Comments on: The sexual sociology of dubbing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/ Korea... in Blog Format Mon, 8 Sep 2008 11:48:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: dda http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56498 dda Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:26:33 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56498 A lifetime ago I freelanced for a company doing subtitles for videos, and there were strict rules. And little pay too – so don't be surprised if the quality is bad, you get what you pay for. You couldn't swear back then – nothing like the language in recent Korean movies was allowed, even if the original English was crude; the women spoke politely to men. The men panmal'ed the wiminfolk. Most people doing that job back then were housewives who had an academic command of English – at best. Even in present times, with bootlegged .AVI movies, their subtitles produced by litterally gangs of young Koreans [see the "credits" with a bunch of people, and the usual injunction not to pirate their work, mwahahaha], the quality is poor. Again, in this case, you get what you pay for. Nada. I haven't watched a movie with Korean subtitles that wasn't fubared. We're talking 30%+ mistakes. Not just huge blunders – and there's a lot of 'em – but little things that don't match, and show the translators know diddly about the language and the society. Sad really. A lifetime ago I freelanced for a company doing subtitles for videos, and there were strict rules. And little pay too – so don’t be surprised if the quality is bad, you get what you pay for.

You couldn’t swear back then – nothing like the language in recent Korean movies was allowed, even if the original English was crude; the women spoke politely to men. The men panmal’ed the wiminfolk.

Most people doing that job back then were housewives who had an academic command of English – at best. Even in present times, with bootlegged .AVI movies, their subtitles produced by litterally gangs of young Koreans [see the "credits" with a bunch of people, and the usual injunction not to pirate their work, mwahahaha], the quality is poor. Again, in this case, you get what you pay for. Nada. I haven’t watched a movie with Korean subtitles that wasn’t fubared. We’re talking 30%+ mistakes. Not just huge blunders – and there’s a lot of ‘em – but little things that don’t match, and show the translators know diddly about the language and the society. Sad really.

]]> By: Bipolar Mindscrew http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56359 Bipolar Mindscrew Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:58:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56359 The Chosun Ilbo has deemed this topic worthy of comment. Is "honorifics and humilifics" the correct expression? http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200611/200611200016.html The Chosun Ilbo has deemed this topic worthy of comment. Is “honorifics and humilifics” the correct expression?

http://english.chosun.com/w21d.....00016.html

]]> By: Wedge http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56350 Wedge Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:44:10 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56350 At least they got it right in "Bachelor Party" when Hanks, responding to the father-in-law's question about whether they are going to have kids, says, "We are considering adopting. I have my eye on an 18-year-old Korean girl right now." At least they got it right in “Bachelor Party” when Hanks, responding to the father-in-law’s question about whether they are going to have kids, says, “We are considering adopting. I have my eye on an 18-year-old Korean girl right now.”

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56321 SomeguyinKorea Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:24:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56321 gbevers, maybe, but some Koreans will also argue that ancient Koreans were 'pure of mind' while ignoring the obvious erotic symbolism found in some ancient Korean art and literature. PS. In Shilla, rich Korean women could have more than one husband. I doubt the Japanese had nothing to do with that tradition going out of style. gbevers, maybe, but some Koreans will also argue that ancient Koreans were ‘pure of mind’ while ignoring the obvious erotic symbolism found in some ancient Korean art and literature.

PS. In Shilla, rich Korean women could have more than one husband. I doubt the Japanese had nothing to do with that tradition going out of style.

]]> By: SeoulLife.net » Blog Archive » He said, she said http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56315 SeoulLife.net » Blog Archive » He said, she said Sun, 19 Nov 2006 04:57:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56315 [...] Robert Koehler at The Marmot’s Hole has an interesting post up about allegations of sexism in the translations and dubbed versions of English films seen in Korea. [...] [...] Robert Koehler at The Marmot’s Hole has an interesting post up about allegations of sexism in the translations and dubbed versions of English films seen in Korea. [...]

]]> By: gbevers http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56309 gbevers Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:30:16 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56309 I do not know if there is any truth to it, but I remember being told that the "blunt-speech husband and polite-speech wife" relationship was a custom imported from Japan. The Korean who told me that said that in Joseon Korea husbands and wives normally spoke to each other in blunt speech, which he claimed was a sign that they viewed each other as equals. I do not know if there is any truth to it, but I remember being told that the “blunt-speech husband and polite-speech wife” relationship was a custom imported from Japan. The Korean who told me that said that in Joseon Korea husbands and wives normally spoke to each other in blunt speech, which he claimed was a sign that they viewed each other as equals.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56307 SomeguyinKorea Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:03:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56307 Just found another example of poor translation, one that is somewhat more worrisome... My son likes to watch 'Dora the Explorer'. He's got DVDs and VHS cassettes we bought back home. Well, I was flipping through the TV channels for him and by chance found a channel that was airing an episode of that show. He smiled, happy to see a new episode of his favorite TV show, but then he suddenly frowned when it was interupted by the Korean 'hostess/interpreter'. Her job is to explain/translate the chants for the kids, a concept that is apparently an anomaly for a kid who's been watching the original 'Dora' episodes. Well, she made a mistake in the chant. It was supposed to be 'The stick, the stick, can do magic tricks', but said it was 'The stick, the stick, can do magic sticks'. The same error was presnt in the subtitles. Seems to defeat the purpose if you make mistakes, doesn't it? Just found another example of poor translation, one that is somewhat more worrisome…

My son likes to watch ‘Dora the Explorer’. He’s got DVDs and VHS cassettes we bought back home. Well, I was flipping through the TV channels for him and by chance found a channel that was airing an episode of that show. He smiled, happy to see a new episode of his favorite TV show, but then he suddenly frowned when it was interupted by the Korean ‘hostess/interpreter’. Her job is to explain/translate the chants for the kids, a concept that is apparently an anomaly for a kid who’s been watching the original ‘Dora’ episodes. Well, she made a mistake in the chant. It was supposed to be ‘The stick, the stick, can do magic tricks’, but said it was ‘The stick, the stick, can do magic sticks’. The same error was presnt in the subtitles. Seems to defeat the purpose if you make mistakes, doesn’t it?

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56303 SomeguyinKorea Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:18:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56303 mithridates, you're second example is exactly the point I was trying to make. The translator would be aware that Koreans sometimes say rude things, too. Obviously, the translators are purists who, by fear of corrupting their idealized Korean language, feel that it's more important to promote the use of socially stifling 'honorifications' in lieu of conveying accurately the moviemaker’s message in its entirety. mithridates, you’re second example is exactly the point I was trying to make. The translator would be aware that Koreans sometimes say rude things, too. Obviously, the translators are purists who, by fear of corrupting their idealized Korean language, feel that it’s more important to promote the use of socially stifling ‘honorifications’ in lieu of conveying accurately the moviemaker’s message in its entirety.

]]> By: mithridates http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56278 mithridates Sat, 18 Nov 2006 06:14:57 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56278 Worst translation so far: "You're the shit!" --> 재수 없어 Second worst: Hi, sorry I spilled beer on my hands (said by a guy who was about to shake the hand of a person that walked into his office) --> 어서오세요 Worst translation so far:
“You’re the shit!” –> 재수 없어

Second worst:
Hi, sorry I spilled beer on my hands (said by a guy who was about to shake the hand of a person that walked into his office) –> 어서오세요

]]> By: Andy Jackson http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56029 Andy Jackson Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:06:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/17/the-sexual-sociology-of-dubbing/#comment-56029 My wife was a translator for a while. She worked on one season of "The Gilmore Girls." If you have ever seen the show, you would know what a nightmare it is to translate. They are grossly underpaid for the work load they are given (except for Lee Mi-do, who sucks up all the well-paying gigs). She eventually left the company last year just before she had our daughter. They still own her money. My wife was a translator for a while. She worked on one season of “The Gilmore Girls.” If you have ever seen the show, you would know what a nightmare it is to translate.

They are grossly underpaid for the work load they are given (except for Lee Mi-do, who sucks up all the well-paying gigs). She eventually left the company last year just before she had our daughter. They still own her money.

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