Siete invitati ad approfittarvi della cameriera

Un’esilarante raccolta di traduzioni infelici provenienti da ogni angolo del mondo. Via De Traductores.

(Ovviamente fanno ridere in inglese, quindi non sto a tradurle in italiano. Se ne avete di belle in italiano, fatemi sapere nei commenti!)

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
Ladies are Requested Not to have Children in the Bar

At a Budapest zoo:
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty

Hotel, Acapulco:
The Manager has Personally Passed All the Water Served Here

Car rental brochure, Tokyo:
“When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.”

On an Athi River highway:
TAKE NOTICE: When this sign is under water, this road is impassable.

Tokyo hotel’s rules and regulations:
Guests are requested NOT to smoke or do other disgusting behaviors in bed.

Hotel lobby, Bucharest:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

Hotel elevator, Paris:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

Hotel, Japan:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

[…]

Hotel, Zurich:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, is it suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

[…]

Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

Athens hotel:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

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You Are Invited to Take Advantage of the Chambermaid

A hilarious collection of unfortunate translations from all over the world. Via De Traductores.

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
Ladies are Requested Not to have Children in the Bar

At a Budapest zoo:
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty

Hotel, Acapulco:
The Manager has Personally Passed All the Water Served Here

Car rental brochure, Tokyo:
“When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.”

On an Athi River highway:
TAKE NOTICE: When this sign is under water, this road is impassable.

Tokyo hotel’s rules and regulations:
Guests are requested NOT to smoke or do other disgusting behaviors in bed.

Hotel lobby, Bucharest:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

Hotel elevator, Paris:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

Hotel, Japan:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

[…]

Hotel, Zurich:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, is it suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

[…]

Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

Athens hotel:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

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Why Translation Matters, di Edith Grossman

Cito e traduco al volo un paio di passaggi tratti dalla recensione del libro di Edith Grossman, “Why Translation Matters”, pubblicata da Richard Howard su The New York Times:

“[…] nell’amaro intruglio che i traduttori sono destinati a bere c’è una consapevolezza che redime, ovverosia che nonostante gli insulti e le imposizioni che deve sopportare nella nostra cultura, la traduzione è una componente fondamentale della nostra concezione di noi stessi come esseri umani.

[…]

Là dove esiste la letteratura, esiste la traduzione. Sono due gemelle siamesi, assolutamente inseparabili, e, alla lunga, quel che capita a una capita all’altra. A dispetto delle difficoltà che entrambe hanno affrontato, a volte separatamente, di solito insieme, letteratura e traduzione hanno bisogno l’una dell’altra e si alimentano a vicenda, e la loro antica relazione, spesso problematica ma sempre illuminante, di certo continuerà fin tanto che entrambe vivranno.”

Leggi la recensione su The New York Times.

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Edith Grossman: Why Translation Matters

A couple of passages from Richard Howard’s review of Edith Grossman’s “Why Translation Matters” on The New York Times:

“[…] in the bitter concoction translators are fated to imbibe is the redeeming awareness that despite all the insults and impositions translation sustains in our culture, it is crucial to our sense of ourselves as human.

[…]

Where literature exists, translation exists. Joined at the hip, they are absolutely inseparable, and, in the long run, what happens to one happens to the other. Despite all the difficulties the two have faced, sometimes separately, usually together, they need and nurture each other, and their long-term relationship, often problematic but always illuminating, will surely continue for as long as they both shall live.”

Read the review on The New York Times.

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