Funny Mistranslations

The recent technological revolution has allowed the introduction of some of the best translation tools for our ease. Smart devices including the latest tablets and phones are prime examples that work perfectly with the most up-to-date translation software. The new technology has helped numerous individuals get over the language barrier with the help of simple translation services. Online translations are one of the most preferred choices of numerous businesses. They can help you save some valuable time and make things easier for you.

However, not all of the online translation services are accurate or reliable. A single mistranslation in your marketing content can hinder with the real purpose of your campaign. That's why you will need the best technical translation agency to help you deliver your true intent.

When you make the mistake of choosing some inferior translation source, you must prepare yourself to get some hilarious results. Here are a few examples for you to sit back and enjoy:

1)    A ‘Fresh Crap’

The correct translation is ‘fresh crab.' A poor translation service might have cost the store some real customers. A simple misinterpretation led to describing the selling product as waste and something that is not worthy of buying.

2)    ‘Eat Your Fingers’ -KFC

When KFC entered the Chinese market in the late 1980’s, it did not make a good first impression at all. The main motto of the mega restaurant is ‘Finger-lickin good’ but a horrible mistranslation completely changed its meaning. The mistranslation was ‘Eat your Fingers’ which was immediately spotted and corrected by the relevant authorities.

3)    Ford’s mistranslation

A giant in the automotive industry, Ford has had its share of some pretty funny mistranslations. The marketing campaign in Belgium wasn't off to a flyer mostly because of a mistake when translating. The original message to promote its identity was that the cars had a high-quality body. The translated content stated that 'every car has a high-quality dead body' which sent a completely different message. This clearly hurt their image in the country resulting in a slow start for their campaign.

4)    Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz is in the list of the top automotive industries around the world. The company entered the Chinese market with not a positive impression.  The company used ‘Bensi’ as their slogan which meant hurry to die. The corrected translation was ‘Benchi’, which meant run swiftly as if you are in the air.

5)    Reborn with Pepsi

One of the most famous mistranslations came when Pepsi began its first campaign in China. The main motto of the beverage company was that ‘Pepsi makes you feel alive.' The translated version stated ‘Pepsi brings back the dead' which turned out to be quite an overstatement.

What to Look For In a Translation Agency?

When taking your business globally, you need to ensure that you choose the best Lithuaniantranslation agency for your services. Selecting an online translation agency can be a bit challenging. The agency you are choosing should be able to translate your content accurately. It should also be able to deliver your message and help your brand flourish.

Using the right service will not only save you from hurting your brand image but also the embarrassment before the public.  An agency that provides the best localization and translation services can be vital to your branding beyond borders.