These mistranslation errors seem to be quite common in Wales. They are always going to be more likely in bilingual environments where the two languages are so very different: it’s hard to imagine errors of such magnitude on an English/German, French/Spanish or Polish/Russian sign.

Of the others mentioned in the BBC article my favourite has to be the road sign for pedestrians in Cardiff that reads ‘Look Right’ in English, but ‘Look Left’ in Welsh. I wonder who was trying to get who killed?

AH, WILHELM! How can life simultaneously and at the same time be so deliciously exhilarating and yet so perplexing? Why is my life such a trial?

Consider but this instance alone, about which I intend forthwith to enlighten you, and, as you at least are well-acquainted with the superfluously circumlocutory nature of my discourse, you will be able to savour in some small wise the essence of my dilemma . . .

For, how can I possibly select but two or three flavours from the myriad of different gelati which at any one time a typical gelataio may spread in temptation before my bewildered eyes? I cannot say: is it possible for me to select but a very few gusti and be content? How can I not have remorse for those that I have perforce eschewed — and thus hasten my greedy consumption, in order to be able to select and devour all over again?

And yet, dear friend, were this my only problem then, Ah! how happy should I then be with my life and lot. Che sciagura indeed, then, that this is not the case — for be warned, Wilhelm, that it is not merely a matter of which flavours to choose, but (and of equal import) in what combination.

For, no matter how individually flavoursome these ambrosial ices might be, three bland and mild tastes can hope to sate or to stimulate neither palate nor soul; while the juxtaposition of but two overly powerful gusti will engender such violent contention as was never beheld even by the light of Apollo’s golden rays beneath the walls of sacred Ilium!

No, dear friend — it is better by far that the three flavours should perfectly counterpoint and complement each other in the variety of their effect: for was it not indeed in such a combination that mighty Agamemnon, proud Achilles and artful Odysseus avenged fair Helen’s abduction?

Ah, Wilhelm — life to me has become such a trial; where should I be without my Homer . . . ?

[Und so weiter.]

On September 9th I travelled with Ruth Vyse, the University Archivist, and John Ralph, ULCC’s Computing Services manager, to Glasgow to attend DRH98, the third annual conference on Digital Resources in the Humanities. The conference was hosted by the Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute at Glasgow University, and ran from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th September. The conference focused on the use of digital technology to preserve our cultural heritage, and as such featured a wide variety of presentations about work going on in, and on behalf of, schools and colleges, museums and libraries, publishers and research organisations, mainly in the fields of the Arts and Social Sciences.

We were particularly interested to learn about developments in cataloguing data collections and providing access to computerized catalogues, and to hear what approaches and standards were being used in other large data storage systems.

A number of presentations were given by the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS), including a reception to launch their new web site on the Thursday evening. Of particular interest were the presentation of the recent AHDS report, Creating and Preserving Digital Collections, and presentations on the work of the History Data Service and the UK Data Archive at Essex University.

Also of interest was a TV film, Into the Future: On the Presentation of Knowledge in the Electronic Age, made for the US Public Broadcasting Service by Terry Saunders. It succinctly presented many important issues surrounding the preservation of digital data (but, perhaps invevitably, it was less forthcoming with answers to the problems). In one example, the film explained showed how the condition of magnetic tapes containing data from NASA’s Viking Mars Lander missions of the 70s and 80s had deteriorated to the point where many were unreadable. In the following discussion, Neal Beagrie from AHDS emphasised that the fragility of computer media, and the speed of technological change made early intervention essential for the preservation of digital records. Our work with the PRO and government departments has made the NDAD project team all too well aware of this issue.

It was encouraging to note that a number of well-supported standards and effective techniques are emerging for digital archives: in some cases this means that multiple catalogues on diverse systems can be searched with a single query. Most presentations concerned systems that were accessible, completely or in part, via the World Wide Web, indicating that the Web has quickly become a preferred medium of access to such resources. An ever growing array of digital resources, including databases, text, images, audio and video, is readily accessible by users at every level, from school-children to statisticians: the challenge for designers of such systems is to provide access tools and methods appropriate to their target audience.

Although NDAD did not make a presentation at DRH98, reference was made to other work that NDAD staff have been directly involved in, including Project Earl (networking UK public libraries) and the British Library’s Electronic Beowulf, which Charles Henry of Rice University spoke warmly of in his capstone lecture The Fire In Grendel’s Eye. We hope to make a presentation on aspects of the NDAD system at next year’s conference, DRH99, which will be hosted by King’s College London.

The conference organisation was superb, and delegates were impressed with the facilities of the Gilmorehill Centre and the ancient University of Glasgow. The Welcome Reception took place in the University’s Hunterian Museum, amongst impressive relics of Scotland’s past, including Roman milestones and the death mask of Bonnie Prince Charlie. On the final night, a civic reception by the Lord Provost of Glasgow was followed by a meal of traditional Scottish fare (Scotch broth, haggis and salmon) and ceilidh, all in the magnificent surroundings of the city’s Kelvingrove Museum . In our few spare moments we also took the opportunity to visit the Hunterian Art Gallery, with its reconstruction of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s house and large collection of Whistler paintings, and enjoyed the chance to travel on the “clockwork orange”, Glasgow’s underground railway. In all aspects of the Conference, the Glasgow organising committee set a very high standard: King’s College unbdoubtedly has a hard act to follow.

Apart from the inevitable LOVE, eyes, heart and time feature strongly. Might need to redo and remove the thees, thous and thys from Shakespeare’s text, since I think the algorithm has stripped “you” from the Beatles’ text. No “yeahs” or “yellow submarines”, obviously, in Shakespeare’s lyrics!

Shakespeare's Sonnets Word Cloud

Beatles Lyrics Word Cloud

One interesting fact we learned is the huge rates paid to these translators, such was the importance of the project They sound like the David Beckhams of their day, earning 500 gold dinars a month - the equivalent of $240000 or more. Either they worked hideously long hours, or they were getting considerably more than £100 per 1000 words!

Strangely enough I suddenly remembered the authors’ offer of a complimentary copy as I was on my way to work this morning. And, lo and behold, there it was waiting for me on my desk.

Needless to say a book we can’t recommend more highly to all you visual graphic types!