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Translation by computer embarrasses council

Satellite navigation can sometimes test out trust in technology but for Swansea Council computer technology has become embarrassing.

Welsh road signs are posted in two languages, English and Welsh. The trouble is, Welsh isn't so widely spoken in the south, and translation is left to a third party. When the Swansea council needed a translation of "No entry for heavy goods vehicles", somebody sent it off to the translator and, seemingly, forwarded the reply directly to the signage company.

Unfortunately the translator was on vacation, and his email was set to auto-reply. Instead of the the featuring the traffic statement the Welsh part of the road sign reads "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated".

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