In this thread we give examples of sentences that, while grammatical, takes a different connotation when translated to another language.
I'll start with couple of Indonesian sentences.
In Indonesian, it's acceptable to ask how someone died. However, unlike english, the proper pronoun that should be used is "why" as in "Why did your grandma die?"
nenekmuyour grandma meninggalnyaher dying kenapa?why?
Using "how" (bagaimana) instead of "why" is perfectly grammatical, but very offensive. Asking "how" someone die in Indonesian have a connotation that you want to know the gruesome detail of their death.
There are also much formal form that uses "what". As in "Your grandma died because of what?"
nenekmuyour grandma meninggalnyaher dying karenabecause apa?what?
—-
Another faux pas is the pronoun used when asking someone their telephone number. The pronoun used is "how much" instead of "what". As in "How much is your telephone number?"
nomor teleponmuyour telephone number berapahow much?
Asking "What is your telephone number?" in Indonesian isn't rude, but it doesn't make any sense.
Of course some smart asses will sometimes answer "one" or "two" when asked "how much" is their telephone number.
There's also a much formal form where you basically asked the other person to say their telephone number.
bisacan disebutkanbe said nomor teleponnya?his number?
Notice how the possessive used is in third person. This is actually slightly ungrammatical, but quite widespread.
I'll start with couple of Indonesian sentences.
In Indonesian, it's acceptable to ask how someone died. However, unlike english, the proper pronoun that should be used is "why" as in "Why did your grandma die?"
nenekmuyour grandma meninggalnyaher dying kenapa?why?
Using "how" (bagaimana) instead of "why" is perfectly grammatical, but very offensive. Asking "how" someone die in Indonesian have a connotation that you want to know the gruesome detail of their death.
There are also much formal form that uses "what". As in "Your grandma died because of what?"
nenekmuyour grandma meninggalnyaher dying karenabecause apa?what?
—-
Another faux pas is the pronoun used when asking someone their telephone number. The pronoun used is "how much" instead of "what". As in "How much is your telephone number?"
nomor teleponmuyour telephone number berapahow much?
Asking "What is your telephone number?" in Indonesian isn't rude, but it doesn't make any sense.
Of course some smart asses will sometimes answer "one" or "two" when asked "how much" is their telephone number.
There's also a much formal form where you basically asked the other person to say their telephone number.
bisacan disebutkanbe said nomor teleponnya?his number?
Notice how the possessive used is in third person. This is actually slightly ungrammatical, but quite widespread.
There is a famous (sadly, apocryphal) example of early automated translation from English to Russian:
Original: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
Should be: дух бодр, плоть же немощна
Came out as: спирт, конечно, готов, но мясо протухло (The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten)
Original: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
Should be: дух бодр, плоть же немощна
Came out as: спирт, конечно, готов, но мясо протухло (The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten)
In Japanese, if you want to compliment someone with a seemingly innocuous phrase such as "You look pretty today," it's important not to use the most literal translation:
Kyōtoday waTOP kireipretty desuCOP.POL ne.PTCL
This actually means, "You look pretty today (in contrast to all other days)," because of the topic marker on the word for "today". To avoid unintended insult, you can instead say "Kyō mo" ("today also") or add "itsumo yori" ("more than usual").
Kyōtoday waTOP kireipretty desuCOP.POL ne.PTCL
This actually means, "You look pretty today (in contrast to all other days)," because of the topic marker on the word for "today". To avoid unintended insult, you can instead say "Kyō mo" ("today also") or add "itsumo yori" ("more than usual").