Top Ten Global Translation Errors Made by Major Companies – Part 1
Continuing with the theme of translation errors, we’d like to present the first part of a top ten list that caught our eye recently. Originally compiled by Lori S.M. Hollenback in 2008, here are the first five examples for your chuckling pleasure. We’ll bring you the rest of this list in our next post tomorrow.
The first example is one that I can say I never heard about. However, I suppose this might actually happen if you were famished and eating incredibly fast. Talk about the Colonel’s 11 secret herbs and spices!
Number 10: KFC experienced real problems when the phrase “finger lickin’ good” came out in Chinese as “eat your fingers off.”
Now the next one is familiar to me, in fact I’d call it an oldie but goodie.
Number 9: General Motors' Chevrolet Nova vehicle translated in Spanish in Central and South America as: "No va", "It Doesn't Go";
This next one gives a whole new meaning to their familiar slogan.
Number 8: The Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" in Mexico translated to: "Are You Lactating?”
I suppose that entry No. 7 might also be interpreted as “fly in your birthday suit”.
Number 7: Braniff Airlines launched a new leather first class seats ad campaign (1977-78) in the Mexican market: "Fly in Leather" meant "Fly Naked" (vuela en cuero);
When I read No. 6 the first thing that popped into my mind is Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. Get it?
Number 6: Pepsi’s "Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation" slogan translated in Chinese: "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Grave”;
Once again, we’ll bring you the rest of this top ten list in our post tomorrow. Don’t miss it!
Alex Dupont
See Also
- More recent translation blunders
We see examples of inaccurate translations almost daily. While these may seem funny to us, they are serious errors to the companies who wish to sell their products and services in the global market. That said, you are welcome to take a moment to share a laugh.