Ya wee timorous beastie

You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to know that the world can be a dangerous place.

Even if you’ve only got half an ear tuned into the news there’s always some alarming development around the globe.

Today it’s on the Russian/Ukrainian border. Tomorrow it’ll be somewhere else.

But if you really want to experience a battle royale, look no further than your own doorstep …

And it’s all to do with translation. Or more precisely, poor translation.

On this side of Offa’s Dyke, we live in a bilingual world where many documents, signs and all sorts of material appear in both Welsh and English.

And we’ve got a ready supply of professional translators to ensure that it’s all hunky-dory.

The trouble starts when smaller everyday items are quickly translated without being checked.

We’ve seen some absolute howlers over the years – and they ALL could’ve been avoided with a little more care and attention.

The latest example comes a little further from home when the Scottish Government at Holyrood issued a “Happy Burns Night” message in Gaelic last month.

Unfortunately, the translation they used meant “heat” rather than the name of their great national poet and lyricist Rabbie Burns.

The lesson is to go to the experts when you’re looking for a job to be done well.

And on that note, if you want a sounding board or just want to bend my ear, I’m on hand for a chat about anything to do with Print or Web Design.

Stay safe.

Alec

Fineline Print & Web. The Eagles, 32 Clwyd Street, RUTHIN, Denbighshire LL15 1HW

T: 01824 70 8800 E: [email protected] W: www.finelineprintandweb.co.uk??