| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | World’s fishiest “translation error”? Thread poster: Christopher Schröder
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67561190
So the Dutch translator of this book about the English royalty managed to “mistranslate” a sentence whereby two unnamed people making inappropriate enquiries about a baby’s skin colour become one named person?
Unless someone Dutch here can explain how that might happen, I suspect it’s not true and the translator is being made ... See more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67561190
So the Dutch translator of this book about the English royalty managed to “mistranslate” a sentence whereby two unnamed people making inappropriate enquiries about a baby’s skin colour become one named person?
Unless someone Dutch here can explain how that might happen, I suspect it’s not true and the translator is being made the scapegoat.
But if it is, we might finally get that example of a translator actually being sued… ▲ Collapse
| | | | P.L.F. Persio 
Netherlands
Local time: 23:40
Member (2010)
English to Italian
+ ...
Christopher Schröder wrote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67561190 So the Dutch translator of this book about the English royalty managed to “mistranslate” a sentence whereby two unnamed people making inappropriate enquiries about a baby’s skin colour become one named person? Unless someone Dutch here can explain how that might happen, I suspect it’s not true and the translator is being made the scapegoat. But if it is, we might finally get that example of a translator actually being sued…
I don't know anything about this specific book, but a publishing house, in my experience, never publishes a translation "as is".
There are at least two rounds of editing: after the first one, the editor submits their version to the translator who agrees or disagrees with the changes, then the second round takes place.
Sometimes, when the author knows – or claims to know – the language in which their book is being translated, they want to have their say too.
I think it's too easy to blame it all on the translator, that's why they might go with that.
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Christopher Schröder wrote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67561190 So the Dutch translator of this book about the English royalty managed to “mistranslate” a sentence whereby two unnamed people making inappropriate enquiries about a baby’s skin colour become one named person? Unless someone Dutch here can explain how that might happen, I suspect it’s not true and the translator is being made the scapegoat. But if it is, we might finally get that example of a translator actually being sued…
If the names are not there (in the original text) someone has added them in the translation and I doubt a translator would take this sort of (suicidal) initiative.
| | | | | Translation error? | Nov 29, 2023 |
What a publicity stunt...
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| Agreement complied with? | Nov 29, 2023 |
I now understand why some translation buyers may insist on translators deleting and e-shredding an array of info they disclose, including source files and instructions.
Data protection is paramount!
Philippe
| | | | | Seeing double | Nov 29, 2023 |
Just realised I missed the opportunity to make some kind of joke about it being Double Dutch. Standards are slipping everywhere.
Yes, it does seem to be a clever publicity stunt. I do wonder why anyone in the Netherlands would buy the book anyway (well, anyone at all, really).
| | | | Emma B
Local time: 23:40
French to English
| Source documents | Nov 29, 2023 |
Surely the publication house and the translator will have a paper trail of the source documents and edits so they will be able to track down at what stage of the process this error occured?
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:40
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Christopher Schröder wrote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67561190 So the Dutch translator of this book about the English royalty managed to “mistranslate” a sentence whereby two unnamed people making inappropriate enquiries about a baby’s skin colour become one named person? Unless someone Dutch here can explain how that might happen, I suspect it’s not true and the translator is being made the scapegoat. But if it is, we might finally get that example of a translator actually being sued…
Yes- the two parents have got this American habit of suing everyone left, right, and centre, about everything. So translators, beware!
I can't wait for the California-style divorce. She will take him to the cleaners (as the saying goes).
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I didn't read the book, hell, I even didn't know it existed, but I just heard on the Dutch news that the book is not for sale anymore in Holland. So much for your publicity stunt.
Furthermore, how did the translator know the names of the persons involved, and how could he translate something that (supposedly) wasn't there? Those names are the secret of 'Buckingham Palace'. Answer: he didn't! So, it not a translation error.
The thought here in Holland is that somebody wi... See more I didn't read the book, hell, I even didn't know it existed, but I just heard on the Dutch news that the book is not for sale anymore in Holland. So much for your publicity stunt.
Furthermore, how did the translator know the names of the persons involved, and how could he translate something that (supposedly) wasn't there? Those names are the secret of 'Buckingham Palace'. Answer: he didn't! So, it not a translation error.
The thought here in Holland is that somebody with inside information leaked. Who and why? That is the million dollar question. (source: Dutch newsradio).
[Edited at 2023-11-29 11:53 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-11-29 12:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 23:40
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| According to | Nov 29, 2023 |
According to Rick Evers, the offending passage is on page 128 of the Dutch version, and it reads: "In the prive brieven werd een identiteit prijsgegeven en bevestigd: Charles" (in the private letters an identity is mentioned and confirmed: Charles). So, now you can tell whether the Dutch version you have is one of the originals.
| | | | | Try to get hold of a copy of the book | Nov 29, 2023 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I didn't read the book, hell, I even didn't know it existed, but I just heard on the Dutch news that the book is not for sale anymore in Holland. So much for your publicity stunt.
Furthermore, how did the translator know the names of the persons involved, and how could he translate something that (supposedly) wasn't there? Those names are the secret of 'Buckingham Palace'. Answer: he didn't! So, it not a translation error.
The thought here in Holland is that somebody with inside information leaked. Who and why? That is the million dollar question. (source: Dutch newsradio).
[Edited at 2023-11-29 11:53 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-11-29 12:20 GMT]
It will be worth a lot of money among collectors.
| | | | | Possible scenario | Nov 30, 2023 |
The translator was given (accidentally????) the original unedited English text instead of the final copy, and translated it as such. If so, the name(s) were mentioned in the draft version.
Who is to blame?
[Edited at 2023-11-30 16:12 GMT]
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Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:40
Serbian to English
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| Occam's razor ... | Dec 1, 2023 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
The translator was given (accidentally????) the original unedited English text instead of the final copy, and translated it as such. If so, the name(s) were mentioned in the draft version.
Who is to blame?
[Edited at 2023-11-30 16:12 GMT]
Occam's razor says it's no more than a desperate publicity stunt, to try to reheat vanishing public interest.
One way or another, the responsibility for any errors falls on whoever authorised the proofs for printing, and it's certainly not the translator.
| | | | | | reliable
United States
Local time: 17:40
French to English
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| Very fishy indeed | Dec 1, 2023 |
I hope that the Proz community will stand behind the translator who has been accused in this "stunt". As we all know, no reputable translator would ever add a name to a manuscript. This is a foul way to gain publicity for a book. The author's denial of ever putting in a name could cause the translator great professional damage. It is very sad and unfair that the translator has been abused in this way.
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