In the spirit of justice, the reason why so many mistakes are quotes from PRO TV is because this is the channel I watch the most. It probably has something to do with the fact that I have worked there for over six years, so that's in a way a "hazard ocupational".

I also think that I should try to clarify some aspects for those of you who are not movie translators. Just like there is a distinction between translators and interpreters, there should also be a distinction made between translators and subtitlers as well.

While the regular written translation allows one to use as many words as necessary to explain a certain concept with no perfect equivalent in the target language, subtitling makes that impossible. Supplementary constraints, such as limitation of space, the necessity to render the message in as few words as possible (so that the viewers have enough time to read the whole subtitle) and the impossibility to make footnotes is adding to the already difficult task of a subtitler. There are also other facts to take into account, such as extremely short deadlines (sometimes less than 24 hours), inadequate script or, in the worst cases, lack thereof, poor quality of the sound on the tape and so on.

What most people don't realize is that it takes a lot less time to say something than it takes to read it. Imagine an Eddie Murphy movie. Translating every little thing he says would make for an extremely long translation, that couldn't possibly fit on the screen. That creates the need for adaptation and the subtitler has to make a choice as to the importance of the uttered text for the plot of the movie. He also needs to cut the sentence down to 39 characters per line (sometimes even less).

As if that was not enough, in television the translator does not have the final say on his own translation. It is the "editor" who makes the final call. The editor's job is to establish the time cues for each subtitle (i.e. to decide when the subtitle goes on and off screen) and also to correct potential translation mistakes. One of the problems is that sometimes the editor's English is not very good and he or she makes changes in the translation just because of technical constraints. Add to that the sometimes slave wages and you have the perfect recipe for a less-than-perfect translation.

All these explanations should not, in any way, be considered an attempt to justify the mistakes deriving from:

• ignorance or misunderstanding of foreign words and idioms,
• lack of knowledge of the cultural or political realities in the country that produced the movie,
• lack of professionalism of some translators, for whom dictionaries seem to be a thing of the past.

However, they are an attempt to make people understand that there's more to a movie translation than meets the eye. While I am not, in any way, shape or form, condoning some of the horrendous mistakes I have seen, I would, however, like to point out that nobody is perfect and even the best and the most experienced translators make mistakes that sometimes go unnoticed. That is impossible for a subtitler, because he is (un)lucky enough to have his work broadcast.

Furthermore, while I have heard a lot of outraged comments (and made a few of them myself), yet have found few cases when those sneering at a bad piece of translation work were able to come up with a better solution. But don't take my word for it. Just think, for a second, of translations for the following (and, while you do so, keep in mind that you can only use 39 characters per line - including spaces - and 2 lines per subtitle):

***** Always happy to help a lady in distress. And this dress, and this dress… (Married… With Children)

***** - I love a man on top of things. - And I love a woman with things on top. (Married… With Children)

***** You got enough thumbs over there? Send a case of thumbs to that table with my compliments. (M*A*S*H*)

***** I’ll carry your books, I’ll carry a torch, I’ll carry a tune, I’ll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, carry me back to Old Virginia. I’ll even hara-carry if you show me how ! But I will not carry a gun ! (M*A*S*H*) (in this case you can have two subtitles)

***** A man who was loved by all. Only one time too many. (M*A*S*H*)

***** - We have to watch him around clock. - You have my permission to move the clock. (M*A*S*H*)

***** Girl, are you from Tennessee? 'Cause you're the only ten I see.

Not very easy, is it?