The hot Arabic chick thread

[TxRad]

A new page:

 

[MatthewVett]

A new page:

Reminds me of Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Anyone else?

 

[MatthewVett]

Teresa Who?. Sure Not Mother Theresa ?
Now there's an image not to have on a dark & wild night.

But WHY re-interpret ?
I've never quite understood this Thespian keenness to 'do it different'.

I recall seeing a televised Mozart Opera [don't ask the title; I've forgotten].
It was set in modern New York which struck me as odd. But what made me switch it off was the translation. Our Hero [?] is waxing lyrical about how nice he thought her feet were, and the translated crap on screen said "they really turn me on".
Now, I realise that there are differing views on the import of words, but that stuck me as being odd-ball beyond logic.
Even the most modern of translators would surely not stoop so low?
I reached for the remote.

I consider translation into updated language and setting just as legitimate as translation from a foreign language into English. Why shouldn't we make the story more relatable? I might not necessarily prefer it to the original, but if it gets some people interested in the original who otherwise would never have read it, isn't that good? Should all translations stick to diction from the year in which the story was written? What happens when you read stories from before English existed as a recognizable, intelligible language? I don't think the 19th century was the epitome of language, and all translations should stick to formal language. I personally think "turn me on" is a bad choice, but isn't there a saying about translators being traitors, anyway?

 

[oggbashan]

I consider translation into updated language and setting just as legitimate as translation from a foreign language into English. Why shouldn't we make the story more relatable? ...

It might be legitimate, but there are parameters to be observed. In opera people expect poetic and/or high-flown language not modern slang.

Some subtitling, particularly that done live, can be very far from the original because of time constraints. But theatrical performances and movies should pay as much attention to the context and the accuracy of the subtitles as to the rest of the production.

I remember one very bad example of speech dubbing. I was at our local cheap cinema on a wet Saturday afternoon watching an Italian B-movie about Hercules. The Italian dialogue for Hercules was dubbed in a Southern drawl. Hercules would make an impassioned speech but the words heard were few e.g. "You'all want to make somethin' o' that?".

The heroine was dubbed in a high-pitched English upper-class accent which sounded ridiculous as she was supposed to be a sultry Greek vamp. "I say, Hercules, why don't we..." when the Italian (which could still be heard behind the dubbing) was much more explicit.

A good example was at the Hackney Empire's annual pantomime. Some of the dialogue was (and always is) in Jamaican patois. The surtitles gave the flavour in Cockney.

But the star was the lady standing at the side of the stage giving the complete interchanges in British Sign Language. She added her own jokes when the slapstick routines were happening e.g. "Kerpow! Crash! "Oh shit! I haven't got signs for that. Have you?" At the end of the show when they did the curtain calls, she was given a standing ovation, initially from the deaf and dumb people in the audience, but very soon the whole audience rose as well. Even if you didn't understand British Sign Language, the effort and expression she had produced were outstanding.

 

[MatthewVett]

On the topic of translations, I absolutely hate Edwardian translations of Greek plays and prose that render the Spartan dialect as a Scottish brogue. It is so annoying...

 

[Handley_Page]

I consider translation into updated language and setting just as legitimate as translation from a foreign language into English. Why shouldn't we make the story more relatable? I might not necessarily prefer it to the original, but if it gets some people interested in the original who otherwise would never have read it, isn't that good? Should all translations stick to diction from the year in which the story was written? What happens when you read stories from before English existed as a recognizable, intelligible language? I don't think the 19th century was the epitome of language, and all translations should stick to formal language. I personally think "turn me on" is a bad choice, but isn't there a saying about translators being traitors, anyway?

You used the right words, I feel: Legitimate translation.
"Turn me on" isn't just a bad choice; it's an unforgivable crime against English.

Even assuming that Mozart's Librettist was writing in the local patois, I find it hard to see "turn me on" as a decent translation, even of intent.

 

[NaokoSmith]

I'm honestly considering trying to read some Machiavelli in the vein of Hysterical Literature for a story entry. Now I just need a good toy. I feel like it wouldn't work as fun alone...

OK! I'm drooling for this project! Especially if you will wear a double-breasted suit. Er, I think Machiavelli is a very important writer who deserves more coverage. Or un-coverage.

Thanks for all the drool, Dampy and guys! LOL. I will give it some thought, although you should be careful what you wish for. Remember that I'm 50, a thundering ex rugby player and still have mommy fat. .

I do do a bit of audio (says shyly). I just put up a little not serious experimental piece once. It had such hilarious feedback that I've decided if I do it again I must make another persona to do it. The inclusion of medical study references to support the argument that what the person wanted me to do was physically possible was a nice touch, I thought, although I wasn't able to concentrate very well as I was busy wetting myself laughing.

BTW, person who asked for one of my truffles, I think your real name came up on your message to me, you may wish to sort that out.

 

[NaokoSmith]

You used the right words, I feel: Legitimate translation.
"Turn me on" isn't just a bad choice; it's an unforgivable crime against English.

Even assuming that Mozart's Librettist was writing in the local patois, I find it hard to see "turn me on" as a decent translation, even of intent.

Translation, hmm. I'm reading a verse translation of The Iliad, and I do enjoy that as I feel it probably gives a good emotional sense of the original. I want to be swayed by the images of bronze spears smashing through helms with high horsetails on them, not understand exactly what was written in a literal sense in Homer's original. I like the use of repetition, the way that you sometimes get someone saying: "Go and tell so-and-so this," and the herald runs off and says: "This person said to tell you:" and then repeats exactly what was said before with all the same poetic flourishes. It gives the whole thing a swaying rhythmic sense, even though as a 21st century reader I find it a bit strange to read the same thing reported all over again.

Some translations become poetic works in their own right. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam translated by Fitzgerald is very enjoyable although it isn't a bit like the original. (BTW I collect illustrated copies as a joking imitation of a character in one of Saki's stories - and because I love orientalist art, LOL.) Note how adroitly I take us close to on-topic!

There is a translation of a book into Japanese - I'm sorry, I don't know the title, my mom used to tell me about it - which became very famous in Japan because the translation was so beautiful, although the original has sunk in the mists of time cuz it was rubbish! LOL.

Ogg, what a great story, what fun.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Reminds me of Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Anyone else?

Definitely.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFhvTvJD-UciSE-P-_xKPUAgfeJPn-tWOErsytzJUZO_xNaD7d

 

[Handley_Page]

Translation, hmm. I'm reading a verse translation of The Iliad, and I do enjoy that as I feel it probably gives a good emotional sense of the original.
I want to be swayed by the images of bronze spears smashing through helms with high horsetails on them, not understand exactly what was written in a literal sense in Homer's original. I like the use of repetition, the way that you sometimes get someone saying: "Go and tell so-and-so this," and the herald runs off and says:
"This person said to tell you:" and then repeats exactly what was said before with all the same poetic flourishes. It gives the whole thing a swaying rhythmic sense, even though as a 21st century reader I find it a bit strange to read the same thing reported all over again.

I agree that being swayed by the images of bronze spears is good, and I think probably in keeping with Homer's intention, but to my mind it's not best done in verse form (I was put off verse in school by some really barmy so-called poetry and I cannot stand this modern declamatory stuff).

If you read something of Simon Scarrow or Bernard Cornwell, you'll see what I mean. Both have the ability to portray a scene with words of value and the scenes rise above the page.

 

[damppanties]

Thanks for all the drool, Dampy and guys! LOL. I will give it some thought, although you should be careful what you wish for. Remember that I'm 50, a thundering ex rugby player and still have mommy fat. .

Gah. Do it already.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Gah. Do it already.

LOL, well if an ex-hooker - that's a rugby position, guys! shut up - and mommy-fat-laden lady is your thing, perhaps I could read extracts from my Mumsnet Parenting Handbook. The chapter on giving birth is good.

 

[TxRad]

LOL, well if an ex-hooker - that's a rugby position, guys! shut up - and mommy-fat-laden lady is your thing, perhaps I could read extracts from my Mumsnet Parenting Handbook. The chapter on giving birth is good.

The chapter on getting pregnant might be even better.

 

[NaokoSmith]

The chapter on getting pregnant might be even better.

Curiously enough Mumsnet assume that you might know how you got pregnant and fail to provide instructions which I could read on Youtube with a wand vibrator in place to demonstrate. I know, it's a big gap. I should contact them and offer to put their large network in touch with better means of continuing to be barefoot and pregnant.

 

[TxRad]

Curiously enough Mumsnet assume that you might know how you got pregnant and fail to provide instructions which I could read on Youtube with a wand vibrator in place to demonstrate. I know, it's a big gap. I should contact them and offer to put their large network in touch with better means of continuing to be barefoot and pregnant.

It it wasn't for bare feet and pregnant, there would be no mumsnet.

 

[NaokoSmith]

It it wasn't for bare feet and pregnant, there would be no mumsnet.

I shall point that out to them, with plenty of explicit detail and lots of panting and moaning. They ought to cultivate their constituency better. Gosh, if they aren't careful there might not be any mums soon to net with them. And speaking of nets ....

http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Fishnet.jpg/220px-Fishnet.jpg

 

[TxRad]

I shall point that out to them, with plenty of explicit detail and lots of panting and moaning. They ought to cultivate their constituency better. Gosh, if they aren't careful there might not be any mums soon to net with them. And speaking of nets ....

http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Fishnet.jpg/220px-Fishnet.jpg

Lets see what I can find in nets:

This is as close as i can get in Arab.

 

[Handley_Page]

LOL, well if an ex-hooker - that's a rugby position, guys! shut up - and mommy-fat-laden lady is your thing, perhaps I could read extracts from my Mumsnet Parenting Handbook. The chapter on giving birth is good.

I must pass that gem onto my Grand-daughter, now she's a first-time mum herself.

The chapter on getting pregnant might be even better.

How true. You think it might be a good idea to point the enquiring mind at Lit?

 

[MatthewVett]

I can't believe I never posted this Scheherazade comic: http://oglaf.com/scheherazade/ That page is SFW, but the rest of the comic isn't, just as a warning. I love that strip, though.

 

[TxRad]

Too far down the page:

 

[Handley_Page]

Too far down the page:

Oh dear me,
What a pleasant surprise of a morning

 

[JackLuis]

Does this remind you of anyone?

http://www.pajamashoppe.com/images/clothing/women/robe_3058b_lime.jpg​

 

[sr71plt]

Eartha Kitt a bit, but I doubt that's who you are going for.

 

[Handley_Page]

Does this remind you of anyone?

http://www.pajamashoppe.com/images/clothing/women/robe_3058b_lime.jpg​

Not really, but it sure is pretty.

 

[JackLuis]

Not really, but it sure is pretty.

I think of her as a fashion consultant.