by Jo Stubbings, Herald-Sun, 1992 They look innocent enough. They’re small, modest, compact. People will always start smiling when they’re handed around, handshaking, telling stories, doing deals. Business cards really are the passport to success. But just try translating them. It can be murder. Like the blurb on a best seller, these neat little tags are built to summarise the vital statistics of their owners....
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Non, nyet, nein! The translators are at it again
The recipe from an Arabic cookbook had a deadly serious ring “Fry onions till golden brown. Soak bread rolls in hot milk, then rest in peace for 30 minutes. This will not be the last time you prepare this dish.” It’s a translation of course. Humorous, witty, incisive. Exactly the type of translation you hope will never grace the inside cover of your company report...
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Let’s start with numbers
They say that when you speak two or more languages fluently, the best way to test the language you’re most comfortable in is to try counting money. If you are bilingual, give it a go. No matter how good you are in your second language, chances are you’ll return to your native tongue....
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