Lost In Translation
Translation bloopers are funny when you read them on a sign or read about them in an article. Translation mistakes are not funny when they happen to your company. Can you imagine what might happen if a financial document stated "Results are not guaranteed" and the translation was "Results are guaranteed"? Professional translation companies can prevent a "blooper" from costing your company money and reputation. Not only do Languagespeak translations go through three different people (translator, proofreader, copy editor), the culture, the context and the original meaning are all taken into account when doing a translation. Protect your Brand and protect your budget. Call Languagespeak now for a free quote!
Famous Translation Bloopers
- In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" came out as "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead."
- In China, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan "finger-lickin' good" came out as "eat your fingers off."
- Ford had a similar problem in Brazil when the Pinto flopped. The company found out that Pinto was Brazilian slang for "tiny male genitals". Ford pried all the nameplates off and substituted Corcel, which means horse.
- When Parker Pen marketed a ballpoint pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to say "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." However, the company mistakenly thought the Spanish word "embarazar" meant embarrass. Instead the ads said that "It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."
- An American t-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of the desired "I Saw the Pope" in Spanish, the shirts proclaimed "I Saw the Potato."
Sign at Narita Airport, Japan
Sign In Dubai Supermarket
Sign Outside Japanese Bar
The grass is living, please do not step on it
What are they trying to say