Remember, it wasn’t until 2012 that the Welsh Language Act was passed and Welsh finally received status as an official language of Wales.
Over the years many people have fought to shake this notion, to reverse centuries of decline in the use of the language, and to ensure the Welsh language receives its proper recognition as an essential aspect of Welsh culture and identity, not just historically, but today.
Whether a Welsh speaker or not, the language and its speakers should be treated with the respect they deserve. The use of correct Welsh, in translation or otherwise, and its availability on an equal basis to English, would be a good place to start.
When Welsh translations go wrong…
When we talk about bad Welsh translations, how bad do we actually mean?
This Welsh road sign inexplicably reads: ‘bladder disease has returned’
A sign in Cardiff directed pedestrians to ‘Look Right’ in English but to ‘Look Left’ in the Welsh translation
The word ‘spirit’ was mistranslated to great comic effect, with one shop sign reading ‘Wines and Ghosts’ in Welsh
Another bilingual road sign which got well and truly lost in translation instructs Welsh-speakers to beware of “exploding workers”
Welsh speakers have complained that this supermarket sign is complete gibberish
Last but not least is my personal favourite – another bilingual road sign (what is it with these road signs?!) which unbelievably takes an automated email message to be the Welsh translation. While the English makes perfect sense: “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”, the Welsh version states: “I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”
Now you’ve seen the effects of using poor quality, free translation tools, next time your business needs to translate or interpret to and from Welsh, put your trust in E-ging translation company.
