Peanut Cakes, Anyone?
I get a kick out of imported goods translations in English on their labels. You can see their native marketing department trying hard to come up with a decent convincing phrase.
This sometimes results in funky terms or concepts that will sound very corky for Americans. For instance this wonderful bottle of Romanian Chardonnay, that can be paired with many desserts, among other the popular (or not so) “Peanut Cakes” (?).
Suspecting that peanuts are native to the American Continent, the Romanian wine producer was maybe thinking that hey – in the end Americans must eat peanut cakes for dessert.
I suspect my own blog writing sounds like this example many times.
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December 5th, 2008 11:19
Take heart my friend, your writing only very rarely resembles such scribblings! LOL I kid you, of course… Your writing in English is quite good; better, infact, than many native English speakers I know. Oh, and don’t think the Romanian wine producers are alone, you really ought to see some of the labels coming out of Greece! Hahaha What I don’t understand is why they don’t seek out credible (native English) writers to come up with their English copy. Oh well, enjoy the wine and ignore the label. But peanut cakes?! LOL
December 5th, 2008 12:49
Hehehe – thanks Sam!
I will take photos of the labels from now on and post them here. I think they are worth of attention! Some just just out of control.
Well, I think I should come up with a Peanut Cake recipe soon and wait for a recommended weather of “55 degrees (F)” to serve it.
December 5th, 2008 13:05
Oh, I love it! Please do post them up as you find them. I work as an advertising copywriter, and absolutely love these kinds of translations.
+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
December 5th, 2008 14:38
Jessie – Thanks! I will – there are a LOT of them! We have a fun imported grocery store here where we usually go shopping.
It is already a habit to me to closely examine the labels on anything that looks interesting.
Gabi.
December 6th, 2008 08:50
Love it…! I often am struck by humorous translations, earnest though they may be.
December 6th, 2008 14:00
Er… is there such thing as peanut cakes? Lol!
December 7th, 2008 13:29
Lost in translation! I can’t wait to see more of your discoveries!
December 20th, 2008 11:04
LOL, my brother in law always comes back from Germany with hilarious tales of too literally translated restaurant menus.
December 23rd, 2008 15:23
Joan: Thanks! There are a ton of them. Sometimes it is simply fun to go to the local ethnic store and read through the labels.
Farina: Might be, deep in Transylvania, maybe! Hehe
Heidi: Stay tuned! Love your blog there!
Maggie: German labels are among most funniest!