An intriguing article from the The Journal of Queen’s University [Canada] takes a look at famous translation blunders over the years, but also evokes the crucial role of language interpretation in the military arena. In C’est what? Tackling language problems, writer Meghan Trewin reviews some well-known advertising campaign translation catastrophes. She goes on to point out that advertising translation mistakes, while serious for the company, are nothing compared to what can happen when translation and interpretation go wrong in the military arena. “For example, before entering World War II, United States intelligence managed to tap into and decode Japanese radio transmissions, which they believed gave them complete insight into the plans of their potential enemies,” writes Trewin. “But historians have looked back over these transmissions and determined that, in many instances, American forces may have misinterpreted Japanese intentions due to the considerable differences between English and Japanese, made even more convoluted by the intermediating code.” One historian cited in the article even postulates that the Japanese may have been more inclined to negotiate peace than the Americans thought, but that the message could have been lost through misinterpretation. Historical speculation aside, Language Translation Inc. pays tribute today to the service and sacrifice of the men and women, including interpreters and translators, who have bravely worn the uniform of the United States. Betty Carlson | 
