Friday, September 29, 2006

maven

Come to think of it, I've never had the doubtful pleasure of watching Law and Order: The Original in Slovak dubbing on Slovak state TV. Having caught a few old episodes of it last night (in English) I'm really glad I haven't. Why, you ask? Slovak translators, I answer. Idiots, the lot of them. As long as I live I will never forget abominations like "Gettysburgská adresa" (i.e. "the address - as in street number and zip code - of Gettysburg" for Gettysburg address, instead of "Gettysburgský prejav") in one episode of West Wing or "ničiteľ" (i.e. "the thing/person which destroys" for destroyer, instead of the proper nautical term "torpédoborec") in several episodes of Babylon 5. All I could do was bang my head against the wall and repeat "And someone got paid for this..."
Listening to the fast one-liners (usually delivered by the late and great Jerry Orbach) and quick retorts filled with idiomatic expressions and slang made me (and my forhead) glad I didn't get to see LandO on STV. I can't even begin to imagine what those shmucks there did to these colorful expressions when translating them:

"Maybe you should stop giving us the runaround."
"- Well she has nerve!
- Not to mention several organs below Mason-Dixon."
"Bachelorette number 1..." (Brisco referring to a young woman)
"Either this girl is doing a real Meryl Streep or she doesn't know anything..."
"Don't quit your day job, detective."
"- What did she expect you to do?
- Well, to be blunt, she'd like me to jump down, turn around, pick a bale o'cotton."


And my favorite from that episode (13x15):

"Makeover maven..."

To translate these wonderful examples of US slang requires not only an extensive knowledge of American language and culture (which most of our translators do not possess), but also cojones on the part of the translator. I've said it once, I've said it twice and I'll say it again: standard Slovak is still a language of the theatre and those famous monday night adaptations. Although slang, expletives and other non-standard modes of expression are a normal part of everyday speech, in any even remotely public context, people are still uncomfortable to use words that are perceived as "not being proper Slovak".
The other day, a buddy of mine wrote an email to a discussion group asking for help concerning an item of hardware. The discussion group in question is not noted for it's insistence on decorum, in fact the lack of any such thing would be item number one on any description of that forum. Yet still, the guy felt the need to put quotation marks around the word "pasovať" (a common, yet non-standard word for "fit"). Why? Knowing the kind of people that hang around the said discussion group, there is no doubt in my mind he wouldn't have any problem saying the word out loud. I suspect that the reason he put those quotation marks there to distance himself from this word is the same reason why most public personae precede every perceived non-standard word or phrase with the waiver "ľudovo povedané" (i.e. "as the simple people would say"): it's the ghost of "spisovná slovenčina" (standard Slovak). Once a beautiful idea, it is now a scary half-dead monster baring its teeth at anyone who'd dare to approach it from the wrong side of the social and dialectal divide, yet incapable of defending itself from being eaten away by anglicisms and general disregard for knowledge and education. I'm pretty goddamn sure this is not what Bernolák or Štúr had in mind.

Oh and fyi, the following is how I would translate the expressions above:

"Možno by ste nás mohli prestať vodiť za nos."
"- Tá má teda drzosť!
- A riadne veďvietečo od pása nižšie k tomu."
"Kandidátka číslo jedna..."
"Buď nám tu táto slečinka predviedla úžasný herecký výkon, alebo naozaj nič nevie..."
"Len si nerobte nádeje, detektív."
"- A čo čakala že urobíte?
- Asi že si sadnem, založím ruky a budem sa tváriť že ja nič, ja muzikant."
"Kúzelníčka s mejkapom..."


Or something like that, given enough time and money. Anyone wants more, you know where to find me.

25 comments:

John said...

christian louboutin
true religion outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
coach factory outlet online
polo ralph lauren
fitflops
polo ralph lauren outlet online
michael kors outlet store
christian louboutin shoes
christian louboutin outlet
20161130yuanyuan

Unknown said...

adidas nmd runner
lions jerseys
christian louboutin outlet
lebron james shoes
replica watches
oakley sunglasses
under armour outlet
49ers jersey
uggs outlet
saints jerseys

琐事 said...

oakland raiders jerseys
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton pas cher
cheap jordans
omega watches
new york knicks jersey
ravens jerseys
nike trainers uk
bills jerseys
atlanta falcons jersey

Unknown said...

20170329 junda
hermes birkin
ralph lauren uk
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
ralph lauren polo
cheap oakley sunglasses
futbol baratas
fitflops
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet online

Unknown said...

true religion jeans
coach outlet
gucci outlet
yeezy boost 350
gucci handbags
parada handbags
michael kors canada
air jordan uk
marc jacobs handbags
fitflops
20170402caiyan

Unknown said...

ugg outlet
nike trainers uk
cheap nike shoes sale
cardinals jersey
ugg boots
replica rolex
armani exchange
michael kors handbags
ugg outlet
pandora outlet

Unknown said...

nmd
longchamp outlet
michael kors
hermes belts
jordans for cheap
longchamp le pliage
yeezy boost 350
nike mercurial
chrome hearts
nike roshe one

SandraRoper said...

It remained in the 1920s that soup.io/ the details use of infrared light Refer became much more widespread. Finest Infrared Saunas For Your Money-- Check Out The Reviews And Pick Yours Today German doctors used it to trying out the recovery process. Infrared Saunas 2017 After that, it came to be the best option for trying outs Best Infrared Saunas Reviews healing and also exactly how the human body handle.

chenlina said...

ray ban
moncler
canada goose jackets
burberry scarf
ugg boots
jordan shoes
cheap jordans
nike blazer shoes
nike huarache
oakleys
chenlina20180115

Dani Hamdani said...

It is imperative that we read blog post very carefully. I am already done it and find that this post is really amazing.
obat ginjal bocor herbal
obat keloid

obat benjolan di pergelangan tangan said...

Thanks please share this information if you are face any problem in Toshiba laptop. We will help you for more detail visit here
obat penghilang benjolan di leher
obat penghilang benjolan di punggung
cara menyembuhkan kencing tidak tuntas
cara menyembuhkan penyakit tipes
obat ginjal bengkak di apotik

Obat Luka Lambung said...

Interesting post. I Have Been wondering about this issue, so thanks for posting. Pretty cool post.It 's really very nice and Useful post.Thanks
obat ginjal bengkak
obat radang usus
obat kelenjar getah bening
obat paru paru basah
obat kencing tidak tuntas

cara menyembuhkan hidung bernanah said...

Your blog is really interesting and inspiration to many. I'll be looking forward for more of your posts.
obat benjolan di punggung
obat benjolan di leher
obat benjolan di vagina
obat ginjal bocor tradisional
obat kencing manis

obat benjolan di tangan said...

The information which you people are given are really good, These look really great.
obat penghilang benjolan di punggung
obat penghilang benjolan di leher
obat kencing tidak tuntas
cara menghilangkan keloid
obat salpingitis

jjjjjjjjjjjjj said...

chrome hearts online
retro jordans
nike flyknit racer
off white clothing
michael kors handbags
fila disruptor
golden goose
longchamp outlet
ray ban aviator sunglasses
air jordan 4

Coqicoqi said...

Jordan 4 Retro
Jordan 4 Retro
Pandora Outlet
Nike Air Max 270
Jordan 11
Jordan 11 For Sale
Red Bottom Shoes
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Jordan Retro 11
Ryan20181017

Coqicoqi said...

Jordan 11 For Sale
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Jordan 11
Air Jordan 9
Pandora Charms
Kyrie Shoes
Pandora Jewelry
Pandora Charms Outlet
Air Jordan 4
Red Bottom Shoes
Ryan20181130

Coqicoqi said...

Pandora Jewelry
Nike Air Max 270
Red Bottom Shoes
Air Max 270
Air Jordan 11
Air Jordan 9
Jordans 11
Air Jordan 4
Jordan Retro 11
Pandora Jewelry Outlet
Ryan20181201

Hualala said...

Jordan 4 Retro
Jordan 4 Retro
Pandora Outlet
Nike Air Max 270
Jordan 11
Jordan 11 For Sale
Red Bottom Shoes
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Jordan Retro 11
Paul20190227

Hualala said...

Retro Jordan 11
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Pandora Jewelry Outlet
Jordan 11 For Sale
Jordan 9
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Nike 270
Jordan 4
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Kyrie Shoes
Paul20190405

yanmaneee said...

yeezy supply
bape hoodie
jordan 11
supreme clothing
kd 11
converse
kd 10
golden goose
hermes
nike sneakers

Unknown said...

Full Report Dolabuy Chrome-Hearts discover this info here reference check over here straight from the source

Unknown said...

Recommended Reading useful content his response why not look here Recommended Reading visit

Unknown said...

you could try these out Louis Vuitton Dolabuy Full Article best replica bags online their explanation dolabuy ysl

basle said...

buy replica bags x14 d0o25u1d64 designer replica luggage x24 z6q17g2p25 high quality designer replica z07 w6z38u0e37