Categories: words, translation, trials
Date: 22 October 2007 22:05:04
My previous post reminded me of a job I worked on about 15 months ago. I had a call from a completely new client asking if I could proofread an urgent assignment. Foolishly, I agreed. It turned out to be all about underwear.
Prior to this occasion I had not spent a lot of time considering the vocabulary employed in this area nor pondering the various differences between the items which perform roughly the same task but are given different names. One girl's camisole may be another girl's vest depending on factors which do not seem to be clearly defined but could involve lace and ribbons - or not.
The original translator had clearly been reduced to a quivering wreck when faced with the intricacies of ladies' lingerie and gent's underwear. He had just given up in places - and got the wrong end of the ribbon in others. I feel sure the translator was male because there were some translations which were simply hilarious (I'm sorry, I can't give you any examples) and no woman would ever have described undergarments intended for the sisterhood in such a way.
As I was not provided with pictures of the items in question (why make things too easy?), I spent hours on websites purveying these essential items, comparing the vocabulary used and trying to be as accurate as possible in my translation.
It's not easy when the words used in the source language have a different meaning in the target language. For example, the German word "Slip" does not not mean "ladies' undergarment designed to act as a lining to a dress" but "briefs". And believe me, the world of briefs is anything but. Briefs, knickers, tangas, g-strings, boxer briefs, boxer shorts, bikini, high-cut, low-rise.... I could go on....
I had a ghastly moment when I suddenly realised my client hadn't made it clear if this text was for the British or American market. Answer: International. Gah.
When completely stuck with the description of an item, I felt I had no option but to phone the translation agency. Take it from me, it is not easy discussing the intricacies of lacy lingerie with a man with whom you have only ever exchanged two e-mails and from whom you are hoping to get subsequent assignments...