Translating the confusion over the 5g rollout in Malaysia


If we have subtitles in Parliament showing the true intent of the MP speaking, it would make for very entertaining viewing indeed…. — 123rf.com

Translations are tricky things. Take for example, what can be found in the Bahasa Malaysia subtitles of the hit animé show Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃).In one episode, a character defeats another and says, “お前にはまだ早い”. I don’t understand Japanese, but if I run that through Google Translate, I get “It’s too early for you”. You might expect the BM version to read “Masih terlalu awal untuk awak”, or even “Kamu masih belum bersedia” might be acceptable. However, the BM translator for this particular episode decided to try something a bit more gempak (awesome) and opted for, “K**** belum berbulu dah sibuk menggatal”.

If you’re wondering, the “K” word I obscured here is a body part that is not fit to print in a family newspaper. (And no, it’s not “ketiak” or “kepala”, ie, armpit or head.) Something was clearly lost in translation.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

5G rollout , translation

   

Next In Living

Heart and Soul: Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, a journey beyond limits
RM1,530 for a coffee? Scottish farm sells Britain's most expensive cup of Joe
Glenfiddich Invites Malaysian Mavericks To Ask Themselves, ‘Where Next?’
Traditional Sabahan recipes get the spotlight at Oitom by chef Raphael Peter Lee
Sabahan pride: Malaysian chef Linn Yong champions sustainable Sabah ingredients
Meet Wanda, the machine that collects and separates trash for recycling
Hide KL takes you on a delicious modern Malaysian odyssey with its latest menu
How these US children with special needs got to 'walk on water'
Cost of convenience: Coffee pods need and waste more resources than other methods
‘Dubai chocolate’ craze hits Europe as Swiss brand serves up Middle Eastern flavours

Others Also Read