Former senator Paul Simon (Democrat, Ill.) delighted in finding examples of trade opportunities lost because of the unwillingness of U.S. firms to speak the language of potential customers. For example, when trying to figure out why the Chevrolet Nova wasn’t selling well in Latin America, General Motors discovered that no va in Spanish means “It does not go.” There are very few people who don’t become more interesting when they stop talking. –Mary Lowry Words break no bones, but they do break hearts. One of the first things which a physician says to his patients is “Let me see your tongue.” A spiritual advisor might ask the same thing.
The point
A humorous mistranslation of the Chevy Nova's name into Spanish illustrates how careless words can communicate the opposite of what we intend, and why our speech reveals our inner condition.