The Thinker (Le Penseur) - bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, Paris. France

How Incorrect Language Usage and Translation Can Alienate Your Audience

by Jim Dulin

Sometimes, very small differences in intonation can make a big difference to the meaning of a phrase. Comedian Loyiso Gola, who is from South Africa, talks about how this happens in the movie Black Panther in one of his comedy shows.

Incorrect Usage of Xhosa in Black Panther

The language spoken in the mythical country of Wakanda in Black Panther is Xhosa. And as Loyiso points out, Xhosa is a tonal language. So even a small mistake can alter the meaning completely. And since most of the actors in the movie were American, they couldn’t speak Xhosa fluently, and people who actually spoke the language had difficulty understanding it.

Incorrect Usage of Foreign Languages in Hollywood

Of course, this is a mistake that’s constantly made in Hollywood. You’ll come across various actors acting as if they can speak a language which they have absolutely no training in. If the audience is one that doesn’t understand the language either, then that’s fine. But the moment that movie reaches an audience that actually understands, it ends up alienating that entire audience.

The whole point of using that language was to find common ground with the audience that spoke it. And the movie fails to achieve that.

Don’t Alienate Business Associates or Customers

Similarly, when you translate something for business reasons, you have to get a good translator. This is because a small mistake in translation can lead into long-ranging consequences. You don’t want your business associates in a different country to get the wrong impression. Neither do you want to alienate an entire nation of potential consumers!

A Good Translator Conveys Meaning and Tone

So you need a good translator who is conscious of the nuances of translation. You need someone who will be able to maintain a positive tone in your message. And they should also be able to convey your meaning accurately. You don’t want to end up in a Black Panther type of situation. Although people who spoke Xhosa appreciated the effort to use a real African language, they were mostly put off by the fact that it was done incorrectly throughout the movie.

Contact us to learn more about translating your document in an accurate and positive manner.

Related Articles

AI Dubbing and Speech Translation: Accessible Solutions for All Businesses

At the recent Meta Developer Conference, Mark Zuckerberg introduced AI-powered dubbing and speech translation tools, signaling a transformative shift in global communication. Once reserved for big tech, this technology is now accessible to businesses of all sizes, enabling effortless translation and dubbing of content—whether marketing videos, e-learning courses, or social media campaigns—into multiple languages. This…

Smart, Fun, and Fascinating Facts About the Use of Sign Language

Also known as ASL (or American Sign Language), this method of communicating with those who are either completely deaf or struggle with their hearing has been around for over two centuries. On the surface, watching those who silently speak, understand, and communicate with others using their hands may appear foreign to most, but it’s actually…

3 Traits for Healthier Meetings and Happier Employees

Have you ever sat in a meeting where you were suddenly jolted out of your daydream when someone asked for your opinion? Maybe you remember that meeting that seemed to drag on with no end in sight. Maybe you don’t remember the meeting at all. Did you ever leave a meeting wondering if you had…

here
for you

We’d love to learn more about your translation and localization needs.