Funny Translation Fails - Japanese English and more!

In my years of collecting things made in other countries, I've seen a lot of odd and funny English translations. I've seen them on ads, product packaging, and in instruction manuals. Some of these translations are amusing, some bad, some incomprehensible, and some really really funny.

Your best companion, anytime and anywhere! Your best companion--you see this a lot. Now this sort of thing might be just an odd translation, or it might be a little more cultural--like maybe in the culture in which this originates you really can have an inanimate "companion." Or here,--"your lovely mascot." Whatever that means. And here there's "my dear lovely friend." While I may see this kind of talk as strange, I have to admit that we say and do WAY weirder things than this in my so-called culture. So, admitting that, I think I can allow myself to be amused by this without being labeled a racist for my mirth.

Different languages are structured differently, obviously, so word for word translations are always going to be clumsy and funny for that reason. Then there are differences in grammar, and use of idioms, and... of course the cultural differences. "Fascination of pocket music!" Well, definitely. Oh there are lots of excuses for bad and/or funny translations, but only one real REASON: Somebody tried to save a buck, or a yen, or a kopek or some kind of money, when they should have hired a competent translator. I imagine these kinds of translations are the result of a cheap manager at a company..asking around if any of the employees knew any English and then pressing one of them into doing the translation because that employee had had a few semesters of English back in high school... I took my three semesters of Spanish to Spain.. some time back, and it got me nothing but laughed at.

Here's Magic Float, from around 1960. This, I gather, is a sort of fishing bobber that lights up when you've caught something. It says 'Your fish pleases you by light-up.' Huh? 'Your game just tells you it's catch by beautiful flash.' Oh yeah. I... couldn't have said it better.

It's the smaller firms that seem to put out the best of these funny translations. But even Toshiba made many ads as flowery and as small-time looking as those produced by their tiny competitors. At the time, Toshiba was already a giant outfit making all manner of things--as you see here--up to and including locomotives and nuclear equipment. Yet they could wax rhapsodic about one of their radios being "Your Favorite Companion." THAT old chestnut. They go on to say that "Even the paddy bird will stop singing when lured by the sweet melody from the radio in your hand."

"Gracefully comes the whisper of Melos--as sweet as the odor of wreath. Whose beauty never surpass. The beauty of the graceful Melos." These words of wisdom from the Sansei Trading Company of Tokyo in 1958.

Novel Dempa contorts their first name, Novel, into a hymn of praise to their newest radio which, you will notice is not an "it," but a "she:" "N" Now does she make her debut, On the stage of world market. Virtuosa in radio-dom she will be, Everybody will she charm, Long, long hereafter." What's left to say but, Amen.

"Any time! Any place! Your boon companion." This one cracks me up. "Boon" must have come right out of an English thesaurus with no real idea of how the word is used. But technically, yes, "boon" is defined as "a thing that is helpful" or a "blessing." And again, Amen.

It's the 1959 Toyopet... Toyopet... from Toyota. Not the logo we're familiar with, but it's the Toyota we're familiar with. Quoting now, "Japan's coast-to-coast drive enchants even the trotters. They're as well satisified with smooth riding of Toyopet Crown Deluxe. In Japan 43% of passenger cars are made by Toyota--the Orient's largest automobile manufacturer. This car is the cults of Americn motorists, too. Powerful 60HP engine, ball joint type front axle suspension, and over-drive mounted." End quote.

Uh, keep in mind that these people we are snickering at.. today regularly top the list of most popular car brands in the entire world.

Truer words have never been spoken, in any language, than "Good tone make you up good mood." This is simply undeniable. Words... to live by.

Now here is "New Eagle proudly advancing into world market with lovely melody." And over here, "Lead... Super Home Radio" which offers "Best excellent for appreciation of music!" and "Best fit for admiration in sitting-room!" Yes, I'm quite certain that.. both of those... are probably true.

Ashidavox Earphones offer you, quote, "Superior Technique & Highest Quality. You can depend upon 'Ashidavox' brand. Why? Ashidavox is the name for the Best in solidity, sensitivity and easiness of use."

#Japan #China #India #Spain #foreign #transistorradio #antiques #collectibles #transistor #collectornet #1950s #1960s

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