When Parker Pen marketed a ballpoint pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read “It won’t leak in your pocket and embarrass you”. Instead, the company thought that the word “embarazar” (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: “It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant”. This is a strong example of how companies should heavily research translation before launching their brands internationally. It would have taken only minutes for a professional translator to verify the correct translation of the line in question. But wait, that’s not all. Once again in South America, Parker Pens released a pen named ”The Jotter” which is slang for ‘jockstrap’. Marketers should note this warning: using internet translators for international ad campaigns is not suggested.
Read more at: http://www.campaignasia.com/article/cultural-blunders-brands-gone-wrong/426043