Lost in Translation - Afghanistan

To see more, visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/jun/11/afghanistan.johndmchugh

June 2008

US forces in Afghanistan face an unexpected enemy: the language barrier. They need villagers to cooperate but inaccurate translations keep defeating them. Here is one comically absurd example of failed communication.

An increasing number of Taliban rockets has been hitting Charlie Company. The source of the attacks was located near Mangratay, a small Afghan village. Sergeant Adams is sent to Mangratay to speak to the local elders about the attacks. As always, he finds a ghost town: 'everybody has just disappeared.' Finally, a man appears but he only speaks Pashto. Asked about the level of security in the area, he replies that 'there is no security'. Inexplicably, this gets translated to: 'We are fine; there are no problems here.' The translators have become empowered and inject their own interpretation into everything. Although the elder clearly indicates he wants to cooperate, the translator fails to convey his answers, And so it goes on. The old Afghan offers the American soldier a parable; 'The Taliban are like little ants, there is no way to keep them from the wheat' is translated to 'the Taliban are behind this mountain'. This is a familiar situation to Sergeant Adams, who leaves swearing and angry. A week later, more rockets hit the same area. Time after time the Americans and ordinary Afghans fail to understand one another. Never was the absurdity of war more obvious than here.

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[2009mercedes]

if the fucking surgeon not give him attitude, the guy will translate everything. Hes more scared then old man.

[vodka1983]

i wanna know why he didnt shoot them in the fucking face. hahah

[hash5597]

Vonvinc. I think you have no idea about Afghanistan first of all the translator clearly sounded that he is native Pashtun second think of this how many percent Pashtun are living in Afghanistan about 35% the rest all speak Dari including majority of Pashtun

[hash5597]

I think the fucking guy Adams is a big asshole he have to be dismissed from our armed force he is a mother fucker stupid he has no manner how to talk all is his fucking fault a translator need to be calm and relax to change words from one language to another but that fucking guy was frightened the translator the translator clearly looks that he is a native Pashtun but the poor guy was scare of that shit redneck Adams if I was in place of translator I would kick his stupid ass

[itstony45]

@vonVince not to mention all the minor variations of the primary languages, mixed with slang and local accents. Even a Pashto terp might not be able to keep up.

[SosaelCapo]

I feel for those soldiers and the afghan people. Billions spent on Weapons but the cant find a decent interpreter. We live in a backwards world. That interpreter should be tried.

[vonVince]

The problem is that the translator was a native Dari speaker. Dari will help you get by in the more metropolitan areas of Afghanistan, but as you enter the more rural areas you would need a native Pashto speaker.

[xXxMISTATRIGGAxXx]

@SuperDrifter101 he doesnt have much fucking choice imbecile

[xXxMISTATRIGGAxXx]

The translator should be shot multiple times in the groin and left in the desert with nothing to crawl his way back or die just sayin....

[TheEvilAmerican]

Grab that fucking twerp and hang him out to dry.