Humor in different cultures: Culture Shocks

 



Humor in different cultures: Culture Shocks

Although few of us like to admit it, most of us appreciate a good pun. Puns can be a lot of fun. We even regularly use the adjective "punny" to describe puns that make us chuckle. This made-up word would still be confusing to many people around the world even if it were translated into everyone's mother tongue. Those who can speak English well may find this made-up word amusing. The problems in translating humor are first introduced to us by this unfunny issue.

There are four different kinds of puns that might make it difficult to translate humor.

Homonymy: identical sounds and spelling

Homophony: the use of the same sounds but various spellings

Homography: same spelling and different sounds

Paronymy: a slightly different pronunciation and spelling

 

 

Cultural references can be particularly challenging because a direct translation may not be the best course of action because pop culture icons, books, movies, or commonplace phenomena may not be comprehended by a foreign audience.

 

How translators overcome these difficulties

 

There are steps translators can take to perform a good job and keep the laughs coming when translating hilarious language. A translator may create jokes that are specific to the new target culture when it comes to jokes that cross cultural boundaries. Compared to simply translating the original joke, this can be more successful. Similar to this, a translator may need to change wordplay in humorous situations so that it makes sense in the target tongue. It is more crucial to catch the spirit of the original joke than to directly translate it in order to successfully translate a joke.

 

Translators should also be able to read laughs across different cultures.

 

‘kkk’- Korean

Koreans laugh in a distinctive manner. Their letter "k" has the same meaning as our letter "ha"—laughter.

 

'555' - Thai

With this one, you can kill two birds with one stone because five in Thai is pronounced "ha." You may now laugh and count in Thai from 5 to 5.

 

French for "MDR"

The phrase "mort de rire," which this acronym stands for, translates to "dying of laughter."

 

'хаха' - Russian

'jaja' - Spanish

'xaxa' - Greek

'xà xà' – Hebrew

'哈哈' – Chinese

 

Humor cannot be translated quickly or easily. To capture the intended tone and impact of the original humor, it may take several iterations and countless changes. To overcome linguistic and cultural barriers, however, is the translator's job. Translators can finish their work and make others laugh if they have the right skills and work ethic.

 

Need a translation? I’M Translation and ISIS Korea provides professional translation and interpretation services.

How might I’M Translation and ISiS Korea aid translation?

At I’M Translation and ISiS Korea, we can connect you with a professional translators and interpreters. We have over 30+ languages available on our platform and we are flexible and available regardless of the language pair, topic, and time zone. Please visit us at www.imtranslation.com and www.isiskorea.com/eng to request a free translation and interpretation quote. Thank you

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Which language does Pope Francis speak?

Image
  A group of monolingual individuals attempted to construct a tower tall enough to reach the sky as a test of God in the book of Genesis. Even adherents of other religions are aware of the narrative that caused it to disperse. In order to stop them from finishing the tower, God has divided humanity among various language tribes and "confused human speech" with a number of languages. Then, what language would the "pope" use? On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis, becoming the 266th pope in the annals of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis is well known for his humility throughout the world. He actively engages in political diplomacy and supports the underprivileged and marginalized people around the world. As is well known, Pope Francis is well-versed in both linguistic and sociocultural matters. Pope Francis is not only the first pope from the Americas (Argentina) in Christian history, but he also holds dual citizenship and is t
Read more

Translating Tongue Twisters: Navigating the Hilarity of Linguistic Challenges

Image
  Translating Tongue Twisters: Navigating the Hilarity of Linguistic Challenges Tongue twisters are linguistic gems that delight and challenge speakers of all ages around the world. These playful phrases are designed to trip up the tongue and tickle the funny bone, showcasing the intricacies and complexities of language. However, when it comes to translating tongue twisters into different languages, the task becomes even more challenging. In this blog post, we'll explore the humor and linguistic hurdles involved in translating tongue twisters, sharing entertaining examples from different languages along the way. Tongue twisters have a global appeal that goes beyond language and culture. From English classics like "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" to Spanish favorites like "Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal" (Three sad tigers were eating wheat in a wheat field), these amusing phrases have been passed down through generations, bringin
Read more

Translating Emotions: Capturing the Essence of Anime Characters

Image
Translating Emotions: Capturing the Essence of Anime Characters Anime, with its rich storytelling and vibrant characters, often delves into the depths of human emotions, offering viewers a kaleidoscope of feelings ranging from joy and love to sadness and despair. However, conveying these nuanced emotions across different languages presents a unique challenge for translators. In this blog post, we'll explore how translators capture the essence of anime characters' emotions, examining specific examples and techniques that bring these animated worlds to life for global audiences. Understanding Cultural Context One of the fundamental aspects of translating emotions in anime is understanding the cultural context in which the series was created. Emotions can be expressed differently across cultures, and what resonates with one audience may not have the same impact on another. Translators must immerse themselves in the cultural nuances of both the source material and the target audien
Read more