Fun with subtitles - Britmovie

Steve Crook · 29-09-2004, 04:23 AM

I sometimes run films on DVD with the subtitles displayed, partly so that if they mumble I can get a second opinion as to what they said, and partly just to check on the subtitles.

I find that quite a few do have mistakes in them.

I can't really blame the subtitlers. They probably don't have an exact script, they usually aren't available for the older films, and they generally do a very good job.

But some of the mistakes they do make are real corkers.

In Black Narcissus (1947), when Sister Clodagh is explaining to Mr Dean why everything went wrong, she says something like "I came from a small town called Enniskelly". The subtitler heard the 'd' of "called" running into the town name and subtitled it as "a small town called Dennis Kelly".

That's one of my favourite examples, although there are others, especially with real names (people & places) and foreign phrases.

I've seen "compris?", spoken by an English speaking character, subtitled as "cold drink"

Has anyone else noticed any subtitling goofs like that?

Steve

Guybrush Threepwood · 29-09-2004, 07:42 AM

Apparently some of the Chinese DVD pirate industry also have problems with sub titles..

No marks for guessing the film...... minus 10 if you actually went and saw it though....

Threep.

deckard · 29-09-2004, 05:41 PM

He-he, nice one Threep! clap I still haven't worked out how to paste pictures yet(probably never will!....) doh

29-09-2004, 04:23 AM	#1
Steve Crook is still cheeky Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 9,706 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (1)	Fun with subtitles I sometimes run films on DVD with the subtitles displayed, partly so that if they mumble I can get a second opinion as to what they said, and partly just to check on the subtitles. I find that quite a few do have mistakes in them. I can't really blame the subtitlers. They probably don't have an exact script, they usually aren't available for the older films, and they generally do a very good job. But some of the mistakes they do make are real corkers. In Black Narcissus (1947), when Sister Clodagh is explaining to Mr Dean why everything went wrong, she says something like "I came from a small town called Enniskelly". The subtitler heard the 'd' of "called" running into the town name and subtitled it as "a small town called Dennis Kelly". That's one of my favourite examples, although there are others, especially with real names (people & places) and foreign phrases. I've seen "compris?", spoken by an English speaking character, subtitled as "cold drink" Has anyone else noticed any subtitling goofs like that? Steve __________________ Steve Crook PaPAS

29-09-2004, 05:41 PM	#3
deckard has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cornwall Posts: 480 Country: iTrader: (0)	He-he, nice one Threep! clap I still haven't worked out how to paste pictures yet(probably never will!....) doh __________________ "and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"

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29-09-2004, 07:42 AM	#2
Guybrush Threepwood has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: England Posts: 134 Country: iTrader: (0)	Apparently some of the Chinese DVD pirate industry also have problems with sub titles.. No marks for guessing the film...... minus 10 if you actually went and saw it though.... Threep.