Definitely have a translator do the other language. When travelling in
places where English was the second language, bad translation just sounded
stupid, amateur, and like they threw it up as a secondary consideration
instead of having it as a genuine helpful thing. I would laugh at bad
translations and then also feel a little unwelcome. Good translations will
help to bring in that community who will be thankful to be welcomed and
appreciated and included in your museum's mission.

This is what bad translation looks like to us:
http://engrishfunny.failblog.org/   It is the same when other languages are
mistranslated.

-Elizabeth Walton

On Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 12:37 AM, Maris Ensing <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ** **
>
> In any language you use, accuracy matters, but translations do not need to
> be (or should be) literal but instead indicate the same meaning. Speaking a
> few languages, one thing that is really annoying are translations that are
> NOT done by well educated native speakers *that understand the subject*and have silly translation errors or careless spelling errors (and as for
> subtitles on video…  there is another story that is often rather painful).
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> As far as prominence is concerned – I for one do not care if the big
> statement is in the local language and my language is somewhere below in
> smaller letters as I consider it a courtesy if someone bothers to provide a
> translation into my language or into a language that I happen to speak. My
> take is that the primary language of the country you are in should always
> be on top or be prominent, with other languages taking a secondary position
> – it is only polite to do so. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Any signs that are in a foreign language (relative to its location) should
> be translated into the local language – it is most rude to have messages in
> a foreign language that are not available in the local language, as the
> natives would not be able to read and understand – which to me is quite
> unacceptable.****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Best****
>
> Maris****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Cass Karl
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 22, 2011 2:44 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Bilingual Exhibit Labels****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear Listers,****
>
>  ****
>
> Does anyone have experience generating bilingual exhibit labels?  Which do
> you write first, *your* native language, or the "other" language?  Do you
> favor a literal translation, or a translation that may not be exact, but
> more accurately conveys the *meaning* you're trying for?  Do you put the
> labels side by side or on one label (maybe using a line to seperate them)?
> ****
>
>  ****
>
> As you can tell, I have never done this before.  Any advice you can give
> would be much appreciated.****
>
>  ****
>
> Thank you.****
>
>  ****
>
> -Casandra Karl****
>
> Director, ****
>
> Mission Historical Museum****
>
> Mission, TX****
>
> ** **
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>
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