, whether in English or French and you had to translate back into Spanish or Catalan word by word to find what it was about. I just remember "skipped shrimps". |
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10 Oct 09 - 05:29 AM (#2742666) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Paul Burke Not a mistranslation really, but an Indian restaurant menu once offered me "Bindy Ghost". |
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10 Oct 09 - 07:50 AM (#2742709) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Monique Sp."Caracoles de mar" = Cat. "Cargols de mar" = Fr. "Escargots de mer", lit. "sea snails" = murex but they usually look like that Btw, "skipped shrimps" meant "sauteed shrimps" |
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10 Oct 09 - 08:12 AM (#2742718) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Monique Guest, I suggest you read Mudcat Guest Posting Policy thread and pick a consistent name or your posts might be deleted. |
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10 Oct 09 - 09:27 AM (#2742754) Subject: Badly Translated Business Signs From: Genie A few more wonderful examples that can result from "literal" word-for-word translation. (Commentary mine): In a Tokyo hotel: IS FORBITTEN TO STEAL HOTEL TOWELS PLEASE. IF YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON TO DO SUCH THINGS PLEASE DO NOT READ NOTICE. (If you already read it, you're obviously that kind of person and should be ashamed of yourself.) In a Bucharest hotel lobby: THE LIFT IS BEING FIXED FOR THE NEXT DAY. DURING THAT TIME, WE REGRET THAT YOU WILL BE UNBEARABLE.. (Please stay in your room until you think you're ready to act like a civilized adult.) In a Japanese hotel: YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID. (Please to tip her extra generously, as this not included in hotel bill.) In a Yugoslavian hotel: THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID. (If you've been pleasured by the chambermaid, your shorts probably need flattening.) In a Belgrade hotel elevator: TO MOVE THE CABIN, PUSH BUTTON FOR WISHING FLOOR. IF THE CABIN SHOULD ENTER MORE PERSONS, EACH ONE SHOULD PRESS A NUMBER OF WISHING FLOOR. DRIVING IS THEN GOING ALPHABETICALLY BY NATIONAL ORDER. (Guests from Yemen or Zimbabwe may prefer to take stairs when hotel is full.) In a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY. (Dead ones, mostly - plus the odd political dissident. But we take Thursday off from burying them. ) |
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10 Oct 09 - 09:45 AM (#2742765) Subject: Badly Translated Business Signs From: Genie In a Roman doctor's office: SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES (Obviously a carryover from the early patriarchal days of medicine.) Sign on "Mama's Boy" restaurant in Japan - "In a shop based on white, the space of healing spreads out. ... Because I thoroughly can enjoy the taste of the mom slowly in that, both the heart and the stomach are satisfied. Welcome." (Well, we all used to enjoy the taste of the mom, but, Freud notwithstanding, some of us grew up.) |
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10 Oct 09 - 10:55 AM (#2742797) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: MGM·Lion At an Italian motorway service area, we were once enjoined by a notice to "Avoid abusive retailers." Would it have been OK if it had been a wholesaler who denounced us as a Busful·of·Brit·Boobies? (In fact, of course, "abusivi" for "unauthorised" makes perfectly good sense - in Italian.) |
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10 Oct 09 - 07:30 PM (#2743158) Subject: badly Translated and misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Some of these mistranslations are obvious spelling errors but just as funny. Found in Tokyo: THIS RESTROOM IS FOR MEN ONLY. THERE IS THE WOMENS IN THE LEFT DEPTHS. PLEASE USE IT. (I.e., for the ladies "There Is A Bathroom On The Left -- In the cellar.) Toothpaste ad from China: WHITENING CLEARING HEAT ANTI MOTH TOOTHPASTE (For bikers after those thrilling bugs-in-your-teeth road trips.) From Kyoto, Japan: RELOCATION BRAIN SYSTEM. (Come here, Igor. I need you in the lab.) |
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10 Oct 09 - 07:43 PM (#2743165) Subject: badly Translated and misspelled Business Signs From: Genie DRASTIC THE BAGGAGE Label on a child's toy package in Shanghai: SKIPPING RAPE. (Good advice. I usually do.) Product Made In China: MANICURE SET (Glad they didn't call it a Do-It-Yourself Surgery Kit.) On a cap and hat vendor's kiosk in Chaing Mai Thailand "Big C" Superstore. NEW CAP & HEAD (For when you've got a really nasty hangover!) |
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10 Oct 09 - 10:26 PM (#2743239) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: MGM·Lion Have tennis fans among you, watching the French Open, ever noticed the French for Women's Singles?:· SIMPLE DAMES :~) |
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11 Oct 09 - 07:38 AM (#2743385) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Tug the Cox Two really bad translations that have led to suffering for hundreds of years Greek 'Harmartia' a term derived from archery. To miss the mark, translated in the King James Bible as 'Sin'. Of course we all miss the mark, to say that we are all sinners has far more baleful connotations. Greek. Metanoia....to see as new, to have clearer view ( so that it is easier to hit the mark) again, in KJB, translated as 'repentance'. So instead of acquiring wisdom ( clearer sight) he have donned sackcloth and ashes, or worse. Unspeakable. |
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11 Oct 09 - 10:34 AM (#2743454) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mr Happy Stoppit, yer makin' me ribs ache!! 8-) |
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11 Oct 09 - 09:41 PM (#2743844) Subject: badly Translated and misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Tug, the King James is full of unfortunate translations like that. Those are two prime examples (albeit not very funny). Here are a few more translation-typos that'll make Mr. Happy's ribs ache: Sign on seafood display case in Korean grocery store in US: CLEAN BLUE CRAP $3.49/LB (Oh, well, if it's clean and BLUE, it's probably worth the price.) This sign was up in Duluth, GA for about a week before being it was replaced: SAM'S CRAP HOUSE (They get their seafood from that Korean grocery store, no doubt?) Sign on restaurant in Guangdong Province, China: MAIN HALL OF SEAFOOL RESTAURANT (Best place to serve that clean, blue crap, probably.) From a restaurant menu in Osaka, Japan: SALAD & SOAP (Hey, we're SERIOUS about preventing e coli and salmonella here! Especially after preparing that clean, blue crap.) |
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12 Oct 09 - 02:05 AM (#2743930) Subject: badly Translated and misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Sign on ticket machine for gondola ride in Hakone, Japan: GETTING OFF IS POSSIBLE ON THE WAY (We'll take 10 tickets, please.) |
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12 Oct 09 - 01:49 PM (#2744266) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie More strangeness from the restaurant world: From a menu in Jodhpur, India: DESSERTS: Banana Pancake Honey Pancake Lemon Sugar Pancake Chocolate Pancake Banana Custard Rice Pooping (Made with brown rice, no doubt.) From a coffee house menu in Kyoto, Japan: Rough Influence Sausage and It is "waffle" revokable. the toast. (Well, I get the sausage. "Influence" may be the threat of turning you into one? But I don't know if I even want to think about what "revoking" the waffle to make toast might mean.) |
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12 Oct 09 - 08:25 PM (#2744555) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Arthur Stiffy 1980's Japanese jazz band "Norio Maeda & Wind-Breakers" |
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12 Oct 09 - 09:54 PM (#2744583) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie Is that a bad translation or a deliberate double entendre? *g* |
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12 Oct 09 - 10:31 PM (#2744606) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Arthur Stiffy "Norio Maeda was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1934. Highly esteemed not only as a pianist but also as a brilliant arranger. He was garnered the "Award for Best Arrangement" at The Tokyo Music Festival in 1981, the "Award for Best Arrangement" at The Japan Record Awards in 1983, and "Fumio Nanri Awards", the highest award in the world of Jazz hosted by Swing Journal Magazines. ..he formed "The Windbreakers" with greatest pianists in Japan, and "Triple Piano" with Masahiko Sato and Kentaro Haneda in 1988.He is an acclaimed pianist as well as composer/arranger, a representative figure of Japan, widely accepted from all quarters. He celebrates his 24th anniversary for his own group, "The Windbreakers" .. well no accounting for Japanese sense of humour, But Mr Maeda would seem to be a serious musician of some cultural significance.. Hmm.. from a Western point of equivalence.. Stan Kenton and Arsequakes Buddy Rich and the Trouser Blasts Count Basie and the Bottom Burps.. dunno.. somehow I'd suspect bad translation over intentional smutty muso in-joke.. ? |
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12 Oct 09 - 11:38 PM (#2744652) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie From Tokyo, Japan (apparently a smoking section sign): So that smoke should not go outside It smokes in the obituary of the area. Please continue your favors toward cooperation. (Hey, we knew smoking was hazardous to our health, but … ) |
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13 Oct 09 - 10:13 AM (#2744928) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Uncle_DaveO Genie, maybe the reference of "Windbreakers" is to the light, wind-tight sports jacket of that name. Another possibility is a reference to the bicyclist who takes his turn at the front of the pack, so others can draft. Neither of which is as funny as what we all thought. Dave Oesterreich |
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13 Oct 09 - 10:30 AM (#2744941) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Acorn4 A School I once worked at used to produce a daily set of notices and one day there was a notice supposed to read:- "A nice old lady in the village would like some help with her garden." It read:- "A nice old lay in the village would like some help with her garden." |
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13 Oct 09 - 10:35 AM (#2744946) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: wysiwyg "Watch carefully your step." ~S~ |
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13 Oct 09 - 10:55 AM (#2744958) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mr Happy Not a translation, I know - more of an interpretation, Notice in office kitchen 'Do not pour tea leaves down the sink, as they block the drains. Please adhere to this notice'! |
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13 Oct 09 - 11:11 AM (#2744972) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Jos Then rinse out the teapot and stand upside down in the sink. (Sorry - couldn't resist.) |
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13 Oct 09 - 11:52 AM (#2745002) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mr Happy Jos, LOL!! |
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13 Oct 09 - 12:59 PM (#2745049) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie Well, Uncle David, that's what I meant by "wind-breakers" maybe being a double entendre." Except that I guess it's really a triple entendre. Whether intentional or not, I find it pretty funny (though probably not really a mis-translation). |
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13 Oct 09 - 01:01 PM (#2745051) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Sign in Chinese hotel for happy url="http://"hour%20-%20<a%20href="http://www.engrish.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Delicious-Snakes.jpg""%20target="_blank">" ... Delicious snakes are served for free. ... "/a (If you're not a reptile, you have to pay?) |
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13 Oct 09 - 02:00 PM (#2745108) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,Arthur Stiffy Photographic evidence: Do this grim looking mob look like they have a subversive sense of humour ? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5bd1k_3IAoZzW3lhNTsJjw?feat=embedwebsite .. maybe if you can transcribe from the original Japanese...? my hunch is "Winbreakers" may be referencing some Japanese myth or spirit, and by extension a possible pun regarding the brass section of the band... All very innocuous in Japanese, but lethal in the hands of a mischeivous international record label translator. ps.. for extra value puerile mirth.. track 2 is "What Is This Thing Called Love" |
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13 Oct 09 - 02:29 PM (#2745139) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Oops! That last post should have been like this: Sign in Chinese hotel for happy hour: " ... Delicious snakes are served for free. ... (If you're not a reptile, you have to pay?) Then there's this sign on department store in Hiroshima, Japan: SALE - Summer Barge in (Uh-oh. I see one of those after-Christmas sale type stampedes in the making!) |
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13 Oct 09 - 05:12 PM (#2745273) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie T-shirt seen in Okinawa: CHOCO Lab. PERSON'S SPORTS What I like recently is to take a walk in the seaside. It is good at playing with the frying disk! (Just, please, don't ask your doggie to catch one of those skillets when you throw it!) |
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13 Oct 09 - 05:52 PM (#2745303) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie On package label found in a ToysRUs in Japan: Kigurumix are very cute dancers. Please watch their dance when you are depressed or hard. You will surely very happy feeling! (I think toys like this were just banned in the state of Arkansas.) |
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13 Oct 09 - 09:14 PM (#2745425) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time. (Now, where are we supposed to go for that good time sans clothing? Oh, wait ... it's Rome!!) Sign on Korean-owned laundry in Saipan: DROP OFF YOUR LAUNDRY AND GET IT ON (Probably run by the same guys who own that laundromat in Rome.) |
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13 Oct 09 - 09:30 PM (#2745430) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Leadfingers And of course there are things with TOTALLY different meanings in British English and American English ! |
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13 Oct 09 - 09:31 PM (#2745431) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Leadfingers 100 |
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14 Oct 09 - 12:21 AM (#2745479) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie You mean like when you knocked up all those women in the morning at the 2008 Getaway, Terry? ; D |
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14 Oct 09 - 03:23 PM (#2745827) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie On the menu of a Seoul, S. Korea, restaurant: Lacquer poison chicken broth with ginseng (Well, as long as it's got GINSENG too … ) Label under picture of a dish on menu in Beijing, China: Private bench legs (Super high in fiber, no doubt.) On menu in Japan: French Flies Sausages with French Flies Peanut Small Salad (Only one peanut? Guess they figure those flies are very filling.) Restaurant sign in China: New style muslin main curses (Especially if the food's too hot?) |
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15 Oct 09 - 08:33 AM (#2746450) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Jack Campin English to English, with a bit of help from the Microsoft spell checker: Urine Pudding Explanation and recipe |
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15 Oct 09 - 06:29 PM (#2747033) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Sounds delicious, Jack! More bad translations from other languages: Sign for charcoal packages in Sagano, Japan: "A bamboo is burned and bamboo charcoal is being made charcoal. When this charcoal is put in water a minus ion accruses, and becomes the water which is good for the body. Besides, I can have it use a deodorant." (Maybe if the accursed bamboo had used that deodorant you wouldn't have had to burn the poor thing?) |
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19 Oct 09 - 01:32 PM (#2748047) Subject: Badly translated & misspelled Business Signs From: Genie Sign on men's clothing store in Chengdu, China: F I T S M E N THE CHINESE ARROGANT MEN' S CLOTHING BRAND THE STRONG POTENTIAL MAKES (They'd be really elegant if they weren't so snooty.) |
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19 Oct 09 - 02:07 PM (#2748079) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mrrzy Y'all need 2 more books: Sky! My Husband! translates directly from French to English, and Fractured French is even worse, here are 2 examples that are in my family phraseology: French: Voici l'Anglais avec son sang-froid habituel. English: Here comes the Englishman with his habitual bloody cold. French: J'y suis et j'y reste. English: I'm Swiss and I'm spending the night. And who was it translated "hors-de-combat" as "camp followers?" |
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19 Oct 09 - 07:59 PM (#2748383) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie Probably the same guy who translated "Jeanne d'Arc" as "The light's out in the bathroom?" (Actually, I got that one from Mad Magazine, IIRC.) |
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20 Oct 09 - 04:31 AM (#2748528) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Jos The 'Jeanne d'Arc' one only works in an American accent. |
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20 Oct 09 - 01:49 PM (#2748823) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie It only works (perfectly, anyway) if you use a hard "J" and an English-sounding final "n." But if you really pronounced it the way most Americans would, it wouldn't sound like "John Dark." It would sound more like "Gene Dee-Ark." I think if you pronounce it the proper French way, it's pretty close. Close enough to get the pun. : ) |
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20 Oct 09 - 03:33 PM (#2748916) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: GUEST,lighter "John Dark" is *exactly* the way this American would Americanize it. |
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20 Oct 09 - 06:41 PM (#2749023) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie I don't doubt that. But more often than not, I hear American's pronounce "D'Arc" as Dee-arc, "D'Angelo" as Dee-Angleo, "D'Or" as "Dee-Or," etc. And I have never heard an American pronounce "Jeanne" as "John." |
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20 Oct 09 - 06:51 PM (#2749032) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Dave MacKenzie "French: Voici l'Anglais avec son sang-froid habituel. English: Here comes the Englishman with his habitual bloody cold." Didn't Paddy Roberts have a song on that subject? Sign over a Krakow hotel restaurant buffet table: Mouldy Cheese Sign beside the A540 just ouside Chester: Free Range Eggs Turn Here |
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20 Oct 09 - 09:52 PM (#2749117) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie Heck, Dave, my mom saw a supermarket sign that said: "Home grown eggs." And that was in California! *g* |
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21 Oct 09 - 06:19 AM (#2749279) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Jos 'And I have never heard an American pronounce "Jeanne" as "John."' Maybe not, but some of them do pronounce "John" as "Jaahne". |
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21 Oct 09 - 08:29 AM (#2749368) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie Label of eye makeup remover in Japan: Perfect Eye Remover (Oh, good. Then I won't be able to see if my liner's straight anyway.) On a decorative world globe (made in Mum Buy?): Bay of Bengay (One of those hotbeds of international conflict, no doubt.) |
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20 Nov 09 - 03:16 AM (#2769650) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie This one takes the (cheese)cake! |
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20 Nov 09 - 10:06 AM (#2769799) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Mr Happy Dry cleaners in Bangkok: DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR BEST RESULTS. |
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20 Nov 09 - 09:02 PM (#2770203) Subject: RE: BS: bad translations From: Genie I generally find that interesting results occur when people drop their trousers. |
