Lost in Translation
I saw this image recently, and instead of hijacking that perfectly good post, I thought it best to write my own.
Because this a very real issue, even when watching a show or movie.
Mostly when it comes to watching queer media that already incorporates a coded language due to the topic.
Many people watching Portrait of a Lady on Fire in another language didn't realize the significance of the final scene between these two because they didn't understand French.
The entire movie, they used the formal form of you basically referring to each other as madam, but at the end, they use informal you, and it shows the intimacy that has developed between them. If you didn't understand French or romance languages, you probably missed it!
It happens often in Asian dramas as well because they use honorifics that don't get translated with the same significance.
These two in Ghost Host, Ghost House skipped over the traditional honorifics and instead opted for you and I. It was important because even when they were fighting, they still saw each other as equals.
This was a big moment in Semantic Error, but if you watched it with just the translation on one streaming platform
You would have missed the urgency of the scene because he finally showed respect for this person and the relationship they had developed.
And often, the translations of colloquialisms (slang or informal language) are literal so context is omitted.
I would pay $$$ for annotated subtitles (like from Viki, depending on the team, Idol Factory does a good job, and Lazy Subber, please come back!) because they explain the context we would miss in the literal translations.
In Thailand black bean is (derogatory) slang for gay sex, so asking if someone wants black beans is coded language.
When Knock asks his girlfriend if she is itchy in Together With Me, if the audience doesn't speak Thai, they understand the flow of the conversation as being logical since Knock's girlfriend just mentioned getting bit by mosquitoes and wanting to go inside. However, the show does a strange sequence that indicates this moment meant something...more.
Because asking if someone is itchy in Thai is asking if they are horny. Knock is asking his girlfriend if she is horny and if that's why she wants to go inside. That's missed in the translation.
This happened in Love Mechanics as well. Vee asks Mark if he wants him to come inside to watch a series. It seems innocent enough, but Mark's reaction is aggressively upset.
It's because this is equivalent to America's Netflix and Chill or Korea's Wanna Eat Ramen?. Vee is asking Mark if he would like to YouTube and Lube. Vee is asking Mark if he wants to have sex! That is missed in the translation.
Big Dragon had this issue with different translations on different streaming platforms in regards to this scene:
Some platforms translated Yai as saying "You're a pain in the ass, really" while others used "You're a pain in the ass, literally." It's a small change, but Mangkorn smiles afterwards because he gets what Yai is saying and is a literal pain in the ass. Yai had to visit a doctor after their first sexual encounter because Mangkorn was so rough it caused Yai pain...in his ass, and they just had sex again.
Language is a cultural tool, so although it incorporates a lot of implied knowledge, it's subtle. If the audience is missing the cultural context, an entire narrative can be easily missed.
This is also the case with intonation aka the rise in pitch when speaking or emphasis on a particular word - Why is this here? vs. Why is this here? - One is asking why this specific item is outside instead of another item, while the second asks why that specific item is outside instead of another location. If we don't know the language, it's hard to decipher when the intonation causes a change in meaning.
So the next time you are watching a series in another language and think the dialogue is lacking, understand it's probably because you don't speak the language. Sometimes the substance is lost in translation.
It's okay, but ask questions, do some research, and try to learn, so the next time someone asks if you want ramen, you can smile and say enthusiastically "YES!"
EDIT - Adding more links from others that show examples:
Extraordinary Attorney Woo - The cat's butler scene
My Engineer - Cool Kid Nickname
English in KinnPorsche as deception
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what do you think kate, aleria and farah’s fav pet names to call their s/o’s, or even if they like pet names! i absolutely loooovvvvvvveeeee your stuff by the way, love! <3 you are feeding the lesbians in the cod fandom
Hey there! Thank you! I'm glad to hear that I can make something for the women lovers in the CoD fandom! That was my intention all along!
Pet Names That Valeria, Farah and Laswell Use
Valeria: I don’t think she’d use too many pet names as she does believe they’re somewhat embarrassing. Will absolutely not use any in public, but might use some when she’s drunk and alone at home with you. When she’s drunk she usually speaks some Spanglish, so chances are, unless you know both languages, you won’t fully understand her. And even then, her pet names are very few and far in between. They’re also nothing too special. Something along the lines of cariño/a or querido/a. Really, it’s nothing too fancy as Valeria isn’t usually one to show her affections through words. However, you can call her jefa and she’ll go wild internally. Naturally, she’s the boss among the two of you, but it’s nice to hear that anyway. Also the implication of you being family is nice.
Farah: Unlike Valeria, Farah is all for sweet pet names. Loves calling your romantic things that show you just how much she cares about you. She can go either way as well, either calling you something adorable in Arabic or English, she’s fluent in both languages after all. Calls you “my love”, “my moon” or “my heart”. It’s important to note that she usually puts “my” in front of your pet names since it’s important to her that you are hers. However, in Arabic she’ll call you something along the lines of habibi/habibti, rohi or ya amar. Maybe I should mention that she’d also love nothing more than to be sweet with you in Arabic, so her saying things to you in that language aren’t restricted to just pet names. She’ll compare you to the most beautiful things in existence. Farah can be quite eloquent in Arabic, actually, so it’ll always be sweet.
Laswell: Oh, she can probably go any way. Laswell knows so many languages, there’s a good chance she knows yours as well. So she likely wouldn’t be above calling you a pet name in your own language. Besides, if she doesn’t know your language then she’ll simply learn it, she really wants to indulge in the joy of speaking your native tongue with you. So she’ll definitely learn some sweet things she can call you in your language. However, if we go by English alone, then she won’t be too fancy on that one. She could be, don’t get me wrong, but she usually chooses to stick with something that will convey that she loves you, but won’t go overboard. You can expect something along the lines of “my love”, “sweetheart”, “sweetie” and, if she’s feeling especially daring that day, “cutie” from her.
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HI HELLO HAVE THE TRANSLATED LYRICS TO THE NEW RUSSIAN KINITOPET FANSONG
song - ДРУЗЬЯ НАВСЕГДА [KINITO PET ПЕСНЯ] | НИНТЕР (FRIENDS FOREVER [KINITO PET SONG | NINTER {author's nickname})
thanks to this post for posting about it on here!! Made me find it out (:
Udp: Thank to this post for a lot of corrections!
If im gonna change some things i will leave the closest to the original translation in the brackets to it will not drift it's meaning if anyone wants to use it!
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Я другом твоим хочу стать - I want to become your friend
Дай побольше о тебе узнать - Let me know more about you
Будем вместе мы играть - We will play together
То, что в письме - лучше не знать - What's in the letter - better not to know
Задаю тебе вопросы: - Asking you questions
Зима, лето или осень? - Winter, summer or autumn?
Твоя любимая еда? - What's your favorite food?
Какое имя у зверька? - What's the name of your beastie? (as in like. small animal. it rhymes in russian i promise.)
[Pre-Chorus]
Доверься мне, мы же друзья - Trust me, we are friends after all
И ты со мною до конца - And you with me untill the end
Я всё узнаю про тебя - I will find out everything about you
От меня не скроешься - Can't hide away from me
В моих руках твои друзья - Your friends are in my hands
Ты их забудешь навсегда - You will forget them forever
Ведь у тебя есть только я - Because you have only me
И только я, и только я - And only me, and only me
[Chorus]
Бесконечное веселье - Everlasting fun
Только лишь для нас двоих - Only for us two
С тобой найдём мы увлеченье - With you we'll find devotion
О проблемах позабыв - All problems forgotten
[Verse 2]
С возвращением, друг - Welcome back, friend
Кажется был завершён сеанс - Seems like our seance was cut short
Но ты не бойся, коли вдруг - But don't fear, if that's so
Смогу восстановить баланс - I can fix the balance
Осталось сделать одну вещь - Only one thing left to do
В админ состав меня вовлечь - In admin list include me
В командную строку набрать: - Type into cmd:
“Кинито дать твой комп зас—” - Give Kinito my pc- (wow i accidentally made it rhyme. anyways, back to blank verse)
[Break]
Давай, давай, пиши! - Come on, come on, write!
Комп мне свой уступи! - Give your PC to me! (it uses Russian rude-ish-sland for the word computer but that is most likely for song purposes bc it only has one vowel while computer is a long word in both languages
Я не вирус! - I'm not a virus!
Я не вирус! - I'm not a virus!
[Chorus]
Бесконечное веселье - Everlasting fun
Только лишь для нас двоих - Only for us two
С тобой найдём мы увлеченье - With you we'll find devotion
О проблемах позабыв - All problems forgotten
Бесконечное веселье - Everlasting fun
Только лишь для нас двоих - Only for us two
Нам не скучно - это правда - We're not bored - that's the thuth (technically better in future lang like "we won't get bored" but in song was present bc song purpouses so i will leave it like that in literal translation)
Разве не согласен ты? - Dont you agree?
[Bridge]
А теперь… Дай мне доступ! - And now... Give me access!
Мы же друзья! - We are friends after all!
Скажи, ну хоть раз - Tell me, even once
Подвёл я тебя? - Have I let you down? (also technically in the present tense here but yeah...)
[Outro]
Целый мир, здесь я и ты - This whole world, for me and you (orig. "The whole world, here's me and you")
Места нет для скукоты - No place for boredom here
Всё подстроил под тебя - Everything i arranged for you
Теперь системой правлю я - Now the system's ruled by me
if ya are native/just really good in english i'll be happy if you check it for any mistakes or propose better/rhyming translation! that's just the meaning mosly word-by-word (:
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