ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Language Barrier

I wrote a letter to this site the day after we signed Castillo to highlight the appalling job that the translator was doing in conveying the sentiments of our new man in his first interview, and offered to provide a real translation of the interview. Obviously there were more important things going on that week and many people were secretly wishing for us to suddenly need a Portuguese translator, so my post never made it.

However, now that the window is closed and two of the new signings have had a run-out, I was struck by Moyes's comment about the language barrier and the need to get the right translators in. Why do Everton not have people already in place for this important task of helping players to communicate with each other? We seem to be off the pace in everything we do at the moment.

I know they say football is an international language and that once you've learnt "mine", "square it", "back post" and the all important "pass it, you fuckwit", then you're set but it might help these lads to settle in if they can communicate.
Daniel Marfany, London Posted 16/09/2008 at 10:51:40

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Michael Kenrick

Hmmm... guess that one just got swamped out, Daniel, we were getting a lot of mail... Sorry!

Daniel Marfany
1 Posted 29/08/2008 at 21:14:13

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I don't know if any other Spanish speakers have watched the first press conference with Everton's new Ecuadorian signing Segundo Castillo, but I for one was amazed at the poor translation of the player's responses. I'm not sure who the translator is and perhaps he is part of the player's own entourage, rather than a mate of Mikel's brought in at the last moment but his short versions of the statements were basic at best. Translations of the questions were just about OK but it was like he couldn't remember what Castillo had just said to him when he had to translate.

Segundo was asked as a second question what he knew about Everton and he said: "Its a club which is always near the top of the league and always plays in international tournaments and its a big club. I am happy to be here and I have the responsibility to make sure that this great institution goes on to achieve more triumphs." Good answer at the end! But not what we got from the translator.

It got worse at the point when the man totally forgot the second half of Segundo's answer to the question about what he knew of Everton's current sqad, and just proffered a weak "..er and thats, thats it...". The answer in full was "I know about Everton because at my other clubs I followed the Premier League and like I said before I'm really happy to be at a great club like Everton with the real quality of my teammates and with great technical staff and the first day, today, has made me feel really happy, and great responsibility."

I know players in a press conference roll out the same old phrases and its easy to be cynical in the today's game but at least if you get a more complete translation than "Oh yes he's happy to be here" then at least the guy has his say.

Hopefully they have someone better for the Portuguese work over at Sporting!

Stefan Tosev
2 Posted 17/09/2008 at 09:34:03

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I think Arteta is the translator he speaks Spanish and French so he can communicate DM ideas to the new boys

Art Greeth
3 Posted 17/09/2008 at 09:47:42

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Amazing, the new and innovate ways people find to criticize the club. Now that is not to say the club could do some things better, but this one...?

Castillo had a Spanish translator by his side in his meet the press session... Fellani had an excellent French translator at his side for his press session AND for the after match interview against Stoke.

Because we don’t always see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, but there is plenty evidence to show Everton DO have translators alongside the new boys and no doubt have arranged English lessons for them too... as well as having players at the club who can already talk French and Spanish.

As for the comment: "Why do Everton not have people already in place for this important task of helping players to communicate with each other? We seem to be off the pace in everything we do at the moment." Bizarre. Truly bizarre... are you suggesting we retain hundreds of translators on the off chance we might sign someone who only speaks some nearly extinct Polynesian language...?

Cut the club some slack...

Alan Humphreys
4 Posted 17/09/2008 at 12:26:20

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I watched Fellani’s interview on Everton FC and thought the translator did an excellent job - not that I can speak french mind. But he was animated and coped with Fellani’s increasingly long answers and the inane questions.

Anyone see the Harry and Paul skit of a football HT team talk on BBC? It’s not Translators we need it’s a multi-lingual David Moyes !!! And don’t worry they won’t learn any naughty words from our Davey - as he doesn’t swear....

Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 17/09/2008 at 14:25:53

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It’s well worth digging up Daniel’s original post, if only to prove what a load of ill-informed nonsense Art Greeth is spouting yet again: