Shocking news: people in different countries enjoy different things! Still, it’s strange to see familiar middling brands that no one really cares for where you live that are inexplicably high-end elsewhere. Not just because they’re more scarce or exotic, but sometimes just because the brands are completely different once they’re exported. [More]
lost in translation
McDonald's Learns It Shouldn't Trust Free Web Translators When It Comes To Its Billboards
By 9.5.12
So far as the needs of an average person who say, needs an approximate translation of a YouTube video summary that’s in another language, turning to the free Internet tools is just fine and dandy. But McDonald’s is learning the hard way that it maybe should’ve coughed up the dough to hire a real professional after biffing two billboards aimed at the Hmong population in St. Paul, Minn. [More]
Home Depot In Need Of Spanish Translator, Proofreader
By 1.12.11
Mike found this sign in the carpet section of a New Jersey Home Depot. The portion below the boldface type under the second bullet point highlights the fact that the sign could have used one last look before the person in charge of sign proofing gave it the thumbs-up. [More]
How Healthy Is This Juice? Depends If You Speak English Or Spanish
By 7.12.09
Orchida Coconut Juice displays nutrition data in both English and Spanish, but the values aren’t the same. The English nutrition panels claims that the juice has 240 calories and no fat. Apparently, our Spanish-speaking friends are supposed to read that as 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Pictures of the strange panels, inside…
By 9.21.07
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Zara, a Spanish fashion chain, pulled a $79 bicycle-and-flowers themed handbag from shelves because of a customer complaint that it also had green swastikas embroidered on it. The bags were made in India and the swastika is a commonly used Hindu symbol. Zara claims the design it originally approved did not have the swastikas. [Reuters]
