Bloop Bloop... Translation Blooper..

Hello Friends,

A company is into the business related to Hair or Hair related products should be very careful with the use of the word "Hair" in any form of communication because any mistake in this word would also affect the response to product or even their Brand Name. Special care should be taken to check the correct translation and spellings.

વાળો which has been mentioned in the advertisement here does not mean Hair. In Gujarati this word is normally used to instruct someone to "TAKE A TURN". 

The advertiser's intention of the use of the word વાળો (which is wrong) is to convey a plural form, but in Gujarati plural of this word વાળ is not there. This mistake could also be because of the Hindi word बालों which is a correct plural.

Please keep visiting the blog and do send in your comments.

Regards
Nikhil Joshi

Blooper sent by Kirit Makwana - Ahmedabad

Friends,

Kirit Makwana is a regular visitor to my blog.  I am very thankful to him that he has taken interest in the blog's objective to point out bloopers and has joined me in the effort.

He has sent a photograph of the RTO (Regional Transport Office) window, where Smart Cards are issued. There is an error in the word "Smart" which should have been written as "સ્માર્ટ" 

Little mistakes as these either change the meaning or leave the word /sentences meaningless.

If you also come across such a mistake in any language on any form of communication you can send the information along with a photograph / scanned copy / a link to the website on email - nikhiljoshi13@gmail.com and join in the effort.

Regards

Nikhil Joshi

Is your Hair Safe OR Is your Group Safe???

શું તમારા વાળા સુરક્ષિત છે? (What has been Printed)
Is your GROUP safe? 
OR
Are people belonging to your group safe?

શું તમારા વાળ સુરક્ષિત છે? (What should have been Printed)
Is your Hair safe?


Here is an ad with a very small error BUT it has totally changed the meaning of the advertisement. This has been printed in Divya Bhaskar. To see the ad go to http://epaper.divyabhaskar.co.in  Go to Navrang Magazine section on the front page.

The mistake in the headline might not attract a reader to read further.

The company might not have an idea about this mistake wondering what has happened to their ad, if they got a poor response, because this mistake might also be one of the reason.

Unaware of the mistake this could also lead to a change in the media plan / publication / section where this ad has been carried or sometimes even the advertising agency. There might be blames on the product manager or the marketing manager or the brand manager or the retailers for a poor response. All could be because of this small typing mistake.

Friends I await your comments. Do send in your comments and views.

Regards
Nikhil Joshi

My Effort bears fruits... Mistake Rectified!!

Dear Friends,


I am very happy to let you know that my effort has been recognised. Reading the post regarding about the mistake in the landing page, NIIT Imperia has corrected their mistake. The best part is that they have also posted a comment of thanks. Though you could see the comment below the post I would like to put up here:

"Dear Nikhil, I am Jitin Jain, Product Marketing Manager in NIIT Imperia. Thanks for pointing the mistake out. We have corrected this on our website. Regards, Jitin Jain

June 22, 2011 7:32 PM"

It seems that the objective behind this blog is getting fulfilled. I will continue the effort with your support.

Thanks and Regards

Nikhil Joshi

Mistake in the Landing Page by NIIT Imperia

E-mailer

Landing Page

Today 21st June, 2011 I got an e-mailer from NIIT Imperia about their advanced online Advertising programme with Google as their knowledge partner.

When I clicked on the e-mailer it took me to the landing page where important dates for joining the programme have been mentioned. The dates are old dates of April and May which are not relevant. The landing page has not been updated before sending out the e-mailer. The application form on the landing page also mentions about old dates of the months of April and May 2011. http://program.niitimperia.com/google/index.asp?siteid=Afaqs&adunit=mailer

Rectification of these dates is required and updated information is to be provided on the landing page.

Mistakes as these could harm the brand image of the company. Special care should be taken about the information on the web-page when a company is proposing an online advertising programme.

Friends do let me know your views.

Regards
Nikhil Joshi

Sunsilk Gujarati Translation and Typo errors…

Ad in Sandesh

Ad in Divya Bhaskar

Ads of Sunsilk 7 days Challenge have been released in Divya Bhaskar and Sandesh on Sunday 12^th June 2011. These two different layouts have a similar content in the advertisement.

There is a small mistake in the headline in both the newspapers where there is an additional dot on the word નાખે which is not required.

Apart from that there is also a mistake in the link of Facebook in the advertisement put in Divya Bhaskar. The link shows an error. The link in Sandesh is correct which is www.facebook.com/sunsilkhairexperts

The ad with an error in the link of Divya Bhaskar might affect the response of the people to follow the company on face book and it could also happen that lesser number of readers would register / follow.

Apart from that there is also an error in the age of the person Mridula Sathe whose age has been shown as 21 years in Divya Bhaskar and as 22 years in Sandesh.

Friends if you find a similar kind of an advertisement where in there is a mistake of such a kind do let me know and if possible send a scanned copy with your comments. Through this we could help saving money of the advertisers.

Regards

Nikhil Joshi

Thank you Sandesh.

Dear Friends,

Sandesh, one of the leading newspapers of Ahmedabad has recognised the effort and published a news item in their newspaper on Saturday about my blog.

The news can be read online on their epaper http://epaper.sandesh.com/ After reaching the link you can go to Sandesh Dated 4th June, 2011 and see page no. 13. The section "news" has an information about the blog.

I am very thankful to Sandesh for recognizing the effort.

Regards
Nikhil Joshi

Translation Mistake could lead to a loss..

I came across these ads released on two different days in Divya Bhaskar. One in Hindi and the other translated in Gujarati released on the next day which has a lot of mistakes.

The major mistake being in the translation of offer “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” which in the Gujarati Translation says “Buy 1 and Get 2 Free”. 

Mistake such as these could land the company into a problem and a major loss if the customers buy 1 and demand 2 free as per the advertisement.

Apart from that the Gujarati body copy has a lot of spelling mistakes and some words which has no meaning at all.  

Regards

Nikhil Joshi