How Do You Say...?

 In this issue:

• Love And the Weak Links
  
• About Us
  

Many words have more than one meaning in both the language they are being translated from as well as the language into which they are being translated. Take the word "love" for instance.

Read on...

President & C.E.O.
Galindo Publicidad, Inc.
TEL 954.255.5620  1.800.572.9446 
FAX 954.255.5615
email: mgalindo@translationsandmore.com
http://www.translationsandmore.com

For an English-speaking audience you might say, "You will love our product" and your message would automatically be understood as meaning the reader would enjoy and appreciate the product very much. But a mistranslation of that same simple word could mean something entirely different in another language. Clearly you would like people to enjoy your product but you do not want to encourage them to have an amorous relationship with it. This is especially true if your product has sharp edges.

The most hilarious examples of such translation gaffes have to do with selecting names of products that mean "something wonderful" in their original language and "something very offensive" in translation. But the most pervasive and potentially dangerous examples are in technical or instruction manuals where meaning must be absolutely clear in order for a product or for equipment to work properly and safely.

Instructional design is a highly developed art and companies devote a great deal in time and resources to make sure that the training they provide to employees or customers will result in safe, efficient and reliable practices. I do not mean to offend your intelligence, but the weak link in that instructional process is the link between the language of the designer and the language of the end user. Yet this critical juncture is too often given much less attention and fewer resources that it deserves. This is especially true when poorly understood instruction can have disastrous safety, productivity and business consequences. For some funny mistranslations click here...

At GPI our specialized translators pride themselves on translating both words and meaning. That commitment results in clients whose messages and manuals are clear, instructive and persuasive in any language. It also means that GPI aims to maintain a hands-on approach, a closer relationship with its clients. In that ongoing contact and relationship a common language and understanding grows that assures the transfer of meaning from our clients to their employees or customers. When clients keep sending us work, or refer us to their associates or colleagues, we feel their love. Rest assured this love is mutual. No weak links. Well, you know what I mean.

See you soon!

Martha.


P.S. If you enjoy our newsletter HDYS, please add, copy/paste, this specific email address mgalindo@translationsandmore.com to your email address book, to insure that you receive it and it's not deleted by junk/spam filters.

About Us

Galindo Publicidad, Inc. (GPI), Specializes in translating English business-related materials into and from Spanish and Portuguese, while also providing translations in Arabic, German, French, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Creole, Russian and others.

Using its select network of native professionals, GPI guarantees linguistically accurate, reliable, and confidential translations performed with sensitivity and cultural respect.

Galindo Publicidad, Inc., winner of multiple awards, has been selected twice as a Florida 100 company, a top honor recognizing rapidly growing, privately owned companies in the state of Florida.

Copyright © 2002 Galindo Publicidad, Inc.
All rights reserved (but feel free to forward on to others who you think may find it useful).

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