The BBC recently published a series of articles on embarrassing translation errors. Below is a special report of Welsh translation gaffes. Excel Translations does not endorse, recommend, or make representations with respect to the following content.
Asda offers ‘free alcohol’ in wrong Welsh language translation
A sign in Cwmbran’s Asda for the alcohol-free section was incorrectly translated to “free alcohol” in Welsh.
Guto Aaron, who spotted the sign, wrote on Twitter: “Get yourself to Asda, according to their dodgy Welsh translations they are giving away free alcohol.”
Asda said it was changing the sign.
The sign – which should read di-alcohol – in fact says alcohol am ddim, which means free alcohol.
An Asda spokesman said: “Mae’n ddrwg gennym [we are sorry]. We would like to thank our eagle-eyed customers for spotting this mistake. We hold our hands up and will be changing the signs in our Cwmbran store straight away.”
The supermarket confirmed there would not be free alcohol in stores this weekend.
Mr Aaron told BBC Wales: “To be fair, for a private company, Asda’s signs are usually correct so when there is an unfortunate mistake like this, you just have to laugh.”
“I have much more of an issue with the way the sign looks than its content. They have chosen such a dark font for the Welsh to ensure it’s practically invisible from afar, it feels deliberate.”
Mr Aaron said people were quick to blame Google Translate because of “how bad it used to be”.
B&Q Welsh translation gaffe directs shoppers to US
Ceredigion shoppers have been told they may have to cross the Atlantic to find their nearest B&Q store – thanks to a Welsh-language translation gaffe.
A Welsh sign at the DIY chain’s now-closed Parc-y-Llyn Retail Park store in Llanbadarn Fawr, near Aberystwyth, told shoppers “we have moved”.
It then said “you can find…United States” – instead of “us” and used the Welsh for US, “Unol Daleithiau”.
B&Q has apologiZed and said it would be replaced.
The sign told shoppers: ‘We have moved…find us United States’
“We’re sorry for any confusion caused by the mistake in our sign and we’re working to get it removed,” a B&Q spokesperson said.
“You won’t be able to find the United States at B&Q in Carmarthen, but you can find everything you need for your home and garden this summer.”
Welsh language road sign errors in translation
A Welsh language road sign in the Vale of Glamorgan urges drivers to “follow the entertainment” rather than take a diversion.
The translation uses the word “adloniant” which only means diversion in terms of a pastime or hobby.
The signs put up in Rhoose by Network Rail contractors also use the non-existent word “acses” to mean access.
A Network Rail spokesperson said it had not commissioned the signs and is investigating.
“I’ve told everyone who’s inquired that we’re looking into it, and if there’s been a genuine mistake then we’ll fix it,” said the Network Rail spokesperson.
‘Lack of respect’
It is the latest in a long line of translation blunders in Welsh.
Examples include a sign erected in Swansea that was supposed to read: “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”.
Instead, the message read: “I’m not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”.
Vale of Glamorgan Plaid Cymru councillor Chris Franks said the latest errors indicated a lack of respect for the Welsh language, and reflected poorly on those companies and individuals responsible for the mistakes.
“I think the current bilingual legislation is strong enough, and you couldn’t really draft a law which would prevent these things from happening,” he said.
“You’d just hope that the companies and authorities involved would take more pride in their professionalism, as ultimately they’re the ones who end up looking silly.”
“It’s disappointing that these contractors failed to take adequate care; it does indicate a lack of respect for the language.”
A great number of supposedly Welsh speakers have never been taught the grammar formally and may hsve carried on errors of speech they heard during their childhood. Buuy why companies simply ask sny old Walsh dpesker rsther yhsn s qualified linguist is a mystsry.
December 2020: Swan Brand published the December Edition of the Swanday Times,
its magazine. There had been a competition to photograph your (Swan products)
kitchen and send in the picture. Swan’s staff thought the winning picture title,
‘Adra yn awelon’, was the name of the winner. They called the winner Adra, and
also assumed they were female. Except, ‘adra’ (adre or adref where _I_ am) means
‘home’ or ‘at home’. They didn’t even check with the winner for their name,
before going to press.