It is a common occurence: someone needs a translation asap, and instead of asking a professional translator or an experienced translation company, they do it themselves with Google translate. Or they think “Hey, my cousin speaks a little [insert language here], I’ll just ask him!”
Some terrible consequences of that thinking can be seen below:
In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.
In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.
From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigour.
In a Croatian hotel:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.
Outside a Paris dress shop:
Dresses for street walking.
In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
In a Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man
In a Belgrade hotel lift:
Please leave your values at the front desk.
In an Austrian hotel catering for skiers:
Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.
Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?
In a Tokyo bar:
Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.
Two signs in a Mallorcan shop entrance:
English well talking. Here speeching American.
Though the above might be funny, if you do not want similar text in your company, then hiring a translation company like Interlex Language Services might be a good idea. Our prices are reasonable and our translators are all professionals and native speakers, so the translation will be good rather than funny. Request a quote now!
Interlex is a translation company that specialises in creative translations: translations that run smoothly and are just right for the target audience.
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