mistranslation
Botched language transfer
A mistranslation is a rendering of text or speech from one language to another that contains errors, whether through misunderstanding, carelessness, or limitations in the translator's skill.
Mistranslations range from minor inaccuracies to complete reversals of meaning.
Some famous mistranslations have had significant consequences, such as diplomatic misunderstandings or biblical passages rendered in ways that shaped centuries of belief.
The treaty's mistranslation nearly caused an international incident.
Incorrect representation or portrayal
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- erratumDocumented publishing mistake
- typoPrinting mistake
misprint · blunder · oversight · flaw · slip · fault · corruption · botch
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- diplomatic incidentOfficial conflict between nations
- offenseViolation or umbrage
embarrassment · controversy · ambiguity · bewilderment · perplexity · legal dispute · treaty violation
Depict inaccurately or falsely
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- skewTwist from straight
- falsifyDistort the truth
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
pervert · manipulate · alter · warp · doctor · misreport · slant · spin
Understand incorrectly
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misunderstandGrasp incorrectly
- misapprehendGrasp incorrectly
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
misconceive · misjudge · oversimplify · ambiguity · literalism
Unintelligible speech or writing
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
- nonsenseMeaningless words or actions
- scrambleMix into disorder
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
babel · hash · muddle · incomprehensible · word salad · broken English
Convey false details
- deceiveCause false belief
- disinformSpread false information deliberately
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- falsifyDistort the truth
misguide · misquote · fabricate · dissemble · censorship
misrendering
Incorrect representation or portrayal
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- erratumDocumented publishing mistake
typo · misprint · blunder · oversight · flaw · slip · fault · corruption · botch · gaffe
confusion
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- diplomatic incidentOfficial conflict between nations
offense · embarrassment · controversy · ambiguity · bewilderment · perplexity · legal dispute · treaty violation
misrepresent
Depict inaccurately or falsely
corrupt · pervert · manipulate · alter · warp · doctor · misreport · slant · spin · bowdlerize
misconstrue
Understand incorrectly
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misunderstandGrasp incorrectly
- misapprehendGrasp incorrectly
misrepresent · misconceive · misjudge · oversimplify · ambiguity · literalism
gibberish
Unintelligible speech or writing
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
- nonsenseMeaningless words or actions
- scrambleMix into disorder
jumble · babel · hash · muddle · incomprehensible · word salad · broken English
misinform
Convey false details
- deceiveCause false belief
- disinformSpread false information deliberately
- propagandaBiased information for influence
falsify · misguide · misquote · fabricate · dissemble · censorship
- Communication Problemsmiscommunication, misunderstanding, static, garbled, interference
- miscommunicationmix-up, mixed signals, confusion, mixed messages, crossed wires
- misunderstandingmisunderstand, misinterpret, miscommunication, misconception, misconstrue
- translationinterpreting, interpreter, translators, interpreters, localization
- translation technologyBabel Fish, post-editing, source language, target language, parallel text
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
mistranslationfaithful translation
Rendering preserving original meaning
literal translation · fidelity · accuracy · equivalence · correspondence