A signboard installed urgently on a highway near Kodagu, Karnataka, has become viral online due to a humorous mistranslation from Kannada to English.
A user named ‘Kodagu Connect’ posted a picture of the signboard on social media. The signboard’s mistranslation from Kannada to English reads, “Urgent make an accident.” In Kannada, the original phrase “Avasarave Apaghatakke Karana” means “Overspeeding causes accidents.”
Lost in translation.
Location: Near Sampaje. Along Madikeri to Mangaluru National Highway 275. @NHAI_Official pic.twitter.com/i2k7NLQdaL
---Advertisement---— Kodagu Connect (@KodaguConnect) July 2, 2024
The incorrect translation, “urgent make an accident,” sparked debate on the internet. Some criticized the government’s English translation efforts for signboards, while others found the mistake amusing and didn’t take it too seriously.
One user commented, “‘Haste is the cause of the accident,’ which is the correct translation.” Another user joked, “Bro even used ChatGPT for this.” A third user remarked, “Kannada is what matters, not English.” The fourth user suggested, “Just one comma after ‘urgent’ could completely change the meaning.” Lastly, the fifth user quipped, “Better notify the insurance agents; they’ll sort it out quickly.”
In March, residents of Karnataka’s Kodagu district erected a temporary signboard cautioning travelers about an error in Google’s navigation. The humorous signboard advises people not to follow Google’s directions but to choose an alternate route to reach the Club Mahindra resort.
The Kodagu Connect X handle shared a photo of the signboard stating, “Google is incorrect. This road does not lead to Club Mahindra.” Local villagers installed the sign after becoming frustrated with lost travelers who relied on Google Maps and ended up asking for directions.
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