First published: 31st December 2008
The German-language academic publication,Max Planck Research, ran into trouble with the Chinese text on the cover of their issue focussing on China. Although their sinologist vetted the text, he missed the suggestive sexual nature, since compared to advertising posters from Mong Kok. One translation says:
"We spend a lot of money to have [girls] to be in house during daytime. Our mama sans, Ga Mei and KK, present you with young and beautiful girls. Stylish and good mannered beauties from the North [of China]. Sexy and hot, young housewives. Flirty and enchanting, available today."
A more formal translation reads:
With high salaries, we have cordially invited for an extended series of matinées
KK and Jiamei as directors, who will personally lead jade-like girls in the spring of youth,
Beauties from the north who have a distinguished air of elegance and allure,
Young housewives having figures that will turn you on;
Their enchanting and coquettish performance will begin within the next few days.
The Max Planck Institute issued an apology, saying, "To our sincere regret, however, it has now emerged that the text contains deeper levels of meaning, which are not immediately accessible to a non-native speaker." It would seem that the sinologist in question has led a remarkably sheltered life, and a walk round a Chinese city, or, indeed, any city, would be highly educational. Unfortunately for users of foreign languages, using a human translator is not a solution to the dangers of machine translation previously reported.