On: Games with Famous Bad Translations into Japanese

[gatherhunterer]

The odd thing about the “all your base” line is that it communicates the correct meaning in a way that is obviously incorrect and that is why it is so funny and memorable. When the language is technically correct but mistranslates the meaning it is easier for a mistranslation to go unnoticed or to be subjected to over-analysis in order to justify the poor translation, as detailed in the article.

Translation and interpretation belong to a nuanced inter-lingual skillset. One cannot expect anyone who speaks two languages fluently to correctly translate text between the two.

[anonu → gatherhunterer]

That's usually why translators are called interpreters.

[eropple → anonu]

Interpreters are a type of translator. The reverse is not true, generally speaking.

There is also localization, which is what Clyde (the article author) does, and it incorporates both translation and cultural understanding.

[aikinai → anonu]

Interpreter is a more precise term for verbal translator; it doesn’t apply to written translation and has nothing to do with how much interpretation to expect in the translation.