Re: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

In article <WYj%j.10891$DZ6.997@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Jette <bosslady@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Tim McDaniel wrote:
In article <ddfr-58CA7A.11473028052008@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
David Friedman <ddfr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Has anyone done a movie in (say) American English with British English
subtitles, or the reverse, or using Strine or Indian English as one of
the two?

It's hard to imagine it being necessary, except perhaps in the case of
Indian English spoken fast (I don't know if the same problem exists in
the opposite direction), but it could be funny. You could start with
obvious translations, such as flat/apartment, but then let the subtitles
diverge further and further from the spoken text to reflect the
difference in how the statement would be interpreted by readers of
different national backgrounds.

Along these lines?

Spoken: "Holy fuck! Get some fucking reinforcements up here or we're
totally fucked!"
British subtitles: "I'm afraid we're in a spot of bother. Perhaps
you'd be able to send round a few chaps?"

(Corrections to the tone gratefully accepted.)



Actually, I think we Brits are far more casually profane than you are
- we just don't get all excited about a few F words. Swear all you
like - just don't do it at the top of your voice.

Can you offer an analogous example going the other way, with British
profanity translated into American non-profanity--or different American
profanity?

I'm now imagining some nearly incomprehensible series of profanities,
translated into a clear and comprehensible version. In either direction.

Better yet, repeated examples going in both direction.

--
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
Author of _Harald_, a fantasy without magic.
Published by Baen, paperback in bookstores now
.

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