Lirica

App for learning languages through music

For Lirica, I translated German songs into Russian, ranging from classics to modern hits. I also localized in-app lessons from English into Russian.

One of the songs (Aber bitte mit Sahne by Udo Jürgens from 1976) mentioned many traditional German desserts, including “Mohrenkopf.” It’s a small chocolate-covered treat with a soft white interior. Coined in the 19th century, the term has since acquired a negative connotation in German because of its discriminatory and offensive nature. “Mohrenkopf” literally translates into “moor’s head,” which refers to the head of a black person.

The in-app lesson didn’t address this issue, which means language learners would believe “Mohrenkopf” is an acceptable word to use on their visit to a German bakery.

So, I spoke with the client and recommended adding a cultural note to inform German learners about the outdated and discriminatory nature of this word.

As a cultural and linguistic consultant, I make sure your product doesn’t offend, alienate, or get your users in trouble.