Lost in translation

Okay, I thought it's about time to start a topic about a common problem often overlooked: The sometimes inadequate performance of translation tools. Even the diplomatic world is not safe from mishaps, no matter how intense the training of nifty the tools and programs.

Especially challenging can be dealing with humans or hanar who constantly use expressions and metaphors regardless of how unlikely it is that the other person will know the origin of the phrase. And you can be sure they know at least one expression that is completely unknown to the translation tool.

So in the interest of learning from others' mistakes, feel free to share your most interesting (or embarrassing) translator failures, errors and miscomprehensions.

To make a start, here's a story that happened not too long ago during a conference. After the last session of a day, this human emissary (no real diplomat, kind of a specialist at the conference) was giving me some additional information about the next day when all of a sudden he suggested we could do some [nabetragting] if I would be interested... I blushed so hard and had no idea what to reply! My omnitool was suggesting [redacted]! You have to admit, a pretty close match and the human probably had an accent that made it sound like [redacted] in Anerzesa.
It took me a day to figure out what he really meant and I felt really sorry. (We shared a drink the other evening and no further harm was done).

While humans do seem prone to this, it has a lot to do with how new they are on the galactic stage.

Sam has a tendency to refer to me with what she has since explained was a platonic term of endearment, a term that, depending on tone, may convey a degree of intimacy that it might not otherwise. The problem in translation comes when the immediate translation comes back as the word in the Aam'Sari dialect that is closest to the very most intimate implication of the word- which is quite shocking, indeed!

I also suspect I may be suffering from a similar problem: I've suggested, on occasion (both in casual conversation or, perhaps, on a date) to a human that they might look good with a shaved head. The females in particular seem to take great offence to this, so I've refrained from saying so. I can't help but wonder what it is I'm saying in their language that startles them so...

What a crude word indeed!

But since you mentioned hanar, I remember a small scandal a little while ago on Nevos. It was when those flip color beach shirts were en vogue and they were selling a lot to tourists... until the hanar ambassador chose to protest about "the profanities which are sold to travelers to cover themselves".

About 500 years ago, I was new in the galaxy, just out of the home system. My first trip to Omega, I got into an argument with a Turian, trying to cheat me out of a few credits. He started yelling and I yelled back, then all the sudden, he says, "I will [error, glyph not found] you so hard both your hearts will stop!" The attack he was threatening with didn't have a Krogan equivalent, so my chintz translator interoperated it as [error, glyph not found], spoken with a heavy accent. I laughed so hard I started crying.

There is a small kiosk near to this one's work place that displays a flashing light. It appears to be crudely approximating the term for a particular type of Kahjean rainstorm. It would not be mistaken for the actual word, but this one finds it amusing to watch. It imagines the kiosk gloomily predicting what its neighbours would consider unpleasant weather. This one finds it funny!

as long as i can figure out what the dude over counter wants to drink i'm fine.
last minor problem we had was when some human was using the phrase "out of the blue" in weird context and Saffyree slapped him in the face...