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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| E-mail error ends up on road sign | E-mail error ends up on road sign |
| (3 days later) | |
| When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed. | When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed. |
| Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated". | Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated". |
| So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket. | So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket. |
| "When they're proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh," said journalist Dylan Iorwerth. | "When they're proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh," said journalist Dylan Iorwerth. |
| It's good to see people trying to translate but they should really ask for expert help Dylan Iorwerth, Golwg magazine | |
| Swansea Council became lost in translation when it was looking to halt heavy goods vehicles using a road near an Asda store in the Morriston area | |
| All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of: "No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only". | All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of: "No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only". |
| The reply duly came back and officials set the wheels in motion to create the large sign in both languages. | The reply duly came back and officials set the wheels in motion to create the large sign in both languages. |
| The notice went up and all seemed well - until Welsh speakers began pointing out the embarrassing error. | The notice went up and all seemed well - until Welsh speakers began pointing out the embarrassing error. |
| Welsh-language magazine Golwg was promptly sent photographs of the offending sign by a number of its readers. The sign was lost in translation - and is now missing from the roadside | Welsh-language magazine Golwg was promptly sent photographs of the offending sign by a number of its readers. The sign was lost in translation - and is now missing from the roadside |
| Managing editor Mr Iorwerth said: "We've been running a series of these pictures over the past months. | Managing editor Mr Iorwerth said: "We've been running a series of these pictures over the past months. |
| "They're circulating among Welsh speakers because, unfortunately, it's all too common that things are not just badly translated, but are put together by people who have no idea about the language. | "They're circulating among Welsh speakers because, unfortunately, it's all too common that things are not just badly translated, but are put together by people who have no idea about the language. |
| "It's good to see people trying to translate, but they should really ask for expert help. | "It's good to see people trying to translate, but they should really ask for expert help. |
| "Everything these days seems to be written first in English and then translated. | "Everything these days seems to be written first in English and then translated. |
| "Ideally, they should be written separately in both languages." | "Ideally, they should be written separately in both languages." |
| A council spokeswoman said: "Our attention was drawn to the mistranslation of a sign at the junction of Clase Road and Pant-y-Blawd Road. | A council spokeswoman said: "Our attention was drawn to the mistranslation of a sign at the junction of Clase Road and Pant-y-Blawd Road. |
| Other confusing signs | Other confusing signs |
| "We took it down as soon as we were made aware of it and a correct sign will be re-instated as soon as possible." | "We took it down as soon as we were made aware of it and a correct sign will be re-instated as soon as possible." |
| The blunder is not the only time Welsh has been translated incorrectly or put in the wrong place: | The blunder is not the only time Welsh has been translated incorrectly or put in the wrong place: |
| • Cyclists between Cardiff and Penarth in 2006 were left confused by a bilingual road sign telling them they had problems with an "inflamed bladder". | • Cyclists between Cardiff and Penarth in 2006 were left confused by a bilingual road sign telling them they had problems with an "inflamed bladder". |
| • In the same year, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading 'Look Right' in English read 'Look Left' in Welsh. | • In the same year, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading 'Look Right' in English read 'Look Left' in Welsh. |
| • In 2006, a shared-faith school in Wrexham removed a sign which translated the Welsh for staff as "wooden stave". | • In 2006, a shared-faith school in Wrexham removed a sign which translated the Welsh for staff as "wooden stave". |
| • Football fans at a FA Cup tie between Oldham and Chasetown - two English teams - in 2005 were left scratching their heads after a Welsh-language hoarding was put up along the pitch. It should have gone to a match in Merthyr Tydfil. | • Football fans at a FA Cup tie between Oldham and Chasetown - two English teams - in 2005 were left scratching their heads after a Welsh-language hoarding was put up along the pitch. It should have gone to a match in Merthyr Tydfil. |
| • People living near an Aberdeenshire building site in 2006 were mystified when a sign apologising for the inconvenience was written in Welsh as well as English. | • People living near an Aberdeenshire building site in 2006 were mystified when a sign apologising for the inconvenience was written in Welsh as well as English. |