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In global communication, words are not just words; they are decisions, trust, and sometimes, history itself. Few stories capture this truth better than the often-cited mistranslation of the Japanese word “mokusatsu” in 1945, which has become a powerful example of how misunderstanding can influence world-shaping decisions.
Today, no business leader or event organizer faces the stakes of a world war. But in an age of international deals, global conferences, and multilingual teams, the risks of a mistranslation remain surprisingly high. That’s where EventCAT, and its powerful Glossary feature, change the game.
The Mokusatsu Misunderstanding
In July 1945, the Allies issued the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender. Japan’s government responded with a single word: mokusatsu (黙殺).
Here’s where history turned:
- In Japanese, mokusatsu carries shades of meaning: “to remain silent,” “to withhold comment,” or “to consider quietly.”
- Western translators, however, rendered it as “ignore with contempt.”
- The Allies interpreted this as open defiance, and many historians argue this interpretation further complicated diplomatic efforts in a pivotal moment of the war
A single word, misunderstood, mistranslated, and stripped of its nuance, became a symbol of how ambiguity in translation can impact the course of history. While the exact influence of this mistranslation is debated, mokusatsu remains one of the most referenced cautionary tales in translation studies
Why Translation Mistakes Still Cost Us Today
While most mistranslations today won’t spark wars, they can still have a devastating impact:
- In business: a mistranslated term in a contract can change legal meaning or cost millions.
- In healthcare: a misinterpreted instruction can compromise patient safety.
- In events: a product name, brand term, or technical phrase mistranslated in front of a live audience can damage credibility instantly.
The lesson of mokusatsu is timeless: translation isn’t just about accuracy, it’s about precision, consistency, and intent.
How EventCAT is Helpful for Moments like Those
EventCAT is an AI-powered platform built for real-time translation and captioning at live events. But what makes it stand out is its ability to lock in the meaning of crucial terms before the event even begins.
That’s thanks to EventCAT’s Glossary feature.
What the Glossary Does
- Predefine critical terms: Company names, technical jargon, industry acronyms, or sensitive cultural words.
- Guarantee consistency: Once a term is in the Glossary, EventCAT translates it the same way every time, across all languages.
- Avoid ambiguity: Just like mokusatsu, some words can carry multiple meanings. With Glossary, you set the meaning you want, and EventCAT sticks to it.
How It Works in Practice
- Business Conferences: Define product names (e.g., “EventCAT Pro”) to prevent them being mistranslated into something generic.
- Legal or Medical Events: Register key terms that must appear with absolute accuracy in every language.
- Global Summits: Preload sensitive political or cultural terms so nuance is never lost in translation.
The Glossary isn’t just a convenience. It’s a safeguard. It ensures that when your audience reads the subtitles or listens to the interpretation, they are receiving exactly what you meant, not a guess.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Global communication moves faster than ever. Hybrid conferences, multilingual webinars, and cross-border negotiations mean leaders often depend on real-time translation. But without tools like EventCAT, they are exposed to the same risk that turned mokusatsu into a historical tragedy: misunderstanding born from ambiguity.
By combining AI-powered live translation with the human foresight of the Glossary, EventCAT makes sure that what you mean is what your audience receives, every single time.
Every Word Counts
History shows us what happens when a mistranslation closes the door to dialogue. Today, we don’t have to take that risk.
With EventCAT, you can translate in real time with confidence, knowing that key terms, sensitive expressions, and crucial details are locked in with Glossary precision.
Because in every negotiation, every presentation, and every connection, every word counts.
