Posts Tagged ‘spanish’
Wear Your Clothes
Some mistranslations include correct spelling and grammar, but convey subtle implications only native speakers will notice. Instructions on a Korean flight read, “Upon arrival at Kimpo and Kimahie Airport, please wear your clothes,” perhaps to warn former Braniff passengers who had been told otherwise – “fly naked” – via a rather [...]
Translating Intent
Sometimes intent is not easy to translate. As illustrated in the example below, a completely innocent statement in one language may appear incredibly rude in another. Years ago, in Chile, I was walking around a city on a warm day with a close American friend and colleague. As we walked up a hill, in business attire, my colleague began to [...]
Taboo topics like weight are treated differently in other cultures
Years ago, in Chile, I was walking around a city on a warm day with a close American friend and colleague. As we walked up a hill, in business attire, my colleague began to perspire. A former basketball and football player, he was much larger than most Chileans and was in good shape, but inherently perspires more than most. Upon reaching the [...]
Typing in Another Language
Using your QWERTY English keyboard, would you like to type Spanish characters, Japanese characters, or another language? No, this does not refer to the process of inserting special characters from a list with your mouse. This refers to changing the input language for your computer without changing the operating system. Check out these links for [...]
Cultural Perception of Gender May Influence Localization
Sometimes cultural perception of gender relations may influence how marketing and advertising is localized for other markets. See several examples in the article "Some international ads are perceived as sexist due to different cultural norms," by Globalization Group vice president Adam Wooten. Examples include a TV commercial that seemed harmless [...]
Some international ads are perceived as sexist due to different cultural norms
Procter & Gamble, like many other international corporations, learned U.S. portrayals of women in advertising are not always socially acceptable in other countries. In her book, “Soap Opera: The Inside Story of Procter & Gamble,” author Alecia Swasy relates the result of one misguided soap commercial. “A Camay campaign pitched the [...]
Emergency Air Handcuffs
Emergency exit instructions translated from Spanish to English read, “Handcuff until the it collide and without loosing it pull the hatch.” How comfortable would you feel following those instructions after a crash landing? Read more airline-related translation bloopers in the article "'Airline pulp' and bad translations that can crash a [...]
International symbol, icon blunders can be avoided
Some of my European colleagues still remember when the old Macintosh operating system of the 1980s used a trash icon that Apple’s European users confused for a postal box. Why was the icon confusing? People across the globe have different cultural ideas and assumptions about what things are supposed to look like. In other countries, trash cans [...]
Interpreters Can Give Advantage in Negotiations or Q&A
Even if you speak the language, interpreters can be an advantage in negotiations or question and answer sessions. As illustrated in the following example from the article "Downplaying linguistic ability can sometimes be to your advantage in business," interpreters can afford you a few extra seconds, seconds that can be incredibly valuable when [...]
Food lost in translation: How authentic is that international cuisine?
Thirteen years ago, during my first month in Chile, an American friend decided to give my palette a rest from unfamiliar food and took me to a pizzeria. The proprietor was very friendly and allowed us to help assemble our own pie. Though I can not recall what toppings we chose, I definitely remember one interesting item we spotted on the menu: [...]
