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NEA Tamil Translation Fail


Camrysfa
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How do government bodies send out messages in 4 languages. is there an 'expert' in each language handling the translation? Anyway, anyone got more news on this? What was the translated version like.

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/vivan-balakrishnan-asks-nea-rectify-badly-translated-tam

Vivan Balakrishnan asks NEA to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers 'as soon as possible'

SINGAPORE - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has said that he has asked the National Environment Agency to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers "as soon as possible". The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources was replying to undergraduate J.S. Sasikumar's email regarding the flyer, which came attached with a photograph.

The student, who stated that he is a member of the Tamil Language Society at the National University of Singapore, said in an email: "The Tamil text makes no sense whatsoever. It is as if the English text was put through an online translator to generate the Tamil translation."

In response, Dr Balakrishnan thanked the student for highlighting the issue and added: "I totally agree with you on the need for accurate translations."

tamil1%201211e.jpg

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A dei telling another dei to get his act right.

 

 

How do government bodies send out messages in 4 languages. is there an 'expert' in each language handling the translation? Anyway, anyone got more news on this? What was the translated version like.

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/vivan-balakrishnan-asks-nea-rectify-badly-translated-tam

Vivan Balakrishnan asks NEA to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers 'as soon as possible'

SINGAPORE - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has said that he has asked the National Environment Agency to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers "as soon as possible". The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources was replying to undergraduate J.S. Sasikumar's email regarding the flyer, which came attached with a photograph.

The student, who stated that he is a member of the Tamil Language Society at the National University of Singapore, said in an email: "The Tamil text makes no sense whatsoever. It is as if the English text was put through an online translator to generate the Tamil translation."

In response, Dr Balakrishnan thanked the student for highlighting the issue and added: "I totally agree with you on the need for accurate translations."

tamil1%201211e.jpg

 

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Turbocharged

Most probably the flyers were prepared during Deepavali last month when most of NEA's Indian staff went on leave ; hence no choice but to make use of Google translation.

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We know lah in these govt depts or even public service... there are no real experts. The management just arrow some staff to do it, regardless of specialisation. And they're too cheap to hire real specialists.

 

This kind of small job (producing flyer), the management likely "see no up". They're too busy "strategizing", making "workplan", checking off their own KPI, etc. [laugh]

 

Don't know if it's just me, but I feel that the malay language translation in many public signages also sound very "stilted", like direct translation word-for-word from english. I always wonder why they can't do a re-write in a way that sounds more natural in the language intended.

Edited by Sosaria
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It's ONCE in 50 years :D

Let's MOVE ON :D

 

2 famous quotes applicable here :D

 

Just don't understand.

 

A Head criticise own department for wrong doing where it should be done in close door concept....... [grin]

 

I will never like to work with this kind of bosses who openly explosed own mistake... [:|]

 

Want to score points also not like that.

post-21853-0-16118100-1415840548.jpg

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Supercharged

 

Just don't understand.

 

A Head criticise own department for wrong doing where it should be done in close door concept....... [grin]

 

I will never like to work with this kind of bosses who openly explosed own mistake... [:|]

 

Want to score points also not like that.

Yeah.... want brownie points should admit own mistakes right.

 

Any mistakes own department make also got to borne n not taichi to the staff right.

 

That is then the mark of a leader hor.

 

This remind me of the Snake Charmer n Cobra act. Who is more lethal?

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Just don't understand.

 

A Head criticise own department for wrong doing where it should be done in close door concept....... [grin]

 

I will never like to work with this kind of bosses who openly explosed own mistake... [:|]

 

Want to score points also not like that.

But it already made public nah, so boh bian must "answer" to the public right?

 

I don't see it as A score point, more like Lao kui.

 

Confirm close door there will be more drama.

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Just curious. What did the tamli words say ?

 

The gist is comprehensible: don't throw litter from high floors. But many of the characters are wrong, etc. It's like some Bangla trying to copy the Google translation from his handphone screen. It's almost gibberish.

Edited by Turboflat4
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