A Conversation for Asterix
Asterix in Britain
Researcher 58695 Started conversation Oct 8, 1999
Have you got a copy of the English translation of `Asterix in Britain'?
I have always wondered how this translation treats the English language. As you might or might not know, English word order seems somewhat funny to speakers of French or German. So, German `Erschütternd, ist es nicht?' -which is really cruel- is translated word by word from English `Shocking, isn't it?' -which isn't funny at all the way I understand the English language.
In which way are the British speaking `funny' in the English translation?
Asterix in Britain
Researcher 95456 Posted Oct 17, 1999
Fear not !! The translation somehow manages to preserve the jokes even if the word order is not so obvious (it is to the english !!0 Of course this is the true reason for the fantastic success of Asterix in english -- ie the skill of the translators in preserving the jokes at all levels... Having said that, it wasn'tuntil I read Asterix in Britain in French (if you follow me) that I realised how much humour was extracted from the English as spoke (and literally translated into French).. I think for the english reader the main amusement is the incredibly accurate observation of english/british habits and mannerisms.. although, of course, this is no more a complete representation of the english than Antoine De Caunes is of the French (par exemple)
Asterix in Britain
Inkwash Posted Dec 15, 2000
If anyone else was wondering about this there's a whole entry at http://www.h2g2.com/A479595
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Asterix in Britain
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