Idiomatic Translation

As we more or less concluded in class, language is a major staple of any culture, and differences in languages give separate meanings to the same concepts in various cultures. I personally tend to take a more relativist approach to the language-and-culture debate; in my view, speaking another language is not merely a matter of translation, but rather a whole new method of thinking in some respects. I recall when I first started studying Italian in middle school, and how surprised I was when I learned that the structure of the sentences, rather than just the words, had to be changed. Before that age, I had never really been exposed to languages other than English, and I suddenly realized just how impermanent my beliefs about communication were.

In a more practical sense, understanding the cultural differences embedded in languages is a necessary tool for communicating across borders, especially in a business and marketing sense. To take on such tasks, a translator cannot simply translate words; they must also know how to instinctively appeal to an entirely different population.

Take an example from the film industry. The James Bond series, with its 22 films, has developed a global fan base. Its exciting storylines and exotic locales have transcended cultural barriers; however, the numerous English phrases and idioms used in the films often cannot be translated. So, when 1987’s The Living Daylights was released, the title had to be changed in various countries to something more recognizable. In France, it was released as Tuer n’est pas Jouer, meaning Death is Not a Game. In Spain, it became Alta Tensión, or High Tension. In Sweden, it was titled Iskallt Uppdrag, meaning Ice Cold Mission. And in Greece, the title was Me to Daktylo sti Skandali, which approximately means Having the Finger on the Trigger.

Now, while each of these titles may have some special significance within their realm, they cannot replicate the original intent behind the title The Living Daylights. However, on a more concrete level, the change in name must have also affected how the film was marketed. Certainly a film called High Tension would present a different theme than one called Ice Cold Mission. Different commercials would have to be shot, different posters would have to be drawn up, and ultimately, the audience’s expectations of the film differ between countries.

If you think that’s fun, try translating Octopussy.

I think it’s clear that differences in words, phrases, and sentence structures contribute to variation between cultures and identities. The order in which sentences are formed affects the order in which thoughts are formed, which goes on to shape the psyche of an entire society. While I hesitate to use vocabulary of restriction to describe lingual variation, its effect on our identity in undeniable.

Perry Landesberg