Humor in Multilingual Films

Lost, Found or Retrieved in Translation? Humor in Multilingual Films

Lecturer: Dr. Delia Chiaro
Speech summary:

The translation of multilingual films inevitably results in the leveling out and flattening of linguistic diversity, leaving any geo-social connotation attached to the characters for individual viewers to work out for themselves. Often such films are serious and tackle significant social and political issues, (e.g. Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Thomas Jahn Germany/Netherlands/ Belgium, 1997; and Nordrand, Barbara Albert, Austria, 1999). But what happens when a multilingual film adopts linguistic diversity to create a comic effect? Translating Verbally Expressed Humor (VEH) from one language into another, constitutes one of the trickiest problems facing operators in the Screen Translation industry—so what if the problem is multiplied by more source languages? Taking examples from different films in several language combinations, Dr. Chiaro examined of how VEH and stereotypes from different languages and cultures are conveyed interlingually and to what effect. Finally, Dr. Chiaro also explored the issue of the act of translation itself adopted as humorous device.

Graduation Play of Class 2007—Chicago

Claire Chen（陳安琪）

The graduation play of Class 2007 of Department of Foreign Languages and Literature was held on May 3 and 4, 2007. Different from the style of last-year’s play, the senior students this time challenged the famous Broadway musical show—Chicago. To perform a high quality show, the students without any drama experiences had to learn singing and dancing skills. They spent triple time to rehearse again and again just because they hope to bring their audience a real Broadway show feeling. After the play, the class had not only gained a precious stage experience, but also earned an unforgettable memory for their study life at Feng Chia University.

Director’s Words about Graduation Play

Director Fangmay Peng (彭芳美主任)

When I first learned that the class of 2007 was going to play Chicago, I was not quite sure that they could handle such a delicate play requiring dancing and singing skills. However, I let them make the decision although I did remind them it was going to be a tough job. Indeed, it has been a great challenge to them.

At first, not all the students of the class wanted to be involved in the graduation play because they just did not know how to cooperate with one another to accomplish such a huge project. Starting from fund raising, they decided to sell cookies made by themselves. It would have saved them much more trouble and time if the Department had taken the initiative to raise fund for them. Then they would not have learned to take the responsibility and to solve the problems themselves.

To accomplish the mission impossible, they have learned to cooperate with one another as a team, to be responsible for the tasks assigned to them, to be punctual for the rehearsals, and, most importantly, to be a better person. They have learned what cannot be taught in the classroom. Finally, they not only presented a wonderful play on the stage, but also demonstrated their maturity, team spirit, and discipline. I am very proud of them.

I would like to thank all the people who have supported and helped us to make this graduation play possible. To the class of 2007, I want to share with you a quote from St. Augustine: “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.” In the life ahead of you, keep your capacity of faith, go confidently in the direction of your dreams, and live fully the life you have imagined!