Lost in Translation
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:35 am
http://www.expressindia.com/olympics200 ... t_id=35600
The Olympics were a Tower of Babel with a record 202 nations competing. Little wonder that so much gets Lost in Translation.
When questions are posed in English, translated into Russian and answered in Greek before finally returning to their starting point, language inevitably gets tortured.
Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva was asked at a news conference after winning her pole vault gold whether she would spend some of her money on her famed shoe collection.
"Yes," came back the multi-translated answer, "I did do a bit of archery when I was young."
The question was asked again.
Isinbayeva giggled and looked lost. But her eyes lit up at the third and final attempt. "Ah yes, I understand," she smiled. "A yacht and a car."
The Olympics were a Tower of Babel with a record 202 nations competing. Little wonder that so much gets Lost in Translation.
When questions are posed in English, translated into Russian and answered in Greek before finally returning to their starting point, language inevitably gets tortured.
Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva was asked at a news conference after winning her pole vault gold whether she would spend some of her money on her famed shoe collection.
"Yes," came back the multi-translated answer, "I did do a bit of archery when I was young."
The question was asked again.
Isinbayeva giggled and looked lost. But her eyes lit up at the third and final attempt. "Ah yes, I understand," she smiled. "A yacht and a car."