---
title: mistranslation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mistranslation» in the school dictionary: A wrong translation from one language into another, where the meaning has been changed by mistake. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mistranslation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mistake, sign, mistranslation, menu, it, Idioms · **What happens:** change, say, slip, watch out, have, fry · **To what, where:** meaning, funny mistranslation, big misunderstandings, cats, mistranslations, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mistranslation» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mistranslation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mistranslation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wrong translation from one language into another, where the meaning has been changed by mistake.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:m1:1
# text = A wrong translation from one language into another, where the meaning has been changed by mistake.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	translation	translation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	15	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present · perfect · passive | mistake | the meaning |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sign said «Slip carefully», a mistranslation of «Watch out, slippery».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x1:1
# text = The sign said «Slip carefully», a mistranslation of «Watch out, slippery».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Slip	slip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mistranslation	mistranslation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the sign |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **slip** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **watch out** *in a quote* | infinitive | a mistranslation |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The menu had a funny mistranslation: «fried ice».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x2:1
# text = The menu had a funny mistranslation: «fried ice».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	menu	menu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mistranslation	mistranslation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	fried	fry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the menu | a funny mistranslation |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistranslation=Patient |
| 2 | **fry** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mistranslation can cause big misunderstandings between countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x3:1
# text = A mistranslation can cause big misunderstandings between countries.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mistranslation	mistranslation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	misunderstandings	misunderstanding	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | a mistranslation | big misunderstandings |  |  |  | between countries | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition misunderstanding=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Idioms like «it's raining cats and dogs» often lead to mistranslations.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x4:1
# text = Idioms like «it's raining cats and dogs» often lead to mistranslations.
1	Idioms	idiom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
2	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	acl	_	_
7	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	lead	lead	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	mistranslations	mistranslation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** *in a quote* | present · progressive | it | cats and dogs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lead** | present | Idioms |  |  |  |  | to mistranslations; often *property* | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to mistranslation=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher showed us mistranslations made by computer programs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x5:1
# text = The teacher showed us mistranslations made by computer programs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	mistranslations	mistranslation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	programs	program	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the teacher | mistranslations | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient mistranslation=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | mistranslations *not said here* |  |  |  | by computer programs | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One word with two meanings can cause a mistranslation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x6:1
# text = One word with two meanings can cause a mistranslation.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	meanings	meaning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mistranslation	mistranslation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | One word with two meanings | a mistranslation |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition mistranslation=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mistranslations in instructions made building the bookshelf hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x7:1
# text = Mistranslations in instructions made building the bookshelf hard.
1	Mistranslations	mistranslation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	building	build	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bookshelf	bookshelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Mistranslations in instructions |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | gerund | Mistranslations in instructions *not said here* | the bookshelf |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bookshelf=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Translators check their work carefully to avoid mistranslation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslation:x8:1
# text = Translators check their work carefully to avoid mistranslation.
1	Translators	translator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	check	check	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	mistranslation	mistranslation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | present | Translators | Translators's work |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Theme |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | Translators *not said here* | mistranslation |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent mistranslation=Location |
| 3 | **work** |  | Translators *= translator* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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