Moto Guzzi Needs to Hire Better Translators

[JeffOlson]

You know, people who can actually speak English...

Their website and brochures suffer I think from too much ESL (English as a second language). How hard can it be to write "comfort" instead of "confort," or "attachments" instead of "attacks"?

For example: http://v9.motoguzzi.com/en/doc/guzzi-v9-accessories.pdf

I am neither an ad man nor a translator (I do not even speak Italian), but I dare say I could do a decent job of cleaning up their ad copy. In fact, many of us could!

[Toystoretom]

Wow. The pictures aren't so hot either, my cat could do better with a cell phone. But at least they are trying.

[JeffOlson]

Or, how about this?

"Cover replacing tires footrest pilot, grip provided by the diamond pattern of processing aluminum billet anodized."

[blackcat]

Or, how about this?

"Cover replacing tires footrest pilot, grip provided by the diamond pattern of processing aluminum billet anodized."

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sounds a lot better than "flimsy pot metal casting" 

[JoeW]

I had a foreign language teacher in high school that used the phrase "throw the cow over the fence some hay" when describing literal translation.

[George_S]

I had a very similar teacher that used this- " Throw your mother down the stairs her slippers."

[canuguzzi]

Learn Italian. It isn't their fault you speak English.

[oldbike54]

Learn Italian. It isn't their fault you speak English.

 

 We have this type of discussion every now and then , and some of the Japanese or Italian to English translations are really humorous . Our esteemed member Phang , who speaks something like 4 languages provided a couple of funny English to I think Chinese translations . Any of you know any funny translations going that direction ? Several years back one of our running buddies earned the name Hodgie Dough because he was always saying "I am gonna get some dough and get hodgie . I understand a little bit of a few American Indian languages and the first time hearing the nickname it caused me to laugh hysterically . In most Western Indian tongues it translates roughly to drunken woman . Well , in polite company anyway . Never told anyone that , at least not at the time , the guy wore the nickname proudly , plus it provided a couple of my Indian friends with a constant source of amusement 

  Dusty

[Red07]

"throw the cow over the fence some hay" when describing literal translation.

That's funny!  That's the way the old Germans talk in Hosmer, South Dakota.  Another good one:  "make off the light".

Randy

[oldbike54]

That's funny!  That's the way the old Germans talk in Hosmer, South Dakota.  Another good one:  "make off the light".

Randy

 
 
 Western NoDak . "Back your tractor a little ahead"  When asking for directions in the rural part of W NoDak , often times the reply will go like this . "Lemme think , yah , ya pass two coolies, and when ya come ta the new carpass , ya got tah turn left 

 Dusty

[drums4money]

I had a very similar teacher that used this- " Throw your mother down the stairs her slippers."

HA!
That's Pennsylvania Dutch. 
Maybe they really meant "Contort" and "attack".

Posted by: JeffOlson
« on: Today at 11:05:37 AM »

 How hard can it be to write "comfort" instead of "confort," or "attachments" instead of "attacks"?

[Devildog]

In the 1500's the Spanish had a warship called the 'Cacafeugo', proudly named to scare the enemy but probably had them laughing hysterically.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  In the sixties one of the books that came with a Honda about using their bike said," When approached by big festive dog
 tootle the horn melodiously".

[Waltr]

My ex and I moved to the DC Burbs in the early 80's and bonded with the couple across from us.  Scott worked for an ad agency before ho worked for De Tomaso and he told me about an add that ran in Mexico for Frank Pedue. His ads in the US were 'It takes a Tough Man to Raise a Tender Chicken".   
  Their translation read it takes a" Macho Man to raise an Amorous Chicken".

[oldbike54]

 Oh DAMN Walt , that is hilarious 

  Dusty

[azguzzirep]

My wife is reading a book right now about miss-communication through translation, albiet it is about German speakers trying to speak English.

For example, a lady wanting two scoops of ice cream asked for 'two balls of ice'. Many more funny examples in the book. she is constantly laughing!

I have been in Germany now for nearly 4 full years, and I still cannot follow conversations among my colleagues. Mostly because the speak Schwäbisch and not German.

Tom

[Cool Runnings]

1962 Safety Rules from Honda

1. At the rise of the hand by Policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or otherwise disrespect him.

2. When a passenger of the foot, hooves in sight, tootel the horn trumpet melodiously at first. If he still obstacles your passage, tootel him with vigor and express by word of mouth, warning Hi, Hi.

3. Beware of the wandering horse that he shall not take fright as you pass him. Do not explode the exhaust box at him. Go soothingly by.

4. Give big space to the festive dog that makes sport in roadway. Avoid entanglement of dog with wheel spokes.

5. Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. ! Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up.

[George_S]

In this day and age where pedestrians can do no wrong, repeatedly blowing your horn and then yelling at one will get you pulled over and probably two summonses. 

[oldbike54]

In this day and age where pedestrians can do no wrong, repeatedly blowing your horn and then yelling at one will get you pulled over and probably two summonses. 

 That's why you "tootle the horn melodiously" and say "HI"  Heck , even in Joisey that should be acceptable 

  Dusty

[George_S]

That's why you "tootle the horn melodiously" and say "HI"  Heck , even in Joisey that should be acceptable 

  Dusty

Around here, used to be pedestrians had to cross at a crosswalk. Then there was an educational campaign to let motorists know that there doesn't have to be a painted crosswalk, as long as they were crossing where a crosswalk could be painted (like near an intersection). Now the powers-that-be are saying drivers must yield to pedestrians anywhere. What happened to jaywalking? What happened to "Cross at the green and not in between" like we were taught?

[jbell]

  In the sixties one of the books that came with a Honda about using their bike said," When approached by big festive dog
 tootle the horn melodiously".

And 50 years later, I'm still waiting for that dog with my thumb hoovering over the tootler as I wend my merry way. 

[oldbike54]

Around here, used to be pedestrians had to cross at a crosswalk. Then there was an educational campaign to let motorists know that there doesn't have to be a painted crosswalk, as long as they were crossing where a crosswalk could be painted (like near an intersection). Now the powers-that-be are saying drivers must yield to pedestrians anywhere. What happened to jaywalking? What happened to "Cross at the green and not in between" like we were taught?

 Before automobiles completely saturated America pedestrians always had the right of way . It took a major campaign by the industry to change that , sounds like NJ is reverting back . Not saying it is right, just find it interesting .

  Dusty

[Waltr]

Cool Running's Thanks for the Honda literature, very funny.

[dlapierre]

In this day and age, there's no excuse for poor translation especially when it comes to instruction manuals or online materials. That's what the profession of technical writing is all about. It's no big deal to contract translation or, even if the writer isn't mutilingual, contract Google translation out to a writer.

[jbell]

Or you could wait for the new V9 made of (according to Guzzi website) the noble aluminum material and featuring more elasticity and torque.

[Phang]

 

 We have this type of discussion every now and then , and some of the Japanese or Italian to English translations are really humorous . Our esteemed member Phang , who speaks something like 4 languages provided a couple of funny English to I think Chinese translations . Any of you know any funny translations going that direction ? Several years back one of our running buddies earned the name Hodgie Dough because he was always saying "I am gonna get some dough and get hodgie . I understand a little bit of a few American Indian languages and the first time hearing the nickname it caused me to laugh hysterically . In most Western Indian tongues it translates roughly to drunken woman . Well , in polite company anyway . Never told anyone that , at least not at the time , the guy wore the nickname proudly , plus it provided a couple of my Indian friends with a constant source of amusement 

  Dusty

One thing I learnt when doing translation for friends or writing in a particular language is, you got to think in that language in your mind before you pen it down otherwise you will get funny phrases.

Since you guys are on the language topic, there is a word that I don't fully understand the meaning even it is a Chinese word. I read the explanation in wikipedia and various online dictionaries but didn't capture the true meaning of this word, what is the meaning of "Gung Ho" actually? 

[BigDave in PA]

Since you guys are on the language topic, there is a word that I don't fully understand the meaning even it is a Chinese word. I read the explanation in wikipedia and various online dictionaries but didn't capture the true meaning of this word, what is the meaning of "Gung Ho" actually? 

I'm not sure but it might be a Chinese reference to a prostitute.   

[Nic in Western NYS]

One thing I learnt when doing translation for friends or writing in a particular language is, you got to think in that language in your mind before you pen it down otherwise you will get funny phrases.

Since you guys are on the language topic, there is a word that I don't fully understand the meaning even it is a Chinese word. I read the explanation in wikipedia and various online dictionaries but didn't capture the true meaning of this word, what is the meaning of "Gung Ho" actually? 

Hi Phang.  How is Google Translate doing now in avoiding funny phrases?  My boring self sees these errors as funny but also as evidence of poor quality control.

We WG'ers remain Gung Ho about Guzzi despite occasional CARC snappings, puddle drippings, and tappet thrashings.

[Phang]

I'm not sure but it might be a Chinese reference to a prostitute. 

That's possible as no one seems to use the correct word except the news reporter 

Nic, I don't think Google Translate can replace a human translator, at least not in the near future.

When I watch Top Gear at home via cable TV, it has Chinese sub-titles on the screen. I can catch up with the British accent but sometimes I will read the sub-titles for amusement.

As Jeremy Clarkson says "... the carbon ceramic brake disk will minimise brake fade..." the sub-title translated most of the words correctly but "brake fade" to "brake fading colour" in Chinese.

That's one of the many examples. My point is, you got to get a motorhead/gearhead who understand both languages to do the job if you want an accurate translation.