I’m Out of the Office (So Turn Left)
From the “weird email news” file comes this story and pic from the BBC about how an automated out-of-office email reply ended up on a British road sign. According to the BBC:
When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.
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”.
So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket.
“When they’re proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh,” said journalist Dylan Iorwerth.
Be sure to bookmark this post if ever you’re efforts to secure high-quality email translation services are being rushed by upper management. And for the love of all that is holy — please, please be careful when driving in Wales. If the left side of the road thing doesn’t get you, the road signs surely will!
Hat Tip: Tamara Gielen.
Proof that you should never ask a Welshman for directions via email.
