Chinese language
The Ultimate Deception: False Friends
If you’ve ever studied a foreign language or done any translating work, you’ll be familiar with the existence of linguistic ‘false friends.’ Also known by the French term of faux amis, these tricky words are pairs that occur within two certain languages, but have a totally different meaning.
For instance, the French English translation of actuellement vs. actually provides an excellent case study. The English to French translation isn’t as precise and straightforward as it would at first appear! Actuellement means ‘at the present time’ in French and is translated into English as ‘currently’ or ‘right now.’ Actually means ‘in fact’ in English and should have a French translation of ‘en fait’ or ‘vraiment.’ So perhaps you can imagine the English-speaking French-learner having to suppress a giggle at seeing a poster in a Paris street advertising a movie as being ‘actuellement au cinema.’ It doesn’t mean that the film production team is shocked or surprised at having their product actually make it to cinema screens – it means that the film is on right now at the cinema!
Deception is another word that may cause some problems in its English French translations. The French term ‘déception’ means a disappointment or let-down, whilst the English version, ‘deception’, is on the other hand une tromperie or duperie. Don’t get the two mixed up in your French to English translations or vice versa! You’ll either be adding or subtracting severity to whatever it is that you’re trying to discuss. False friends can be the ultimate deception – you’ve been warned.