...or rather as it is translated by either Google or by someone who thinks they are a translator but really is not. I am quite used to the oddities and anomalies of Hebrew translated into English now - well, "almost" - and the Hebrew subtitles of English language television programmes is so far from what is actually said that I pity those people who want to know what is going on. But I have just been nearly stumped by the English instructions for a new kitchen appliance [no, not the soup-maker as that has yet to arrive], which is translated from Russian - the appliance being of Russian make. There are instructions in Russian, of course - Hebrew, of course - and English, along with various other languages. So. Today was the very first day of using this new multi-purpose do-it-all in-one-thing umm - thing. Easy peasy, so I thought. But I woz rong. I followed the instructions to the letter but then discovered I had set the bdooly thing for 10 hours instead of 10 minutes. Not to worry - switched off and ignored the instructions and followed my instincts, which proved to be correct. As for the "English as she is spoke" - I remember many years ago having read of someone who was having problem with getting a replacement for a faulty iron with no success. She eventually wrote to the company concerned saying "my iron she no work" and the iron was replaced within the week!
Doesn't I kowz the probelma yer havin wiv transerlacions Malka! Because my Hungarian leaves a lot to be desired I have to rely on Google translate to do the job for me and more often than not it comes up with gobbledygook! A few weeks ago I needed to reset the thermostat for my central heating but as I wasn't sure how to do it, and the instruction manual was in Hungarian I decided to do a Google translation, which took nearly an hour, at the end of which I was none the wiser! And did you know, according to Google there are no public buildings in Hungary, only pubic ones! .... that's wot they sezs an theyz gotta be rite coz Google alis knowz best!
De problem be dat translashunin' Ivrit to Engerlish be eezy wen spokdid but not when rittid. Google translate, or whatever they call it, is 99% useless, so in emergencies I use http://howtosay.org/ which will even translate Chinese into English if I copy and paste the word/s into it!
