Ah, July! The middle of summer is here and already we're seeing ads for back to school - to the delight of a few parents. Many of you are in the midst of vacations here or abroad, enjoying new sites, sounds and flavors. Maybe you're enjoying a staycation and observing some of the delightful celebrations in July such as:
National Junk Food Day
Talk in an Elevator Day
Teddy Bear Picnic Day
National Eat Your Jello Day.
July is also celebrated as National Horseradish Month, National World Watercolor Month and National Foreign Language Month. Whether you're spending the month in the US or traveling abroad, you've likely encountered conversations about horseradish condiments or watercolor art - often in languages other than English. Global influences shape our everyday experiences. In business, clear and effective communication is critical for our reputation and our success. Consider these real-life blunders made by major corporations when communication missed the mark:
An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Pope's visit. Instead of "I Saw the Pope" - el Papa - the shirts were mistakenly printed as "I Saw the Potato" - la papa.
Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi brings your relatives back from the Grave" in Chinese.
Coors incorrectly translated it's slogan, "Turn it Loose," into Spanish, where it was read as, "Suffer from Diarrhea."
Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick," a curling iron, into Germany only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for a "Manure Stick."
Translation mistakes can be amusing - unless your business is the one making them. While amateur translations may seem like a cost-savings upfront, they can seriously harm your brand and future business opportunities. AI tools may offer word-for-word accurately, but they often miss the nuance of context and local idioms that can completely alter the intended meaning. Only a professional, native-speaking linguist can deliver the precision and cultural sensitivity your business truly deserves.
Auerbach International uses only Master's degreed or equivalent native linguists who've been in professional practice for a minimum of 10 years. With our team, your mist stick will never stink!
We'll deliver your translation project with speed, cultural accuracy and with exceptional personal service. Email us or click HERE for a free quote!
And this parting thought from Thomas Sowell: "It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance."
Best ~
Chris Hempel
Director of Client Success
www.auerbach-intl.com
chris@auerbach-intl.com
phone 415-592-0042 X125
mobile 818-445-4451
