Categories: translation, trials
Date: 22 August 2007 17:04:18
Allow me to relate an anecdote from today's endeavours.
I was translating an urgent press release* about a new multi-function DVD player and came across the word “Tastenquittungs-Anzeige”. The meaning of this word eluded me. When broken down into its literal parts it means “key-receipt-display”. I scratched the noggin and tried to work out what this indispensable feature could be. After a while, I reluctantly decided to ask my client in Germany. Her reply (translated free and gratis by yours truly), which came a couple of hours later, was as follows: "The term is a complete puzzle to us all, even the end-client. Hahahaha. We've honestly never heard of it before. After much research by the end-client, it emerged that it is a visual display**. The display shows that a key/function has been pressed.”
Don't blame me, gentle reader, if you buy a new DVD player and find that it purports to have an “activated key display” and it doesn't make any sense. I'm just doing my best in the time available.
*Why do these people leave everything to the last minute? It's not as if it's some earth-shattering breaking news....
** Is there any other sort? I'm already out of my depth...