Ridiculous History History's Famous Mistranslations, Part Two: Life on Mars, the Cold War, and FARTFULL
Dec 5, 2024
Discover how mistranslations have sparked fascinating theories about life on Mars and shaped Cold War narratives. Laugh at marketing blunders like IKEA's 'Fartful' toy and missteps in car names that went hilariously wrong across cultures. Delve into the political repercussions of Khrushchev's words and the human tendency to see patterns, even in translation errors. From Pepsi's faux pas to the cultural impacts of linguistic miscommunication, this exploration shows just how vital context and accuracy can be.
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Life on Mars Mistranslation
- Giovanni Schiaparelli mistranslated "canali" (channels) on Mars as "canals."
- This led to theories about intelligent life and inspired science fiction like War of the Worlds.
Khrushchev's "We Will Bury You"
- Nikita Khrushchev's phrase "We will bury you" was misinterpreted as a direct threat to the U.S.
- He later clarified that it referred to communism outlasting capitalism, citing Karl Marx.
Got Milk? Mistranslation
- The "Got Milk?" campaign, when translated into Spanish, asked consumers if they were lactating.
- The American Dairy Association quickly corrected the mistake after realizing the error.