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“Mange Tout?” Common employment issues arising from incorrect translations
27/07/2022
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Authors
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James Halstead
James Halstead is general manager of IMD Legal Translation and Interpreting
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Marcin Durlak
Marcin Durlak is managing partner of IMD Solicitors

 

Sir David Jason’s “Del Boy Trotter” in the BBC comedy series “Only Fools & Horses” baffled or irked those around him with his entirely incorrect French. The character’s famous catchphrase “Mange Tout, Rodney”, didn’t mean the intended “no problem”, but actually meant “Sugar Pea, Rodney”. Although jovial in this context, these incorrect translations aren’t limited to the fictional world. Indeed, it’s more common than you think in legal advice and disputes.