Medical Translation Insight

Our dry cleaner starts here

Written by ForeignExchange Translations on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Mistranslations don't just happen in China. Wherever two languages are involved but a professional translator isn't, confusion is likely to ensue.

The above example of this comes from the folks at the Übersetzungsfehler blog. Found in Las Vegas, the original English refers to the hand sanitizer that's provided at the supermarket's entrance. Spanish-speaking customers would be forgiven if they thought they had mistakenly taken a wrong turn; the Spanish message alerts them to the fact that the "cleaning store begins here".

For more funny stuff, take a look at the following:

• Typos? What, me worry?
• Dunglish, where Dutch and English collide
• Much to learn, you still have

Find out more about ForeignExchange's specialized medical translation services for regulatory, clinical, and training groups at medical device and pharmaceutical companies.
 
 

 

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2 Comments:

1. Anonymous said...
   August 27, 2012 at 5:23 PM  
   Even a simple Google Translate shows that it isn't nearly as inaccurate as portrayed. The sign reads "Our store cleaning starts here". Poor oversight for a blog from a translation service.
   santa said...
   November 21, 2012 at 8:26 AM  
   In context of global population aging, with increasing numbers of older adults at greater risk of chronic non communicable diseases, rapidly increasing demand for primary care services is expected around the world, in both developed and developing countries. Thanks.
   Regards,
   Green Coffee Bean 1234
   

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