Marketing ravages…
Nov 11
Or when commercial translation adaptation is running wild:
The Uniforme of Progress* ==> *La tenue de ceux qui osent
Does it remind you of something?
Work off, translate!
Nov 10
A few days ago, I was writing about commercial translations such as in Calvin Klein TV ad or Levi's posters in the Parisian subway. I was largely inspired by Les Piles' blogpost. I couldn't find that Levi's ad (maybe I don't go out often enough), but I stumbled upon another phenomenom that I wanted to share here.
This time, the culprit is Nike, though I must say that the translation is not that bad:
Lâche ton run (which means... well, not much in French, but literaly "Release your run"), with the everpresent little star and the so-called translation: Lâche toi, cours ( something like "Work off, run"). Well, for once, I have to admit that I largerly prefer the translation over this bad pseudo-catchy frenglish phrase.
What about you? Do you think it really works?
Silence is golden
Oct 19
Reminder: this is only a recap of the French article. To read the full post, click on the French flag on the right.
We say silence is golden: this blog must be worth millions. Don't worry, I'm willing to share!
So today, I wanted to talk about crappy marketing translations into French. Les Piles Intermédiaires has already written about Gap's ad in Paris, and I noticed pretty much the same thing with Levi's' : the catch-phrase "It's about shape, not size" could have been litteraly translated in French (with all implied interpretations). Instead, it became something explicitly explained such as "New Levi's cuts fit every silhouettes".
Other exemple: the new TV ad for Calvin Klein's perfume Beauty with the Beauty-ful Diane Kruger:
Click on the French flag if you want to read the detailed analysis of the French subtitles. Let's just say that the marketers took a little too much liberty with the interpretation. For those who get French, what do you think about that?
