Off topic: Funny source texts Thread poster: Iris Shalev
|
|---|
Iris Shalev 
Israel
Local time: 06:06
English to Dutch
+ ...
I found a very funny sentence in my source text just now, and I got a bit fed up with laughing on my own, so I decided to share it:
"Should the user have forgotten all the administrator-level passwords, please contact the local dealer or installer to recover from it."
So you see, it's not only translations that can be funny!
Anyone else has any others?
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 05:06
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
I once got a horrible non-native source text (kitchen appliance manual); here is a passage, quoting the genius author:
" - This unit does not provide for the enjoyment of people (including children), physical, sensory or mental capabilities were reduced, or people with no expertise, except when they use the apparatus under the supervision of the people responsible for their safety, in accordance the instruction on the safe use of the apparatus "
This passage meant to sa... See more I once got a horrible non-native source text (kitchen appliance manual); here is a passage, quoting the genius author:
" - This unit does not provide for the enjoyment of people (including children), physical, sensory or mental capabilities were reduced, or people with no expertise, except when they use the apparatus under the supervision of the people responsible for their safety, in accordance the instruction on the safe use of the apparatus "
This passage meant to say, briefly:
This part of the machine must not be used/operated by children or people with mental and/or sensory disabilities or incompetent people, unless possibly under the strict supervision of a competent person ( I've decoded it, yeapeeeeeeee! )
It's a two-page text and this is just a tiny part of it. I haven't found a single healthy sentence in that text. When I communicated it to the PM, they told me not to be "rude" and not to qualify their text as "horrible"
p.s. I would normally never display my clients' text ( or excerpt) publicly, but this was a combination of an unprofessional + nasty client, so they well deserved it.
[Edited at 2010-04-15 10:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Off-topic - I see no problem here | Apr 15, 2010 |
Lingua 5B wrote:
I once got a horrible non-native source text (kitchen appliance manual)
...(snip)
p.s. I would normally never display my clients' text ( or excerpt) publicly, but this was a combination of an unprofessional + nasty client, so they well deserved it.
If it were your client's correspondence, an agreement, internal documents etc., you really shouldn't. However it's fair to assume that anyone buying that kitchen appliance in the source-language-speaking country would see that. The same applies to web sites, advertising, etc.
| | | | Iris Shalev
Israel
Local time: 06:06
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Ah yes, the many variations of that sentence!!
I have also at times received such appalling source texts that I had to sent them back with the advice to revise (completely rewrite) their text before they send it for translation. Now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever received a source text that was 100% without mistakes (usually only small ones, but occasionally you get a truly awful product like the one... See more Ah yes, the many variations of that sentence!!
I have also at times received such appalling source texts that I had to sent them back with the advice to revise (completely rewrite) their text before they send it for translation. Now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever received a source text that was 100% without mistakes (usually only small ones, but occasionally you get a truly awful product like the one you mentioned...)
But I have to say sometimes it's worth the laugh you get out of them! ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 05:06
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Illustration | Apr 15, 2010 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote: Lingua 5B wrote:
I once got a horrible non-native source text (kitchen appliance manual)
...(snip)
p.s. I would normally never display my clients' text ( or excerpt) publicly, but this was a combination of an unprofessional + nasty client, so they well deserved it. If it were your client's correspondence, an agreement, internal documents etc., you really shouldn't. However it's fair to assume that anyone buying that kitchen appliance in the source-language-speaking country would see that. The same applies to web sites, advertising, etc.
Sometimes excerpts are necessary to prove our points. Now that I illustrated it with an excerpt, it is much more convincing, don't you think? Otherwise, it may sound like I'm just bashing a client?
I've also seen some colleagues displaying NDA excerpts publicly, to support their points. NDA would be a more sensitive content, right?
| | | | pcovs
Denmark
Local time: 05:06
English to Danish
| Oh, you can actually recover from it?!! | Apr 15, 2010 |
Iris Shalev wrote:
"Should the user have forgotten all the administrator-level passwords, please contact the local dealer or installer to recover from it."
I never knew the local dealer or installer could help me recover from this kind of memory loss, but it's so good to know. Maybe my local dealer can help me with some more longterm memory losses as well?
| | | | Oliver Walter
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:06
German to English
+ ...
| Another example | Apr 15, 2010 |
A few days ago I was offered a job, to translate the German parts of a text that was already partly in English. The English was obviously the work of a native user of German who thought his knowledge of English was adequate for this, but it included:
Stick the rear housing flange twofold with the sealing cord
(the text was about installing a piece of industrial equipment). I didn't take the job because I could not have done it in the required time, and I told the agency... See more A few days ago I was offered a job, to translate the German parts of a text that was already partly in English. The English was obviously the work of a native user of German who thought his knowledge of English was adequate for this, but it included:
Stick the rear housing flange twofold with the sealing cord
(the text was about installing a piece of industrial equipment). I didn't take the job because I could not have done it in the required time, and I told the agency the English parts are a bad translation.
Oliver ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:06
Russian to English
+ ...
In memoriam | Some from my BBC Monitoring collection | Apr 15, 2010 |
Dating from the 80s, English-language material from foreign countries:
LATEST THING IN LETTER BOMBS?
4-50 1050 Washington: American Physicists’ Society says nuclear arms can destroy world and should not be used in letters sent to world leaders (no comment)
Comrades having a keen sense of smell immediately realised that the emergence of this tendency of extravagant eating and drinking marked a new trend in class struggle and that it was consequent... See more Dating from the 80s, English-language material from foreign countries:
LATEST THING IN LETTER BOMBS?
4-50 1050 Washington: American Physicists’ Society says nuclear arms can destroy world and should not be used in letters sent to world leaders (no comment)
Comrades having a keen sense of smell immediately realised that the emergence of this tendency of extravagant eating and drinking marked a new trend in class struggle and that it was consequently necessary to heighten one’s vigilance.
This gust of evil wind was fanned up by the class enemies.
3. SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE IN KWANGTUNG ((SUMMARY)) REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEES AT ALL LEVELS IN HUACHOU COUNTY HAVE GRASPED TIGHTLY THE COLLECTION OF BARNYARD MANURE Canton, 24.2.71 ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Iris Shalev
Israel
Local time: 06:06
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
PCovs wrote: I never knew the local dealer or installer could help me recover from this kind of memory loss, but it's so good to know. Maybe my local dealer can help me with some more longterm memory losses as well?
Yes - that's exactly why I can't stop laughing every time I re-read the sentence! Haha... it sounds to me like they're saying: "if you lose the password, there's nothing you can do about it, but you should go and get professional help to deal with the shock of not being able to use your very expensive appliance anymore!"
| | | | Iris Shalev
Israel
Local time: 06:06
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Jack Doughty wrote:
Dating from the 80s, English-language material from foreign countries:
LATEST THING IN LETTER BOMBS?
4-50 1050 Washington: American Physicists’ Society says nuclear arms can destroy world and should not be used in letters sent to world leaders (no comment)
Comrades having a keen sense of smell immediately realised that the emergence of this tendency of extravagant eating and drinking marked a new trend in class struggle and that it was consequently necessary to heighten one’s vigilance.
This gust of evil wind was fanned up by the class enemies.
3. SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE IN KWANGTUNG ((SUMMARY)) REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEES AT ALL LEVELS IN HUACHOU COUNTY HAVE GRASPED TIGHTLY THE COLLECTION OF BARNYARD MANURE Canton, 24.2.71
Haha... I don't believe it! You were actually asked to translate this?
| | | |
"Do not tow this forklift truck with another forklift truck because it may run away." (which one?)
| | | | Iris Shalev
Israel
Local time: 06:06
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Vidmantas Stilius wrote:
"Do not tow this forklift truck with another forklift truck because it may run away." (which one?)
... and you'll never find it again!
| | |
|
|
|
| A dealer for all needs! | Apr 16, 2010 |
Iris Shalev wrote:
"Should the user have forgotten all the administrator-level passwords, please contact the local dealer or installer to recover from it."
Wow. Indeed this company's dealers offer a wide range of services! Thanks for sharing.
| | | | Roy OConnor (X)
Local time: 05:06
German to English
| Here is my two-penneth | Apr 16, 2010 |
An advertisement seen in our local rag some years ago when the US forces had a strong presence in the Rhine-Main region:
Repairs - Your washing machine is a call-worth! Phone.....etc.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Funny source texts | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
