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As any interpreter knows, interpreting a message in full is only half the battle. The other half is making sure that the interpretation is accurate as well. Interpreters have a duty to preserve a message's accuracy and to correct any errors that may occur. Unfortunately, misinterpretations do happen and, as the examples below illustrate, mistakes can be embarrassing, costly, and even deadly. 

 

1.) In 1956, with tensions rising between the United States and the Soviet Union, a speech by Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev  did little to ease relations between the two superpowers. In the speech,  Kruschev was misinterpreted as saying "We will bury you." In fact, what Kruschev really said was "We will be present at your burial." This mistake was not just a political gaffe, but also something that could have lead to nuclear war.  

 

 

2.) Eighteen year old Willie Ramirez was in a coma when he was admitted to a Florida hospital in 1980. A misinterpretation of the Spanish word "intoxicado" caused Willie to be misdiagnosed as being overdosed on drugs. As a result, Willie's real diagnosis, an intracerebral hemorrhage, was overlooked and his treatment was delayed, thus leaving him quadriplegic. This grave error resulted in the hospital providing Willie with a settlement of $71 million.  

 

 

3.)  At the Potsdam Conference in 1945, allied leaders drafted the Potsdam Declaration which demanded the unconditional surrender of Japan.  Japanese reporters, who were eager for a response from their government, questioned Japanese Premier Kantaro Suzuki about the government's reaction to the declaration. Suzuki, as a way of indicating that he had no comment,  responded by using the Japanese word "mokusatsu" which  is derived from the Japanese word for "silence". However, "mokusatsu" can also be interpreted as ignoring something in contempt. This second interpretation was relayed back to the American government and Hiroshima was bombed ten days after Suzuki's comment.  

 

 

Do you have any examples of interpreting errors in history that have caused problems?  Share them on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages! 

 

                       LANGUAGE IN THE NEWS 
Easter Traditions and Food in Lviv, Ukraine
   
Ukrainian Easter is a family celebration and Lviv, Ukraine is the best place to experience it. The family spirit soars in every Lviv temple, in old squares and the streets where Easter exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances take place. Joyous Ukrainian songs celebrate the natural and spiritual arrival of spring.

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Living Language


Don't make a pig's ear of translation
     
A few days ago newspapers carried a rather strange case of a theft being reported. The matter involved two people who knew each other and one of them alleged that the other had stolen something of his. The matter ended with the two protagonists settling the issue.

To continue reading the article, click here.  

Tibetan Students Jailed for Defending Language Rights

A court in northwest China's Qinghai province has sentenced eight Tibetan students to prison terms of up to four years for their role in protests defending their right to use the Tibetan language, according to sources in the region and in exile.
          
Speaking official language "not a human right"

 

Quebec's human rights commission is criticizing the proposed changes to the province's language laws under Bill 14.

 

The controversial language bill would make some significant changes to Quebec's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including designating the use of an official language as a "human right."

 

To continue reading the article, click here.