Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Road sign lost in translation

  1. #1
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Seventh
    Posts
    4,113
    Rep Power
    18

    Road sign lost in translation

    Not Russian related, but about languages / translation:



    E-mail error ends up on road sign
    When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

    Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated".

    So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket.

    "When they're proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh," said journalist Dylan Iorwerth.


    It's good to see people trying to translate but they should really ask for expert help
    Dylan Iorwerth, Golwg magazine

    Swansea council became lost in translation when it was looking to halt heavy goods vehicles using a road near an Asda store in the Morriston area
    All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of: "No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only".

    The reply duly came back and officials set the wheels in motion to create the large sign in both languages.

    'No idea'

    The notice went up and all seemed well - until Welsh speakers began pointing out the embarrassing error.


    Welsh-language magazine Golwg was promptly sent photographs of the offending sign by a number of its readers.
    Managing editor Mr Iorwerth said: "We've been running a series of these pictures over the past months.

    "They're circulating among Welsh speakers because, unfortunately, it's all too common that things are not just badly translated, but are put together by people who have no idea about the language.

    "It's good to see people trying to translate, but they should really ask for expert help.

    "Everything these days seems to be written first in English and then translated.

    "Ideally, they should be written separately in both languages."

    A council spokeswoman said : "Our attention was drawn to the mistranslation of a sign at the junction of Clase Road and Pant-y-Blawd Road.

    "We took it down as soon as we were made aware of it and a correct sign will be re-instated as soon as possible."
    Ingenting kan stoppa mig
    In Post-Soviet Russia internet porn downloads YOU!

  2. #2
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    937
    Rep Power
    16

    Re: Road sign lost in translation

    Quote Originally Posted by TATY
    "It's good to see people trying to translate, but they should really ask for expert help.
    They asked, didn't they?
    Налево пойдёшь - коня потеряешь, направо пойдёшь - сам голову сложишь.
    Прямой путь не предлагать!

  3. #3
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    920
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Road sign lost in translation

    written welsh just looks like a toddler mashed its little fist all over a keyboard. how the balls are you supposed to read wyf?
    Не откладывай на завтра того, с кем можешь переспать сегодня
    --------
    http://england-moscow.com/

  4. #4
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    в моей стойке
    Posts
    566
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Road sign lost in translation

    Quote Originally Posted by Lt. Columbo
    written welsh just looks like a toddler mashed its little fist all over a keyboard. how the balls are you supposed to read wyf?
    If it's anything like Gaelic, preceding consonants determine the sound of the vowels, thus creating a vast array of confusing combinations.
    Correct my mistakes and I will give you +1 internets.

Similar Threads

  1. road transport
    By kamka in forum English
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: December 1st, 2009, 12:01 PM
  2. End of the road
    By shadow1 in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: December 18th, 2006, 04:27 AM
  3. Road to Чернобыль
    By TATY in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: December 16th, 2005, 11:35 AM
  4. Lost in translation
    By Triton in forum Fun Stuff
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: July 9th, 2005, 12:38 PM
  5. Soft sign and Hard sign
    By Иван Толстой in forum Getting Started with Russian
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: October 31st, 2004, 10:06 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary