Spine-chilling translations
On Halloween 2018 we’ve decided to pay homage to the horrors of the translation world by showing you 10 monstrosities we’ve seen online.
But to find out how quality translations are done, click on the pumpkin!
1. #JeSuisFlamingo
Just because your word for Llama looks similar to our word for Flamingo, it doesn’t mean it’s the right word to use! #translationfail #spanish #llamingos #wearelinguistica pic.twitter.com/cHvtR9Bc8o
— Carrie Wilson (@LinguisticaUK) 27 ottobre 2018
2. Censored
Might be a bit chilly! #translationfail pic.twitter.com/uydaQxp5I0
— Tongue Tied (@TranslationsTT) 22 ottobre 2018
3. Weeding time
4. Need a technical translation?
5. Rape, more rape, a lot of rape?
True, it’s not an easy one to explain abroad, so maybe it needs some context. The “cima di rapa” is a vegetable typically grown in Southern Italy. “Rape” is only its plural, nothing violent or dangerous. “Orecchiette con le cime di rape” are a typical dish from Apulia. So nothing to do with mountains. But then again, a mountain of orecchiette wouldn’t be too bad.
6. Google translate strikes again!
OL-leiren bestilte 1500 egg gjennom å oversette via Google Translate. Men det slo feil. 15.000 ble levert på døra. Vi ønsker lykke til og håper at de norske gullhåpene er glade – veldig glade – i egg: 😁 pic.twitter.com/qaWVpq1Xgy
— Trønder-Avisa (@tronderavisa) 3 febbraio 2018
7. Self-citations
8. Manicure for Edward (Scissorshand)
9. Yum!
10. R.I.P. Paul
Best translation fail. The arabic spells out a transliteration of ‘meat ball’ in English – which sounds like ‘mayit baul’, or Dead Paul. pic.twitter.com/zReTm93Gg8
— The HendMaid’s Tale (@LibyaLiberty) 28 agosto 2017
