- Translating Humor
- There are possible ways of translating humor from Spanish to English although some words are problematic in the translation. The linguistic realities in Spanish language are significant features to identify during translation. During the translation, three categories of humor are included in the work. The first is the linguistic jokes that are universal and a considerable example of these jokes is the puns. The problem that encounters when translating these types of jokes is using automatic translation. For example, taking an original statement, “Please don’t make me too happy” will sound ungrammatical when translated. When translated from Spanish to English, the statement will be, “I request to me not to go too much behind lucky person”.
- The other type of jokes is the cultural jokes that are from sayings of different tribes. While translating this form of humor, various problems occur. The first problem is pronunciation of Spanish words so as the audience may understand. The Spanish language uses utilized letters in the writings. For example, the letter ‘u’, in Spanish has an umlaut. The third category of jokes is the universal jokes that academics refer to as the unexpected ones. In this category of jokes, the audience of Spanish language may laugh but when presenter highlights the joke in English, the audience may lack the laughing matter.
- The Spanish language has several formatting issues that may affect the translation in to English language. While writing a title in Spanish, a writer uses capital letter in a sentences’ first word. In English language, a writer uses capital letter almost in the start of every sentence. Another problem that arises during the translation is the use of numbers. In the Spanish language, a writer uses numbers of periods instead of commas. The English language replaces commas with periods. Another problem is that text expansion reduces when translating from Spanish language into English and vice-versa. This is due to the linguistic rules of Spanish language as the presenter pronounces many words.
- Another problem that may affect the translation ladder of Spanish language into English is equivalence of the effect of humor. The humor that is supposed to end in a laughing effect may be less compelling when presented in English rather than the Spanish language. The humor may also be possible to complete but a limitation may be to render the information that the presenter intended to give. Presenting of a humor is a skill that a presenter acquires within a period. This explains why translators may fail to deliver the expected humor after the translation. Emotions of the translator may also affect the delivering of humor.
- Without using necessary allusions, it is impossible to translate Spanish into English language. Translators state that allusions are hard to establish due to the terminological problems. Modification of some words is a requirement in order to present the proper meaning of the humor. Allusions are most of the time bound by cultural values making it difficult to express a humor of a certain ethnic group to another. Another difficult that occurs when translating Spanish into English is irony. During the translation, it is usually difficult to identify verbal irony. The understanding of verbal irony has underlying context that the audience grasps with different perspectives. Some of the audience may confuse sarcasm with irony failing to grasp the humor. After translating the humor, it is also advisable to include subtitling. Humor subtitling assists the audience to understand the intended message of the joke. This thesis provides a strategy required to provide a clear translation especially on screen of Spanish language into English by use of wordplay, allusions and verbal irony.
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