The pitfalls of literal translation

Do you remember that Berlitz video advertisement (uploaded here some days ago) about the importance of learning English?

English captain: Mayday Mayday! We are sinking.

German coastguard: Hello! What are you sinking about?

Here’s the Maltese version (though nobody’s going to drown with this one) in a newspaper advertisement for a bazaar at Dar tal-Providenza. They’ll be selling ‘agricultural products made from the residents themselves’.

This is, of course, a literal translation from Maltese – maghmulin mir-residenti stess – but if you don’t know Maltese, how would you get that?

Anyway, I’m happy to help the cause, so here are the details:

Bazaar – 13 November – 9am to 5pm – Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi
Books, Christmas wares and agricultural products made by the residents