letrangere Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Came across a line in a book that I'm loath to name as I honestly don't want to advertise it, besides which I'm furious with myself for having wasted 5 hours on a plane reading it. In the story (supposedly semi-autobiographical but to my mind pure fiction) the American author is flying back to Provence to attend the funeral of a neighbour who has just died, a neighbour who just happens to be a Duchess. She takes a long winded route to Marseille from LA and quite understandably her bags don't arrive. So she explains the situation and asks someone at Air France if her luggage could be sent down from Paris on the next flight, even though she flew in on a different carrier, old Air Inter. Apparently the AF employee "sneered", "Air France does not carry Air Inter cargo. Furthermore, this is a socialist country, lady, haven't you heard? Personally, I vote communist and believe in equality. We don't recognise titles, it is the comrade workers we honour."Have you ever read anything so absurd? Have you personally ever come across such rudeness? (Even from an Air France employee!) I certainly haven't. And what French term do you think this supposed employee used that the author translates in this context as "lady"? It's the last bit that interests me most.M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Have you ever read anything so absurd? Have you personally ever come across such rudeness? (Even from an Air France employee!) I certainly haven't. And what French term do you think this supposed employee used that the author translates in this context as "lady"? It's the last bit that interests me most. Lady would be Madame, I don't think I would even look further than that, it can after all be said in a manner that is very condescending. But the rest is just nonsense. LOL I'm not saying that the AF staff member wasn't rude, but I'm sure that that isn't what they would have said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vraititi<P>PSG till I die -fluctuat nec mergitur.<P> Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Probably yes, given the outrageous and comical shortcuts than a lot of translators take (especially those who translate bona-fide 'torchons'), it can only be 'Madame'. On the subject of putrid Anglo-French books, I can't believe that this Stephen Clarke ('a year in the merde') is being given the red carpet treatment in France (prime time Europe 1 programme a few weeks ago, etc.), for his absolute torchonissimo of a book. They are 10 a penny, I'm well aware of that, but it is the first one, in my knowledge, that one of belonging to that ghastly genre has achieved 'official' recognition in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerise Posted July 3, 2005 Share Posted July 3, 2005 Try letting Air France lose your bags and you might not be so disbelieving! Having had this not to be repeated experience a couple of years ago when our luggage seperated from our party I can assure you that the above was quite polite. We had actually travelled with Lufthansa from Toulouse to Athens via Germany. On the way back there were technical problems and we were transferred to an Air France flight from Munich. Under international rules the last company you travelled with (even if you didn't book with them) are responsible for your luggage.Our cases went missing for a week and I don't think I have ever dealt with ruder or more incompetent people. 'You really are making a fuss' was something that was said to me and to my friend - who is French, so no possible misunderstanding - 'For God's sake, surely you have some other clothes'. We did eventually get bags back, but I for one would not actually be surprised by the dialogue. Also, there are ways and ways of saying 'Madame'.Maggi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 [quote]Probably yes, given the outrageous and comical shortcuts than a lot of translators take (especially those who translate bona-fide 'torchons'), it can only be 'Madame'. On the subject of putrid Anglo-F...[/quote]I gave my copy of this book to my Parisian friends and they have shamelessly recognised themselves in some of these happless adventures...They thought it was a good tongue in cheek look at themselves! As to the translation of French into English... That is another subject...No wonder we are at odds sometime with our European friends. I went to see 'Les Choristes' with my daughter. She did not understand why it was called in english 'The Chorus' as the chorus in english means the verses of a song which are repeated through a song. French would say 'le refrain'. Why didn't they call the film 'The Choristers' which is the proper way to translate 'les choristes' or 'The Choir' as the film was about the creation of a choir. I was dumbfounded when 'Compère Guilleri' in the sub-titles was translated as 'Mr Stockbridge what do you have in your fridge?' !! When Compère Guilleri was written there were NO fridges about! and the song is about partridges nothing to do with fridges! Except that the translator thought it would rime!! Shame on him/her! My OH never watches a French film with me as he knows I'll go on and on about the poor translation when we come out!...This bad translation does live the film goer with some wonder as to the relevance of the dialogs with what they have seen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 [quote]Probably yes, given the outrageous and comical shortcuts than a lot of translators take (especially those who translate bona-fide 'torchons'), it can only be 'Madame'. On the subject of putrid Anglo-F...[/quote]I gave my copy of this book to my Parisian friends and they have shamelessly recognised themselves in some of these happless adventures...They thought it was a good tongue in cheek look at themselves! As to the translation of French into English... That is another subject...No wonder we are at odds sometime with our European friends. I went to see 'Les Choristes' with my daughter. She did not understand why it was called in english 'The Chorus' as the chorus in english means the verses of a song which are repeated through a song. French would say 'le refrain'. Why didn't they call the film 'The Choristers' which is the proper way to translate 'les choristes' or 'The Choir' as the film was about the creation of a choir. I was dumbfounded when 'Compère Guilleri' in the sub-titles was translated as 'Mr Stockbridge what do you have in your fridge?' !! When Compère Guilleri was written there were NO fridges about! and the song is about partridges nothing to do with fridges! Except that the translator thought it would rime!! Shame on him/her! My OH never watches a French film with me as he knows I'll go on and on about the poor translation when we come out!...This bad translation does live the film goer with some wonder as to the relevance of the dialogs with what they have seen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo53 Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 My OH never watches a French film with me as he knows I'll go on and on about the poor translation when we come out!...It's the same in the other direction too. We watch a lot of films on satellite TV with English soundtrack and French subtitles, and sometimes the subtitles bear little relation to the dialogue.Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Translating Les ChoristesYou have to remember that many subtitled versions of French films are initially targetted at the US market.Hence in American rather than English it translates as The Chorus.If you want some real amusement buy a DVD of Le Diner Des Cons and listen to the dubbed american soundtrack. But make sure you have your blood pressure tablets handy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vraititi<P>PSG till I die -fluctuat nec mergitur.<P> Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Yes, and what about the dubbed US version of Le placard ? I think it's a weirder sensation than that of Le diner de cons. Having said that, I think that the vast majority of subtitles are very well translated given the constraints of the task. What I was referring to -re sloppy translation- was aimed at the likes of 'A year in the merde' type of books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 I will have to go and get Le Placard out of the cupboard closet and give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vraititi<P>PSG till I die -fluctuat nec mergitur.<P> Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Yes, it's very funny, not your joke, I mean, the film ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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