We have had a couple of projects recently where Welsh language versions of publications have been needed. Now while we don’t claim to be fluent in Welsh ourselves, we always check with people who are to do the translation and double-check everything once we’ve rolled it into the design. This means that we are able to avoid embarrassing situations like the following, reported on the BBC News website:

The Welsh reads: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated" (Source: BBC)

All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of: “No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”.

The reply duly came back and officials set the wheels in motion to create the large sign in both languages.”

“Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: “I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated”.

Original article: E-mail error ends up on road sign