The Economist: Taiwan Media Irresponsibly Mistranslated "Bumbler"

The Economist: Taiwan Media Irresponsibly Mistranslated "Bumbler"
Source: All Taipei Newspapers
 

Nov. 21, 2012

On November 19, the London-based Economist clarified a term used in the title of an article on ROC President Ying-jeou,  blaming the Taiwanese media for "gross mistranslations" of its article that labeled President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) a "bumbler." 
 
An article published in the November 17 issue of The Economist which labeled ROC President Ma Ying-jeou "a bumbler" set off a heated discussion on the Internet and in Taiwan’s media over the weekend.
 
In fact, The Economist clarified that bumbler was incorrectly interpreted by Taiwan's media, and the term was in no way meant as an insult.   
 
Dominic Ziegler, chief editor of the Asian version of The Economist while overseas, wrote an email to the Taipei Representative Office in the UK stating that he had noticed that the article had triggered a controversy in Taiwan. Ziegler pointed out that the media in Taiwan had "irresponsibly mistranslated" bumbler as "fool."     

Dominic Ziegler stated that this was a "gross mistranslation." He explained that "bumbler" only described a man "who acts indecisively or in a slightly confused manner," without implying an insult. Ziegler sent an email to the Taipei Representative Office in the UK to clarify the facts.

Shen Lyushun (沈呂巡), the ROC representative to the U.K., stated that the Taipei Representative Office was always concerned about reports on Taiwan in the UK media, and issued rebuttals whenever necessary. Shen went on to say that there were many dimensions to a government's administration. Moreover, Shen added, it was possible to find many objective evaluations of Taiwan in the international media and he hoped that people in Taiwan would not focus on just one report.   
 

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