Vote for the Dragonfly
The Spanish ballot for the 2010 election in Massachusetts omitted a single letter in a Spanish translation and consequently listed one candidate’s current occupation as dragonfly instead of Sheriff. Hundreds of ballots were recalled.
International incident in Sudan
A translator almost caused an international incident in Sudan by mistranslating United Nations official’s speech saying that they would work hard to prevent “secession”. Where as what they meant to say was that they would work hard to void “any negative consequences” coming from a possible secession.
The Wrong Sign
A temporary road sign in Cardiff cautioning, “pedestrians look left” in English was translated for Welsh readers as “cerddwyr edrychwch i’r dde” – “pedestrians look right.”
UK prisons have “execution yards”
Lincoln prison in England mistranslated “exercise yard” as “execution yard” on the Russian introduction pamphlet that was given out to new prisoners.
Kazakhs passing gas
The online news source Kazakhstan Today has mistranslated Kazakh President’s speech into English stating that the president felt that the country was not “passing gas” in a proper manner.
Mistranslated baby food
Mead Johnson Nutritionals of Indiana discovered this, when in 2001, it recalled 4,600,000 cans of infant formula from Mexico, mislabeled with incorrect preparation instructions in Spanish. In 2004, another English to Spanish translation blunder of preparation instructions resulted in a FDA enforced recall. In both recalls, potential serious health problems, caused if the products had been consumed according to the label instructions, were averted.
International scandal because of mistranslated “technology”
CNN found out the ripple affect of an innocent single word mistranslation, when it incurred the wrath of the Iranian Government in 2006, after it reported on the country’s nuclear program. Although the matter was quickly resolved and the ban lifted, the incident, nonetheless, highlighted the necessity for translation accuracy. Translating the Farsi word technology as weapons was not appreciated.
Honda and Fitta:
In 2001, Honda intended to release an automobile known as the Fit in Asian markets as the Honda Fitta on the European market. However, in Swedish and Norwegian, fitta is a crude reference to female genitalia, and the vehicle was rebranded Honda Jazz
Got Milk?
The Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign 'Got Milk?' prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention the Spanish translation read "Are you lactating?"
Electrolux embarrassment
Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: 'Nothing sucks like an Electrolux'.
Pope or Potato?
An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of 'I saw the Pope' (el Papa), the shirts read 'I Saw the Potato' (la papa).
Pepsi’s supernatural powers
Pepsi's 'Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation' translated into 'Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead' in Chinese.
Coca-Cola does not sound good in Chinese
The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as 'Kekoukela', meaning 'Bite the wax tadpole' or 'female horse stuffed with wax', depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent 'kokou kole', translating into 'happiness in the mouth'.
Special promotion from American Airlines
When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, they translated their 'Fly in Leather' campaign literally, which meant 'Fly Naked' (vuela en cuero) in Spanish.
In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
“The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable”.
In a Paris hotel elevator:
“Please leave your values at the front desk”.
In the lobby of 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 Thursdays”.
On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
“Our wines leave you nothing to hope for”.
On the menu of a Polish hotel:
“Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion”.
From the Soviet Weekly newspaper:
There will be a Moscow Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.
A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:
It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose.
Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?
Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan:
Stop: Drive Sideways.
In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.
On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
At a Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.
In the office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.
From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.
Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
- English well talking.
- Here speeching American.
In a Chinese hotel:
Included with the package of complimentary wares in a Chinese hotel was a pair of workout shorts marked: “Uncomplimentary pants”
In the Ethnic Minorities Park in Beijing:
The translation of the Ethnic Minorities Park in Beijing for a long time was “Racist Park”.
