Accuracy is everything
In translations, accuracy is absolutely everything…but of course as linguists we are well aware of this fact…it is one of our basic tenets. Failure to ensure such accuracy can have many consequences ranging from embarrassment and loss of professional reputation, right up to more serious consequences…as the News of the World newspaper found out to its cost.
In a story published in early February, the News of the World reported that the Liverpool Football Club Manager Rafa Benitez had made certain disparaging remarks about the club’s owners; to whit, that he blamed them for destabilising the club, ruining their title hopes and that he simultaneously relinquished any responsibility for the club’s poor performance.
Unfortunately for the newspaper though, instead of the report arising from any direct interview with Rafa Benitez himself, it was translated from an interview in Spanish in an article originally published in El Mundo del Siglo Veintiuno (The World of the 21st Century)…Spain’s second largest daily.
Also unfortunately, whoever translated the article probably only had a CSE in Spanish, because the resulting translation completely misrepresented Rafa Benitez and caused him personal embarrassment.
Naturally, Rafa Benitez sought damages in the High Court and having easily won his case, received an unreserved apology from The News of the World as well as five figure damages.
Rafa Benitez has very charitably donated the entire five figure settlement to a Merseyside school for children with special needs…a noble man indeed.