FacebookTwitter
Hatrack River Forum   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Forum » Active Forums » Books, Films, Food and Culture » Translation issues at work

   
Author Topic: Translation issues at work
Speed
Member
Member # 5162

 - posted      Profile for Speed   Email Speed         Edit/Delete Post 
Okay, I was at work yesterday when something uncommonly amusing happened that I have to get off my chest here. Background: I work at a pharmacy.

An elderly man approached the counter at a time when we weren't especially busy and tried to ask me some questions about recommended over the counter medications. It soon became evident that he didn't speak a single word of English. I believe he was trying to speak Bosnian, which is in no way similar to Albanian, German or Spanish (which I know smatterings of), so we were having some trouble communicating. He was trying to read to me off a piece of paper, which I could not understand and he could not understand my replies, making it an ineffective tactic. Finally I took the paper from him so that I could figure out directly what he was trying to say. Upon reflection, it is clear that he had someone with a rudimentary understanding of English tell him what to say, and he wrote it out in phonetic Bosnian so that he could recite it to us. The first line was an attempt to communicate that his wife had something on her back (herpes?), and the second line stated that he was in a lot of pain. But when I initially glanced at it, this is what I saw.

The first thing I did, aside from trying to hold a straight face and not wet my pants, was to go in the back for a minute so that I could copy the paper. Is that wrong? I kind of feel bad for the guy. But what could I do? It was funny. Thought some people here might appreciate a bit of lowbrow humor. Bon appetit.

Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kayla
Member
Member # 2403

 - posted      Profile for Kayla   Email Kayla         Edit/Delete Post 
Oh, dear Lord that is funny! No wonder his wife has herpes on her back! [ROFL]

Did you ever figure out what he was trying to say?

Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Strider
Member
Member # 1807

 - posted      Profile for Strider   Email Strider         Edit/Delete Post 
Kayla, that was awesome.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
pooka
Member
Member # 5003

 - posted      Profile for pooka   Email pooka         Edit/Delete Post 
It's funny, but I also feel really bad for them. How frustrating that must be. I hope they have a little kid who works really hard at school and comes back and buys your pharmacy some day. [Cry]
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kayla
Member
Member # 2403

 - posted      Profile for Kayla   Email Kayla         Edit/Delete Post 
Well, as they were an elderly couple, I wonder if that is still possible. Then again, with his condition, you never know. [Wink]
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Frisco
Member
Member # 3765

 - posted      Profile for Frisco           Edit/Delete Post 
Maybe his wife contracting herpes was the straw that pushed him over to the other side.

Did he wink at you when he said it?

Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2