Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Switch off all clothes

That is apparently the injunction given in Gaelic by a well-intentioned Comhairle councillor the other day. According to this P&J columnist, council proceedings descended into disarray, when a severe case of lost in translation affected proceedings. The councillor in question had in fact requested members to switch off their phones, but the Gaelic he enunciated instructed elected members to remove their clothes. The lady translator, present for members who do not have mastery of the Gaelic language, refused to translate. It took a while for things to get back on the straight and narrow.

9 comments:

  1. Plaid5 May 2009 at 05:31

    :) 'Tis a shame the translation was not made! I can easily visualise some of the facial expressions.

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  2. Jill5 May 2009 at 10:13

    That translator had no sense of humour! And imagine how the ensuing confusion would have read in the minutes of the meeting.

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  3. Flying Cat5 May 2009 at 13:16

    Its entirely possible we have already seen the odd WI cooncillor in a state of déshabille on the Peat Calendar of fond memory...well I like to think so...

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  4. thelandlady5 May 2009 at 16:32

    The majority of cooncillors look better with clothes on though.. the majority of people look better with clothes on, come to think of it....

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  5. x333xxx5 May 2009 at 20:29

    How wonderful! It immediately reminded me of this story from last year which I'm sure everyone in the UK will remember but blog visitors from overseas may not be aware of so its worth sharing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7702913.stm.

    I hope that tale makes it to the BBC News website!

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  6. Cloudpurple5 May 2009 at 21:23

    that is brilliant - I am so disappointed that the translator didn't just translate anyway and see the reaction!

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  7. lost in translation « View from the island5 May 2009 at 21:42

    [...] this on Arnish Lighthouse blog and it made me laugh (i am sure [s]he won’t mind me sharing!) Switch off all clothes That is apparently the injunction given in Gaelic by a well-intentioned Comhairle [council] [...]

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  8. Barney6 May 2009 at 22:03

    Laugh while you may. "Smart" clothes with inbuilt sensors and GPS and the Guid Lord kens whit are now on the market for people who can't look after themselves. But perhaps the designer forgot to add a master switch?

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  9. asgerd7 May 2009 at 13:28

    The very IDEA of our councillors taking off so much as their shoes.... urk.

    But we are easily amused here. Another council-attended meeting this week ground to a halt at the mention of "cioch" in the sense of hub (as of a wheel) - as it also means breast.

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