Authored by: MarkS on Tuesday, September 11 2007 @ 03:10 PM

This just makes me wonder just how much is lost in translation. Through cultural differences and how shades of a word's meaning and slang really define film dialogue. Translating from English to Chinese, there may not be a similar equivalent of an English word, or phrase in Chinese. While you might be able to get a relatively accurate translation from English to Chinese, I think a lot of things can go really wrong when you make the transition back from Chinese back into English. As is the case here.

I think David Letterman, a long time ago, when he was on NBC, translated a Beatles song into several different languages and then finally after three languages, back into English. I forget the results exactly, but it was pretty funny.

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Authored by: JIMO on Tuesday, September 11 2007 @ 05:47 PM

Forgetting the re-translation back into English for a moment, let's just think about the initial English to Chinese translation. I mean, is it so badly butchered? And, if so, why is there a pirating issue over there? Who the hell would buy something like that without returning to stab the guy at the DVD stand? Or do they think Americans are totally nuts, so they suffer through it just to experience something different?

And "'Jedi Council'='Presbyterian Church'" is the best subtitle screwup ever.

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There's always gotta be a reason for something.

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