歇雲客居

(圖片來源：http://big-meng.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_9896.html)

看到這篇「繁皮簡骨真痛苦」，非常心有戚戚焉，特地分享給大家；底下的回應也很精彩喔！(是啦，我等一下也會去回應啦 *羞*)

繼上回「清理洗手煎」之後，又在同一家公司的翻譯庫裡看到這句 (這樣下去該不會真的沒完沒了吧~~)：

原文：Edward's clients include global companies, cities, large public school systems, universities, and every branch of the U.S. armed forces.

上次提到幾句不精準的譯文，最近又不小心看到這句：

Start cleaning closets, bookcases, and other storage areas

白爛翻譯不只出現在電視節目，某些大公司的軟體和網頁裡也有一大堆。身為資訊產業的譯者，我可以很確定這不見得都是譯者的錯，有時候是譯者翻對了，卻被白目審稿人員改成錯的。能不能上訴？如果你很有閒，當然可以，因為你要自己把「證據」收集齊全 (包括檔名、原文、你自己的原始譯文、審稿人員的錯誤譯文...)，然後提供給上游廠商；以我自己來說，把整理證據的時間拿去接別的案子，絕對會比較划算，而且翻案也不一定會成功，即使成功了，部份審稿人員也有可能惱羞成怒...

不過這是題外話了，其中原委很難一一道盡，只能苦中作樂，把白爛翻譯當成笑話囉。以下為了簡潔起見，用「譯者」來代表「譯者 and/or 審稿人員」；畢竟一般使用者根本無法得知是哪個環節出了錯：

剛才在「旅遊生活頻道」的「打造完美派對」節目裡，看到某個告示牌上的英文：

STAY OFF THE ROCKS

幫網友翻譯：

A successful external analysis needs to be directed and purposeful. There is always the danger that it will become an endless process resulting in an excessively descriptive report. In any business there is no end to the material that appears potentially relevant.

幫網友翻譯：

The Department of Defense (DoD) established the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative in 1997 to develop a DoD-wide strategy for using learning and information technologies to modernize education and training and to promote cooperation between government, academia and business to develop e-learning standardization.

幫網友翻譯：

Time, as we understand and measure it ─ with clocks and calendars, is a human invention. The science of studying time, as well as the art of making instruments that measure time, is known as horology; clock and watchmakers are called horologists. Different instruments have been used to keep track of time over the years ─ the sun, water, candles, sand, springs, electricity, and quartz ─ all in an effort to count time in equal units. Sundials, or sun clocks, were used as early as 3500 B.C. and divided daylight time into equal hours. By looking at a shadow cast by the sun over the dial in the center, people were able to get a general idea of the time of day. Use of the sundial became very popular in certain parts of the world, and around 1500 B.C., the Egyptians even had portable sundials.

幫網友翻譯：

Upon my honor I swear that I shall hold I sacred trust the right and privileges conferred upon my as a certified mechanic. Knowing full well that the safety and lives of others are dependent upon my skills and judgments, I shall never knowingly subject others to risks that I am not willing to assume for myself, or for those dear to me. In discharging this trust, I pledge myself to never to undertake work or approve work which I feel to be beyond the limits of my knowledge, nor shall I allow non-certified superiors to persuade me to approve aircraft or equipment as airworthy against my better judgment, nor shall I permit my judgment to be influenced by money or any other personal gain, nor shall I pass as airworthy aircraft or equipment about which I am in doubt either as a result of direct inspection or uncertainty regarding the ability of others who have worked on it to accomplish their work satisfactorily. I realize the grave responsibility which is mine as a certified airman, to exercise my judgment on the airworthiness f aircraft and equipment, I therefore pledge unyielding adherence to these percepts for the advancement of aviation and for the dignity of my vocation.