Do translated media pieces accurately transmit the tone and meaning from their original language and culture to their targeted language?

For this topic idea, I would like to investigate how translations/subtitles are made, how do translators approach cultural dialogues and select the appropriate wording, etc.

What inspired me to consider doing my project on this subject is a TikTok video by Korean-American, Young-mi Mayer, on the "botched English translation" of Squid Game (2021) a South Korean thriller series created by Dong-Hyuk Hwang. In her video, she explains how the English subtitles "sterilize" the characters' dialogues. This results in the anglophone watchers missing the deeper cultural meaning of character conversations (Mayer). This video shocked me as I would not have understood the cultural meaning behind characters' exchanges had I not watched Mayer's TikTok.

It further made me wonder if this "lost in translation" phenomenon was the case with most translated media. I feel that it is a shame that people have been unable to truly grasp, understand, and witness the deeper meaning and symbolism of "foreign media" due to "botched translations" as Mayer said!

Second idea,

The United Nations state that there are around 7,000 endangered languages and 40% of them risk extinction (United Nations). The reasons for endangerment are genocide, the decline of speakers, colonization, etc. For my second topic idea, I would like to focus and explore:

How colonization furthered language endangerment as well as how the speakers of these endangered languages try to preserve and revitalize their language today?

To hear that many communities are "losing" their native languages due to colonization deeply distresses me. Language is inseparable from culture, so many communities are unwillingly deprived from the culture and traditions of their ancestors due to colonization and globalization of popular languages such as English, French, Spanish, Russian, etc. Through this topic, I would like to educate myself and hopefully others on how this phenomenon happens, what are the actions being taken to prevent language extinction, and how we can aid and support these communities.

For my topic, I have decided to choose my first idea on...

Translation

"Do translated media pieces accurately transmit the tone and meaning from their original language and culture to their targeted language?"

During peer feedback, my classmates related to my chosen topic idea on translation by sharing their personal experiences with falsely translated subtitles. This further made me want to focus on doing a comparative translation analysis for my project. After receiving class feedback and comments on my topic ideas, I have decided to do a comparative translation analysis on the subtitles of French children's cartoon, Miraculous Ladybug (2015).

The reasons why I chose Miraculous Ladybug is because I am fluent in both English and French. Also the show is available in English and French on Netflix (which I am subscribed to!)

Dr. Clifford E. Landers. Literary Translation : A Practical Guide. Multilingual Matters, 2001. EBSCOhost, dc153.dawsoncollege.qc.ca:2070/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,uid&db=e000xna&AN=90960&site=eds-live&scope=site.

The topic of source: Literary translation and techniques

In Dr. Clifford E. Landers book, Literary Translation: A Practical Guide (2001), Landers educates aspiring translators on the fundamentals and techniques of literary translation.

He explains the rewards literary translators gain through their work such as the pleasure of puzzle-solving, sharing what would have been unseen masterpieces for foreign readers, prestige, relationship building with coworkers, new experiences with the readers, etc. He further demonstrates how one should approach starting and completing their literary translation journey through the “stages of translation.” Most importantly, Dr. Landers introduces the different techniques used to translate literary pieces of work. He states that translation strategies are unique to every piece of work and source language as they have “their specific challenges” (Landers 49). It also depends on the writer’s preferences and what works for them. An important view amongst literary translators is “that a translation should reproduce in the [targeted language] reader the same emotional and psychological reaction produced in the original [source language] reader” (Landers 49).

I believe that this book will be useful for me as it gives me a good base on literary translation, and its fundamentals and techniques. I will be able to further expand on this base and knowledge through other sources.

I will be able to apply this source in my first paragraph to explain the different types of translation techniques and identify them in Miraculous Ladybug.

This book is also a reliable source as it is written by New Jersey City University professor and Portuguese translator, Dr. Clifford E. Landers.

Currently, I have trouble figuring out how I could apply a comparative translation analysis to my essay. I fear that an analysis may be too heavy to read and too complex for me, a translation theory newbie, to do. I'm still unable to fully identify the nuances and reasoning behind the techniques used by translators. Literary translation is an art that takes time for people to perfect and feel comfortable doing.

I may need more time learning the techniques used in translation. I should also find and read a comparative translation analysis to inspire me on how to proceed with my own.

Chao, Yuen Ren. “Dimensions of Fidelity in Translation With Special Reference to Chinese.” Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 29, Harvard-Yenching Institute, 1969, pp. 109–30, https://doi.org/10.2307/2718830.

The topic of source: Translation and fidelity

In his article, Dimensions of Fidelity in Translation With Special Reference to Chinese (1969), Linguist Yuen Ren Chao discusses fidelity in translation. He states that there are three requirements when translating: "fidelity, fluency, and elegance" (Chao 109). However, when trying to preserve an excerpt's elegance when adapting it into a targeted language, the translation risks not staying faithful to the original and affecting the overall text (Chao 109-110). There is therefore always a win-and-lose situation when translating. He further discusses some translation techniques, such as the difference between translation, transliteration and transcription, word-for-word translation, literal translation, idiomatic translation, etc.

Chao also classifies translation fidelity in two categories: "semantic [or] functional fidelity", thus whether a translation is "to tell what the original means, or to do what the original does in the given situation use" (Chao 114).

For this sentence:

"Ne vous dérangez pas, je vous en pris!

he gives an example of a semantic translation:

"Do not disturb yourself, I pray you"

and a functional translation:

"Please don't bother!"

He explains that the latter translation is functional as it "is what one would say in English under the same circumstances" (Chao 115). He then explains that a semantic translation is "the most met with meaning of a word [...] to the etymologically earlier meaning" (Chao 115).

This source will be useful to me while writing my essay, as it helped me discover the hardships of translating and the complications of fidelity in translation. Chao also gives a lot of examples of translation techniques and explains the nuances between semantic and functional translation, all of which will make me more able to identify types of translations and explain them.

I will be able to apply this source in my first paragraph to explain the different types of translation techniques and identify them in Miraculous Ladybug.

This source differs from the previous as it's more in-depth than Landers' "crash course" on literary translation.

This source is reliable as it was written by Chinese-American Linguist and scholar, Yuen Ren Chao. Chao has contributed to the modern study of Chinese phonology and grammar. In 1945, he also was president of the Linguistic Society of America. The journal in which he published this article (the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies) is that of the Harvard-Yenching Institute. Its contents are said to be carefully selected and edited by its Editorial Board.

Evans, Jonathan. “F - Fan Translation.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. Baker, Mona, et al., Routledge, 3rd ed, London, 2019.

The topic of source: Fan translations and reliable translations

The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (2019) is comprised of a variety of informative entries written by scholars on translation topics and themes such as translation for "Adaptation" and "Sacred Texts". I have used this source to inform myself on "Fan Translations". This entry written by Linguist, Dr. Jonathan Evans, addresses the particularities of fan translation in comparison to professional translation. He states that this type of translation "focuses on texts that are important for a particular group of fans" and that fan translators usually work for free as "a form of service to [their] fan community" (Evans, 2019). Dr. Evans further explains that fan translations prioritize authenticity due to the translators' deep knowledge of the source materials as opposed to official translations which focus on adaptivity. However, Dr. Evans reveals that many of these translations vary in quality and that there are "fake translations" where translators "combine fan fiction and fan translation" (Evans, 2019). In conclusion, while fan translations are widely consumed, enjoyed, and preferred by large communities, it is hard to determine what is accurate and reliable translations.

I believe that this source is useful for me to understand why I shouldn't rely on fan translations for my comparative translation analysis of Miraculous Ladybug (which has a big fan community/fan base/fandom*). Instead, I should look to legal and reliable official translations done by professional translators for Zagtoon.

I also predict that this Encyclopedia will be useful for me further into this project as it contains a lot of relevant topics, such as dubbing! Compared to my other sources, this Encyclopedia provides quick and scholarly information on themes related to my topic (translation).

This source will help me choose what translations I should focus on and examples to sample for my essay. I will be using this knowledge throughout my essay (all paragraphs) when selecting my excerpts from the Miraculous Ladybug show.

This source is reliable because the entries are written by scholars, linguists and doctors. The book is also edited by Mona Baker, professor of Translation Studies at the University of Manchester, and Gabriela Saldanha, lecturer in Translation Studies at the University of Birmingham. The Encyclopedia is also published by Routledge, a British publishing company that specializes in academic books.

*What is a Fandom?

Fandom, \ ˈfan-dəm \, noun

1: all the fans (as of a sport)

2: the state or attitude of being a fan

Example: Local sports fandom lives at the corner of Cruel and Unusual.

Merriam-Webster

I have been debating on whether I should take a negative or positive approach to translation for my thesis. When a translation is done right, some translated works become widely appreciated, enjoyed, and accessible. Some even prefer translated versions of books due to the writing. However, the downside to translation is that many would argue that the essence and meaning of works get lost in translation when being adapted into another language.

I think that for now, I will focus on the positive aspect of translation as I have personally found more positive information on it. I would also like to break the stigma that translations are inaccurate and ineffective.

TOPIC

Translation

CLAIM

Translated pieces accurately communicate the themes and meaning of their original works.

ARGUMENTS

The usage of translation techniques, cultural translation and cultural transmission help translated works mirror the themes and meaning of their original counterparts.

TENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT

"Translations accurately communicate the themes and meaning of their original works while enriching them through their use of translation techniques as well as cultural translation and transmission."

Nord, Christiane. “Making the Source Text Grow: A Plea Against the Idea of Loss in Translation.” The Translator as Author: Perspective on Literary Translation. Eds. Claudia Buffagni, Beatrice Garzelli, and Serenella Zanotti, LIT Verlag, 2011. pp. 21-29, https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Translator_as_Author.html?id=NIJQKDjv_WIC.

The topic of source: Gains of translation

In Christiane Nord's commentary, Making the Source text Grow: a Plea Against the Idea of Loss in Translation (2011), she contests the idea of "loss in translation." She states that we should consider translators as authors in the sense that they can equally make the "source text grow." Nord suggests that a "translator's incompetence [can] cause the loss" of a piece of work when translated (Nord 23). Therefore, translations are only "lost in translation" when a translator inadequately interprets a source text.

Nord also explains that translators allow texts to become widely available through their translations (Nord 22). She further mentions how translators sometimes clarify and enrich source language texts through the translation techniques they use.

Finally, Nord suggests that a translation should be seen as "an extension of the original text, bringing fresh appreciation to it, as well as enrichment to the targeted language" (Nord 25). They are, therefore, "encounters between two languages and two cultures" that allow readers from two worlds to broaden their views (Nord 25).

I believe that this text will help me write my essay, as it is one of the few texts that I have found that discusses academically the "gains" of translation instead of the lost. It need to read on both the pros and cons of translation to fully understand the weight of the work and to write about it.

This source will be applied in my first paragraph explaining how the selection of the translation techniques used in Miraculous Ladybug allows for a good translation.

This source is reliable as it was written by Christiane Nord a German translation scholar who worked at multiple Universities (Heidelberg, Vienna, Hildesheim, Innsbruck, and Magdeburg). The book in which Nord's text is found, The Translator as Author: Perspective on Literary Translation, is compiled by Claudia Buffagni a Linguistics professor at the University for Foreigners of Siena.

*What is Dub/Dubbing?

Dub, \ ˈdəb \, transitive verb

: to provide (a motion-picture film) with a new soundtrack and especially dialogue in a different language

Example: The film was dubbed in French and Spanish.

Merriam-Webster

TOPIC

Translation

CLAIM

Miraculous Ladybug is accurately adapted into English from French

ARGUMENTS

The usage of translation and voice-over techniques, as well as the cultural understanding of English and French by Zagtoon Studios, allows for the accurate English adaptation of Miraculous Ladybug

"Jeremy Zag's French cartoon, Miraculous Ladybug (2015), is accurately adapted into its English counterpart through the show's use of translation and voice-over techniques in addition to its understanding of both languages' cultures."

Lubis, A. R. K., M. Muchtar, and U. Mono. “Translation Techniques and Translation Quality of Indonesian Subtitles of Coco Movie: A Comparative of Two Subtitlers.” Ethical Lingua: Journal of Language Teaching and Literature, Vol. 7, no. 2, Oct. 2020, pp. 227-35, doi:10.30605/25409190.203.

The topic of the source: Translation techniques and quality of subtitles

In their article, Translation Techniques and Translation Quality of Indonesian Subtitles of Coco Movie: A Comparative of Two Subtitlers (2020), Annisa Risma Khairani Lubis, Muhizar Muchtar, and Umar Mono identify the translation techniques as well as the translation quality of the subtitles in the Disney movie, Coco (2017). They rate the translation quality through, accuracy, acceptability, and readability. The authors also explain that films need to have a "language transfer" (or be translated) for them "to be enjoyed and understood properly by the audience" (Lubis, Muchtar, and Mono 2). They discuss the 16 types of translation techniques used in Coco to achieve a "language transfer" such as borrowing, modulation, literal translation, etc. Additionally, through their research, the authors have found that the choice of "translation technique affects the translation quality in terms of accuracy, acceptability, and readability"

The authors also discuss the importance of Audiovisual Translation (ATV) also known as subtitles. They explain that it differs from standard literary translation as it has additional constraints and limitations such as time and display space (on-screen).

I believe that this source will be useful for my essay as it gives me an example of how to assess translation techniques and their quality which I will be doing for my comparative translation on Miraculous Ladybug. This article also discusses the importance and uniqueness of subtitle/audiovisual translation (ATV). Their section on ATV gave me a good introduction to the constraints and limitations of audiovisual translation which will aid me with my essay as Miraculous Ladybug's translations rely on ATV as well.

This source will be applied in my third paragraph on the use of voice-over techniques as subtitle translation/AVT are similar and follow the same restrictions for film/shows. This source will help me explain the use of voice-over techniques and AVT.

This source is reliable because it is was peer-reviewed and revised by its publisher Ethical Lingua which is a journal that is Accredited by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia.

Found in Translation:

The Fidelity of Translation in Miraculous Ladybug

I think that the writing for my blog has been very "comfortable", I wrote freely without giving my writing as much thought as I would in an essay. I think this makes my blog more personal. My goal was to write in a simple yet proper way (no complicated grammar and not too unprofessional/informal) so that my readers won't feel intimidated while reading.

However, I believe that I write a lot and that my blogs are sometimes "heavy". I need to write concisely or I might "lose" some of my readers. This is something I hope to look out for in my future posts!

Billson, Anne. “Say What? Why Film Translators Are in a War of Words over Subtitles.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 Apr. 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/apr/25/say-what-why-film-translators-are-in-a-war-of-words-over-subtitles.

C., Franco Eliana P, et al. Voice-over Translation: An Overview. Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften, 2011.

In Eliana Franco, Anna Matamala, Pilar Orero's book, Voice-over Translation: an Overview (2011), they explain the origins of voice-over. The practise started as a tool to aid storytelling in films. In the early sound era, sounds and actors’ voices were difficult to record in films as cameras were too heavy for camera operators to carry. Thus, voice-overs helped narrate films for their audience. The authors also define voice-over as “a narrative technique in which the voice of a faceless narrator is heard over different images [...] for different purposes” (Franco, Matamala and Orero 18). The book further explains the transfer of voice-overs from Film Studies to Translation Studies and its significance in Audiovisual translation (AVT). The authors elaborate that voice-over moved towards translation studies as the practice was used to narrate “foreign” films into a targeted language. In the book, the authors additionally address the definitions and characteristics of voice-over translation as opposed to regular literary translation. They also explain the process of voice-over translations (depending on the type: production, fiction, non-fiction, interviews, etc.)

This source is useful to me as it informs me about the purposes of voice-over translation and the techniques used to do the latter. I will be able to use this information to explain how voice-over techniques are used in Miraculous Ladybug in my third body paragraph.

This source is reliable as the book was written by voice-over translators. It was also published by Peter Lang, an academic publisher based in Switzerland. All published work in Peter Lang are also go through a peer-review process.

Found in Translation:

The fidelity of Translation in Miraculous Ladybug (2017)