Comedian Talks About Spirits And Spirit Houses

[aanon]

Hi all,

I've just put up a new subtitled video on my youtube page: www.youtube.com/aanon2550

This time it's an interview with the comic 'Note Udom' in which he talks about quite a Thai situation: he's renovating and has to move a number of spirit houses. Hopefully this will be useful (and amusing) to students of Thai, and perhaps allow Thais to share a little of their culture across language boundaries.

Please feel free to give any constructive criticism about the subtitling (I got some great advice last time) as I am trying to improve my skills here. Also, let me know if I can help explain anything.

all the best

ps. the new video is called "Note Udom - ตี 10 (At Ten) - ศาลพระภูมิ - English subtitles"

[legag]

You did a good job aaon. It's hard to translate comedy!! It really is. Thai's comedy you have to be able to know they play with words and dialo. Plus, Nose's (from his big nose chartr.) humor isn't for anyone. So this is a tough job.

[aanon]

You did a good job aaon. It's hard to translate comedy!! It really is. Thai's comedy you have to be able to know they play with words and dialo. Plus, Nose's (from his big nose chartr.) humor isn't for anyone. So this is a tough job.

Thanks legag. I appreciate your comments and also your help posting the video. I haven't worked out how to do that yet.

all the best.

Edited January 5, 2008 by aanon

[astromash]

Congrats, I think you've done a good job. I feel in no position to judge the translation, but the humour certainly conveys well. One point where I feel I don't get the joke: when the subtitle says "I seek harmony" and he gets a laugh. Would "I come in peace" (or even "Ghosts, I come in peace") perhaps have conveyed it better? Just a thought. Cheers.

[DavidHouston]

Great job, Anan. I believe the comic reference to สมานฉันท์, harmony, was a reference to political harmony. I have not heard the term สมานฉันท์ used anywhere but in the political context. Using it with ghosts was the humorous reference.

[aanon]

Congrats, I think you've done a good job. I feel in no position to judge the translation, but the humour certainly conveys well. One point where I feel I don't get the joke: when the subtitle says "I seek harmony" and he gets a laugh. Would "I come in peace" (or even "Ghosts, I come in peace") perhaps have conveyed it better? Just a thought. Cheers.

thanks for the thoughts astromash. david's understanding was spot on. สมานฉันท์, meaning harmony or unity is normally used in a political context.

in fact 'i intend no disrespect', 'i've come for a peaceful talk' and 'i seek harmony' are all, in the original Thai, in the style of speech of, say, a member of parliament speaking before the house. looking at it in retrospect, i perhaps could have made the formality of all three lines more apparent.

eg.

i intend no disrespect

i wish to achieve a peaceful dialogue

i seek a harmonious resolution

anyway, i appreciate the comments. it's difficult to step back from my own subtitles and see points like this.

all the best.