中英双语新闻——158 Mangling subtitles

 　　It’s good news for movie lovers that more Hollywood blockbusters are reaching Chinese theaters now. However, when you go to the cinema to enjoy a foreign feast, you might get a slice of Chinese.

 

　　越来越多的好莱坞大片争相登陆国内各大影院，对影迷而言，这是个好消息。然当你走进影院打算享受一次异国盛宴时,可能你体验到的却是一番中国风。

 

　　“Garbage oil”, “lean meat powder”, “shangbuqi” (which means too delicate to bear a blow) and “kengdie” (cheating) –these popular Chinese terms, originated online and in the news, are cropping up in Chinese subtitles² to Hollywood films, such as the recent Men in Black 3, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.

 

　　如“地沟油”、“瘦肉精”、“伤不起”(过于脆弱而承受不住打击)和“坑爹”(欺骗)，这些源自网络和新闻中的热门中文词汇，却令人意外地出现在好莱坞电影的中文字幕中，例如最近上映的《黑衣人3》、《马达加斯加3》。

 

　　For example, in Madagascar 3, when Gloria the Hippo, wants to dance with Marty the Zebra, she says: “We can perform a dance together.”

 

　　例如,在《马达加斯加3》中,当河马格洛里亚想和斑马马丁表演双人舞时，说：“我们可以一起表演跳舞”。

 

　　Somehow, the Chinese subtitle¹ goes: “Let’s be a couple, like Xiao Shenyang, and go to Star Way.”

 

　　然而,中文字幕却是这样的：“让我们做个夫妻档，像小沈阳一样，上星光大道。”

 

　　While it might deserve a laugh, many moviegoers, like myself, must be wondering: “How the hell did that sentence end up there?”

 

　　虽然这可能会博来一笑，但许多影迷，包括我本人在内，一定会想：“这句话为何成了这副模样？”

 

　　I personally think it’s more annoying than funny. No one can deny the importance of a film script, where every line is carefully chosen by the writers–especially in a highly developed film industry such as Hollywood.

 

　　我个人认为，这并不滑稽，反而更令人生厌。没有人能否认电影剧本的重要性, 其中的每一句台词都是经过编剧精心挑选的，尤其在像好莱坞这样高度发达的电影产业之中。

 

　　However, here, our translators almost throw the original lines away and put in local elements. For what? To please the audience? It would just be gilding³ the lily.

 

　　然而现在，我们的字幕译者几乎抛弃了原版台词，加入一系列本土元素。此举是何目的?为取悦观众?或许只不过是画蛇添足罢了。

 

　　Today, if you ask people why they go to watch Hollywood films, the answers might include: A-list actors, excellent stories and spectacular effects–probably not too many Chinese elements.

 

　　现在,如果你问人们为何去看好莱坞电影,可能有这些答案:一线影星、出色的剧情和壮观的电影特效——或许不需要太多的中国元素。

 

　　So, it’s bizarre when you see popular online terms popping up in Chinese subtitles. It’s as if foreign visitors came to Beijing to see hutong and courtyard houses, but the guide takes them to see skyscrapers⁴ and shopping malls. What’s the point?

 

　　所以,当看到中文字幕中网络热词时，你会觉得很怪。这就好比外国游客造访北京想游览胡同和四合院，而导游却带他们去逛摩天大楼和购物中心。这又有什么意义呢?

 

　　It’s the same when it comes to translating Hollywood films. A smart translator knows how to adjust the dialogue to Chinese grammar and reading habits. Those who overdo⁵ their creativity in translating are being too smart.

 

　　翻译好莱坞电影也是一个道理。聪明的译者懂得如何调整对白以适合中文语法及中国人的阅读习惯。在翻译中过度讲究创意反而会弄巧成拙。

 

　　Please show some respect for the screenwriters and let us enjoy a Hollywood film with its original dialogue.

 

　　请尊重编剧，同时也让我们享受一部原汁原味的好莱坞电影吧。

1 subtitle   

n.副题（书本中的），说明对白的字幕

参考例句：

• His new book has a subtitle.他的新书有一个副标题。
• Ah!I don't know why they don't subtitle these movies.唉！我不知道这些电影为什么不打字幕。

2 subtitles   

n.说明字幕，印在外国影片上的对白翻译字幕，译文对白字幕；小标题，副标题( subtitle的名词复数 )；（电影的）字幕

参考例句：

• subtitles for the deaf and the hard of hearing 为耳聋和听力不佳者打出的字幕
• a Polish film with English subtitles 附有英语字幕的波兰影片

3 gilding   

n.贴金箔，镀金

参考例句：

• The dress is perfect. Don't add anything to it at all. It would just be gilding the lily. 这条裙子已经很完美了，别再作任何修饰了，那只会画蛇添足。
• The gilding is extremely lavish. 这层镀金极为奢华。

4 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

5 overdo   

vt.把...做得过头，演得过火

参考例句：

• Do not overdo your privilege of reproving me.不要过分使用责备我的特权。
• The taxi drivers' association is urging its members,who can work as many hours as they want,not to overdo it.出租车司机协会劝告那些工作时长不受限制的会员不要疲劳驾驶。