…because even heads of state still desperately need us! Thanks to English>French translator Nelia Fahloun for mentioning this on Twitter!
Early this morning Paris time, French president François Hollande (himself a recent election winner) put pen to paper to congratulate Barack Obama on his re-election. Hollande’s letter, written in French, is warm and diplomatic. He offers Obama his own congratulations and those of the French people, and expresses his enthusiasm for working with the US on issues such as unemployment and the Middle East. Clearly wanting to finish with a personal touch, Hollande hand-wrote “Cher Barack” (Dear Barack) at the top of the letter, then decided to really make an impression by signing off in Obama’s own language. Hollande’s closing of choice? “Friendly,” (presumably Hollande’s own “translation” of the French closing “Amicalement”) followed by Hollande’s signature at the bottom of the letter. Here’s the original article in Le Nouvel Observateur, which elicited numerous mentions on the Elysée palace’s Facebook page and on Twitter. Tip to Hollande: we know you’re looking to cut spending, but don’t downsize the translation department just yet!
Isn’t it cute to close a letter with “Friendly”?
Once a client needed urgently a note translated into Japanese and I could not reach my Japanese translators. So, I translated the note with my limited Japanese. The note read, “I am lost. Please take me to the following address: [the address of the hotel in Tokyo.]”
Half an hour later, one of my Japanese translators responded. I sent her my translation and asked whether it was passable. She laughed and said, “Well, everyone in Tokyo would gladly ‘take’ the person with that note to the hotel. But have you noticed that we use different verbs for ‘take’ in Japanese when a person is meant. The verb you use is for babies or things.” Oops! – Fortunately, I could correct the faux pas before the executive of the client got on board of the flight heading Narita.
It takes a native speaker to translate properly, people would say. But the translating native speaker must have learned the cultural nuances in the source language, too. Otherwise, it could result in some cute “friendly” translations. 😮
However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a matter of cutting costs. It isn’t that tragic to have some cute translations, sometimes.
He should have thought of “Cordialement” instead of “Amicalement” and it would probably be translated in his head as “Sincerely” if he knows any English at all.
Although who knows, maybe his statesman head would have translated it as “Heartily”.
How funny. I love it!
Funny, Google Translate has Regards for Amicalement…
Another testimony to the importance of human translation! Context is everything.
Had to re-blog this, “in the spirit of friendship”.
Very funny story, thanks for sharing,That is one of the things that I love about languages is the fact that things can mean such different things.
Too funny. This is an anecdote that should make it into the next edition of Found in Translation — I am already hoping there will indeed be one. 🙂
読書についての記事の新しいブログを開発または Web 最適化についても、純粋に熱心します。
Why not support a local business by utilising a local ‘man and his van’ to shift any heavy items.
I wish that people would realise how dangerous gas burning appliances can be.
An annual gas safety inspection could save lives.
Let’s support a local business by hiring a local ‘man and van’ to shift our bulky items.