We've all seen them. The instructions in owner's manuals or other service documentation that almost always makes sense.
But sometimes not.
Or, the meaning is so vague that much intellectual energy must be expended in an attempt to ascertain the meaning the author was trying to convey, filtered through a translation from an individual whose native language is, obviously, not the same one as that of the reader.
The photocopiers, printers & MFP's I spent my career around were almost always sourced from Japanese manufacturers. Even as recently as the mid 2000's we were still seeing amusing translations. Two of my word-for-word favorites are:
1) From a Toshiba analog copier service manual, circa early 1980's - "All parts of the unit are either inside or outside the unit".
Indeed .
2) From a Kyocera color printer service manual, circa 2003 - "Before removing the LED print head, sufficiently do to let escape the static electricity which is electrified in the human body concerning the metal part and the like of the aqueduct faucet, after that do that work".
Ummm... OK. Whatever you say there, Sparky.
What comical translations have you seen in documentation?
Supfire L5-S had a weird one on sales website, unfortunately they’ve removed it.
“Rear pillar design big drum, and put an end to skip files happening better compatibility pointed flag battery”
There was a bluetooth mini keyboard/trackpad controller being sold on dx.com or a similar China retailer. In product photos the retail box said “the instructor must have the best weapon”. That is sort of intelligible when you think about it but somehow sounds more like martial arts stuff than powerpoint fighting, to me at least.
New Kawai Pianos sold at a music store I used to work at. Grand pianos arrived in large wood crates. The writing on the protection paper weaved through the strings said, “paper is designed to keep strings off of rust”