The Importance of Accurate Language Translation: A Guide by Idiomatic USA
Written by Nate Webber
Idiomatic USA Chief Content Officer
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Accurate language translation is crucial in communication, especially in a global context. While errors in translation can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, they can also result in humorous, albeit unintentional, mistranslations. Here are some examples of funny mistranslations and the importance of accurate translation:
KFC: In a classic example from Lytho's blog, when KFC opened in China, their famous slogan "Finger-lickin' good" was translated as "Eat your fingers off," which, while humorous, likely wasn't the message they intended to convey.
Ford: Ford encountered a mistranslation issue when marketing the Pinto in Brazil. As noted in the same Lytho article, they didn't realize that "Pinto" was Brazilian slang for "tiny male genitals," which undoubtedly affected the car's reception in the market.
Mitsubishi: The car brand Mitsubishi named one of their models "Pajero," which in Spanish translates to "wanker." This translation blunder, highlighted in the Lytho article, led to the vehicle being renamed "Montero" in Spanish-speaking countries.
IKEA: According to the same source, IKEA named a workbench "Fartfull" – not realizing that in English, this could be misinterpreted humorously.
Nokia: Nokia's handset "Lumia" translates in Spanish to a term colloquially used for "prostitute," a translation oversight that's both funny and unfortunate.
Parker Pen: Parker Pen's slogan "It won’t leak in your pocket and embarrass you" was translated in Mexico as "It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."
Coors: The beer brand Coors translated their slogan "Turn it loose" into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer from diarrhea." This mix-up is another humorous example from the TranslatePress article.
Pepsodent: In Southeast Asia, Pepsodent's toothpaste campaign failed when they found out that the local population valued black teeth. Their promise of whiter teeth was, therefore, not appealing.
These examples illustrate how easily the meaning can be lost or completely altered in translation, especially when cultural nuances and local slang are not considered. While these mistranslations can be funny, they also underscore the importance of accurate and culturally sensitive translation in global communication and marketing.
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