Thursday 22 October 2009

Organic confusion

On the phone to my mum in Finland a while back I somehow found myself having to use the word "organic". I think the conversation went something like this (roughly translated as I speak a very peculiar Swedish dialect with my parents):
Mum: We harvested the potatoes today. We should have enough for the whole winter.
Me: How wonderful to grow your own potatoes. Real, organic potatoes!

Having not lived in Finland for over a decade, finding the right words can prove difficult sometimes when I speak to my parents, and they have to deal with my "Swinglish" from time to time. Therefore, I actually used the English word "organic" ("organisk" in Swedish) when describing the potatoes grown on my parents’ farm.

My mum paused and sounded genuinely confused when she finally replied:
What do you mean, "organic"? All potatoes are organic aren't they?

And indeed they are. So why is the English language using the word "organic" when describing ecologically grown produce? The online dictionary describes "organic" as "of, relating to, or derived from living organisms".

I could understand my mum's confusion as I referred to her potatoes as "living potatoes". Swedish and Finnish, and all the other languages I know, expect English, use "ecologically grown" or "ecological" when describing products that have been grown to a particular standard. It really gives a whole new meaning to "lost in translation"...

Saturday 17 October 2009

Glaswegian

This is one of the funniest thing I've read in a while. Found on the BBC news website this week:

Firm seeks Glaswegian interpreter

A translation company is looking to recruit Glaswegian interpreters to help business clients who are baffled by the local dialect.

Today Translations placed an advert in The Herald newspaper on Tuesday seeking speakers of "Glaswegian English".

Successful candidates, who could earn up to £140 a day, must understand "vocabulary, accent and nuances".

The firm said, so far, 30 people had applied for the positions - some of them in Glaswegian.

Today Translations spokesman, Mick Thorburn said: "Over the last few months we've had clients asking us for Glaswegian translators.

"After some consideration we've decided this is a service we would like to offer.

'Local dialect'

"Usually, the role would involve translating documents but in this case its more likely to be assisting foreign visitors to the city whose 'business English' is not good enough to understand the local dialect."

Mr Thorburn said successful candidates may have to sit in on business meetings.

He added: "We're not necessarily looking for people who are particularly skilled in linguistics, just candidates who can help out clients who may struggle with native Glaswegian."

Today Translations said that depending on the volume of applications, it expected to contact the successful clients in the next few weeks.