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Lost in Translation Fifty

April 19, 2010
08:58 AM

I was in Brussels at a food conference in the European Parliament (not the main chamber, a little one in the same building)

The conference was principally in French but we were being given spontaneous translation by a group of three translators in a glass booth.

At one stage I heard an English speaking delegate say that “We must always insist that our vegetables are served in season ”
The translation, in French (to which I was listening as an excercise to relieve boredom ) said that
” Nos légumes doivent toujours être bien assaisonneé”

This means that our vegetables should be always well seasoned with salt and pepper.

Then that same translator probably went down stairs to the main chamber and started an international crisis.

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  Martin Dwyer
Consultant Chef