This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Italian to English
  3. Advertising / Public Relations

stupidario

English translation: \"how not to do it\" guide

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:stupidario
English translation:\"how not to do it\" guide
Entered by: Daniel Gold

23:13 Jan 4, 2011
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Advertising / Public Relations
Italian term or phrase: stupidario
This is from a website of a translation agency, which I'm translating:

...potete trovare tutte le informazioni utili per accedere ai servizi della società, dall’elenco delle prestazioni ai contatti, passando per la possibilità di chiedere un preventivo gratuito e finendo con le curiosità, una sorta di “stupidario”, piccolo viaggio nelle disavventure che capitano quando si affidano le traduzioni a chi non ha le competenza giuste.

Thanks.
Daniel Gold
Israel
Local time: 16:09
"how not to do it" guide
Explanation:
I would've liked to go with "Translationballs" (after Private Eye's "Colemanballs"), but of course it wouldn't strike the right tone for a professional agency's marketing material ;)
Selected response from:

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Grading comment
This seemed the most meaningful and appropriate for the context. Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +9wall of shame
Ilaria A. Feltre
4 +4bunch/collection of howlers
Shera Lyn Parpia
4 +3idiots' gallery
philgoddard
4 +2stupidarium / blooper land
Michael Korovkin
4 +1"how not to do it" guide
Oliver Lawrence
4"dos and don'ts" guide
Audrey Pate
4fool-proof guide
David Hollywood
3collection of nonsense
Science451
3a countdown of mistakes/blunders
itKara (X)


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
idiots' gallery


Explanation:
I have one of these on my website (and so, I'm sure, do thousands of translators and translation company). I call it "Lost in translation".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2011-01-04 23:21:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Companies, that is.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2011-01-04 23:22:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another alternative: dunces' corner.

philgoddard
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  simon tanner: a bit strong maybe, but definitely gets the point across
7 hrs
agree  P.L.F. Persio
9 hrs
agree  Armilla (X): or "idiocies" as well
4 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +9
wall of shame


Explanation:
Traduzione un po' libera, una galleria di cose (in questo caso traduzioni) di cui vergognarsi...
Un po' più politically correct di "idiots' gallery"... :)

Ilaria A. Feltre
Malta
Local time: 15:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  simon tanner: very nice
7 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  Oliver Lawrence: or "hall of shame" (as opposed to "..of fame")
7 hrs
  -> Anche... Grazie!
agree  Laura Cattaneo: molto bello
8 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  P.L.F. Persio: splendido
8 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  SYLVY75
9 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  Science451: bella!
9 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  Barbara Carrara
12 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  Shannon Goyette
2 days 10 hrs
  -> Grazie!
agree  John Walsh
2 days 15 hrs
  -> Grazie!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"dos and don'ts" guide


Explanation:
just an alternative... to me the previous suggestions imply that the author of such a guide will be naming names rather than giving advice on how to do things properly!

Audrey Pate
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Oliver Lawrence: really it's just "dont's"
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
bunch/collection of howlers


Explanation:
my contribution!


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2011-01-05 04:35:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/howler

3. Slang A laughably stupid blunder.

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  simon tanner: I like "howlers", but feel it needs something snappier than "collection" or "bunch". Maybe simply "howlers" on its own?
2 hrs
  -> Yes, that would work too!
agree  Monia Di Martino: I think that's the best and proper translation also because it's not too "strong".
3 hrs
  -> Thanks. I do think it conveys the right intensity.
agree  P.L.F. Persio
4 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Elena Zanetti
6 hrs
  -> Grazie!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
fool-proof guide


Explanation:
I would say ...

David Hollywood
Local time: 10:09
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Oliver Lawrence: The meaning is not the same
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
"how not to do it" guide


Explanation:
I would've liked to go with "Translationballs" (after Private Eye's "Colemanballs"), but of course it wouldn't strike the right tone for a professional agency's marketing material ;)

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 131
Grading comment
This seemed the most meaningful and appropriate for the context. Thanks.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Amanda Jane Lowles: agree
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
collection of nonsense


Explanation:
another possible option


    Reference: http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_inglese/Italiano/S/s...
Science451
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
stupidarium / blooper land


Explanation:
... "stupidario" is a neologism in Italian; so it's legit to translate it with a similar neologism in English

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Fabrizio Zambuto: you've got a point...
8 hrs
  -> grazie Fabrizio
agree  Rosanna Palermo: collection of bloopers
9 hrs
  -> better semantically but heavier on the ear... blooper corner, perhaps?
neutral  Oliver Lawrence: except 'stupidarium' is a bit too off-beat and would probably jar slightly on the reader
1 day 8 hrs
  -> U'r right, Oliver: it jars and grates; but "stupidario", too, sounds rather preposterous in Italian – perhaps intentionally; so I guess 'stupidarium' could do the trick
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a countdown of mistakes/blunders


Explanation:
a countdown is a list of the top 'whatever' (music, movies,...anything really), if there's a number of 'stupid things/mistakes' involved you can say 'top 10 countdown', for example

itKara (X)
Italy
Local time: 15:09
Native speaker of: English
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search