ECLECTIC COMMUNICATIONS- TECHNICAL TRANSLATION AND SOFTWARE LOCALIZATION !

Have a good laugh and send us your "pearls of wisdom" if you ever come across of some of them. We will be glad to add it to our existing database of translation clangers, without mentioning the name of our brilliant colleagues.

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Chevrolet Nova didn't do well in Spanish speaking countries ... NOVA means 'NO GO'...

Bacardi concocted a fruity drink with the name "Pavian" to suggest a "French chic" but "Pavian" means "baboon" in German.

A peanut-packed chocolate bar targeted at Japanese teenagers needing energy while preparing for exams ran headlong into a belief that eating peanuts and chocolate causes nosebleeds.

Parker (Pens) translated the slogan for its ink, "Avoid Embarrassment - Use Quink" into Spanish as "Evite Embarazos - Use Quink" ... which also means "Avoid Pregnancy - Use Quink."

This is a sign posted in a 4 star hotel in Southern France.
"Your attention please. First. It is absolutely forbidden take the cover and the counterpane to go in the garden for take sun. Secondly, it's absolutely forbid to go out by windows because all curtains are damaged. Third, you are request take care when you take shower because innondation rot the carpet. But after this instructions, you don't take care, I'll be obliged to take sanctions. The direction".

When Gerber first started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the USA - the cute baby on the label. Later, when investigating lower than expected sales figures, they found out that it is common practice in Africa to put pictures of the contents on food package labels.

Coors slogan, "Turn it Loose," translated into Spanish as "Suffer From Diarrhea."

Puffs tissues had a bad name in Germany since "Puff" is a colloquial term for whorehouse.

Jolly Green Giant translated into Arabic means "Intimidating Green Ogre."

When Coca-Cola first came to China, it was given a similar sounding name, but the characters used for the name meant "Bite the Wax Tadpole."

Chicken magnate Frank Perdue wants us to know that "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken," but the Spanish translation came out as "It takes a sexually stimulated man to make a chicken affectionate." But he is still around, even if his name means "lost" in French.

Justice of the Peace (to bride who teaches linguistics): Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband in good times or in bad? Bride (after brief pause): In good times.

A distinguished linguistics professor was lecturing on the phenomenon of double negatives. As he neared the end of his talk, he drew himself up and declared solemnly: In conclusion, let me observe that while there are numerous cases where a double negative conveys a positive, there is no case where a double positive conveys a negative. Whereupon, from the back of the room, arose a small voice dripping with disdainful condescension: Yeah, yeah...

One large US software company specialized in letterhead and business cards advertise on their products in France: "Imprimez votre carte de travail" which means "Print your Green card". It seems to be an easy way to get one.