How could language interpretation be so poor for such an important event?

There’s plenty of discussion flying around the Internet about Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s arrival ceremony at the White House yesterday. Were his remarks about Arizona’s new immigration law appropriate? What do you think about the First Lady’s striking blue gown?

And, if you’re into languages, how could language interpretation be so poor for such an important event?

Here’s the explanation, according to the Associated Press:

“In Spanish, Calderon’s comments were straightforward and clear as he stood by President Barack Obama on the South Lawn and spoke to the common values and principles that unite the U.S. and Mexico.

But the English translation that American viewers heard was so bad that the official White House transcript ignored it. Instead the White House used a translation provided by the Mexican Embassy and it was markedly different from the words actually spoken by the translator as Calderon talked”

An official with the Mexican delegation said the translator came with the Mexican delegation but apparently was not someone who regularly translates for Calderon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue and because details of the situation remained unclear.”