Lost in Translation

So, when it comes to the language of signs, you’d think that translating an English sign into a bilingual Welsh one would be a doddle right? Just find yourself a good Welsh speaker, and Bob’s your proverbial uncle.

But, here at the Oakeley Arms Hotel in Blaenau Ffestiniog , we had to chuckle at this recent news story about the country’s worst spotted translations from English to Welsh….. How about the supermarket in South Wales that advised people that the parking spaces were to “bake the disabled”! Or the off-licence that offered “wines and ghosts” for sale. And one misinterpreted sign advised cyclists against liver disease, rather than asking them to dismount, as per the English sign! And another supermarket was attempting to completely confuse it’s Welsh speaking customers by translating an English sign not into Welsh, but into Scottish Gaelic…..

Although the signs provide a good giggle, tee-hee, there is a more serious side. It could be considered quite annoying when companies (especially large ones with big budgets at their disposal) don’t make an effort to get the Welsh language right.

And on that note, perhaps the sign-writers featured in the news story should sign up for our fabulous Welsh lessons here at the Oakeley Arms in January. For more information, check out last week’s blog (click here)

And you can read the whole story of the mis-translated signs (and chuckle at the pictures) – click on the link below

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/19-shockingly-bad-attempts-welsh-6381035