Funny mistranslation in the newspaper

Question

Esta foto es del periódico noticias24.com de Venezuela. El pie de foto dice:

Un soldado afgano lleva un juego de rol que decoró con flores de plástico durante un patrullaje conjunto con soldados de EE UU de Alpha Co, del Batallón de Infantería 35to segundo, de la Fuerza de Tareas “Cactus” en Walay valle, cerca de la frontera entre Afganistán y Pakistán en la provincia de Kunar. REUTERS/Erik de Castro

Esa no es un jeugo. Es una granada propulsada por cohete. En inglés se llama rocket-propelled grenade, o R P G por sus siglas en inglés. R P G también quiere decir Role-Playing Game, o juego de rol.

This photo is from the newspaper noticias24.com from Venezuela. The caption says:

An Afghan soldier carries a role-playing game that he decorated with plastic flowers during a patrol together with soldiers from the United States Alpha Company, of the 35th Infantry Battalion, 2nd company of the Task Force "Cactus" in Walay valley, near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kunar Province.

This is not a game. In English it is called a rocket propelled grenade, or R P G for is initials in English. R P G also means Role-Playing Game, or juego de rol.

Grenada propulsada por cohete/Rocket propelled grenade

Juego de rol/Role-playing game

Answer 1

Too bad it's not a role playing game.

Too true. It would be nice if that warhead only contained paintballs. - KevinB, Oct 3, 2011

I'd be okay with that too as long as the terrorists only had paintball guns. I don't think that'd work for them though. - tc84, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 2

Well played! You've gained 10 experience points.

I managed to avoid that stuff when I was in college. It was a complete waste of time. I drank beer and played guitar instead. - KevinB, Oct 3, 2011

I now see the error of my ways. I should have followed your example. - tc84, Oct 3, 2011

I played when people used dice and boards. My father was in on some of the original game theory, which is where RPG's originated. Both types. He was an engineer for the government during the cold war. - LaloLoco, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 3

Great post! Another great reason to use the automatic translators for everything you do... It will amuse your target audience!!

Answer 4

One acronym with two different meanings. When the two meanings are so disparate that error was likely a machine translating error. No human would confuse those two meanings.

The military nomenclature isn't right, either. There is a 35th infantry regiment that is part of 3rd brigade. - KevinB, Oct 3, 2011