Thread: Foul language, swear words, should we translate this or simply refuse?

I think we're all wasting too much time on this issue... if anybody's purpose was to make trouble, well... they got it. It's been said and I subscribe to it: we're adults, and as such, we have the right to choose what to read, what to write, when to stop reading, when to reply, what to translate (us, translators) (and it can be done privately, as suggested) and what not to, what movie to stop seeing when we're offended... I honestly don't care for any censorship: I already had enough in my life. I can decide for myself, thank you. And I have the freedom to give my opinion, and I'm also thankful for that.

I suggest we all deal with better and more interesting subjects than this...!
My regards to everyone,
Laura

As true as that may be Kelly, the reality is that people still do swear, and people that swear still need their documents translated. It is not the job of the translator to censor the text, they must present the text as accurately as possible in the target language. People will always be offended for one reason or another. You do bring up an interesting point though about the cultural differences of swearing, although even in the U.S. it does vary quite a bit depending on the region or type of institution.

Originally Posted by sarab

As true as that may be Kelly, the reality is that people still do swear, and people that swear still need their documents translated. It is not the job of the translator to censor the text, they must present the text as accurately as possible in the target language. People will always be offended for one reason or another. You do bring up an interesting point though about the cultural differences of swearing, although even in the U.S. it does vary quite a bit depending on the region or type of institution.

sarab, You are right, just look at the huge difference between my experiences and vicente's. Hard to imagine that we are even talking about the same country.
But don't get me wrong, I am not telling you what you should do. If you want to translate a document for whatever reason, I can't tell you not to do it. Especially after I have learnt that swear words are OK, and even (according to Exxcentrica) terms of endearment in Spain and Latin America. What I am saying now, and I believe Exxcentrica has already addressed it somewhere in this thread, is that we should have a sort of warning system in place to let people know that viewer discretion is required, because the thread could be offensive -by language, content, etc.
BTW, Your English is very good. It is refreshing to read a well written comment. I remember a member replying to one of my messages. I was too polite, but wanted to say "if I could only understand what you are trying to say" I did not want to hurt her feelings. Though she is not shy about attacking me quite frequently.

Originally Posted by vicente

[COLOR=navy]
Kelly:
I did not intend to continue with this but since you mentioned me specifically I must correct what appears to be an erroneous assumption. I am not a native Texan.[/COLOR
I live in Texas at present but I have lived in New York, Baltimore, Newark, Washington, D.C., Miami, California, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and New Mexico and have travelled throughout the U.S. all my life.
Texas is not a separate country and the big cities of Texas are cosmopolitan and are little different than the big cities of any other state. This is 2008. Many of the residents are from other parts of the country as well as from other countries, such as yourself.
Few people "get into a lot of trouble" for using "swear words" in public unless they start a fight.
"Swearing in public" and "obscenity" on television is as common in New York and Miami as it is it Denver and Dallas. It doesn't matter where you live.
And while there may be laws on the books about "obscenity" they are practically un-enforceable due to the decades-old debate about the definition of obscenity.
I agree with Laura. We are wasting a lot of time on this discussion of censorship. It no longer has anything to do with translations.

vicente, again! my most faithful heckler!
Two things,
First, I don't know if you are aware that it wasn't me who started this thread, and
Second, and repeating your own advise. If you don't like what you are reading "Leave the thread!". I believe that's what you said vicente, isn't it?
There are plenty of other threads where you can put your translating skills into practice

Originally Posted by mem286

De acuerdo Vicente... y ni América Latina ni Argentina, ni España son islas aisladas en el mundo, ni tampoco es "cool" decir estas palabras, como kellymellars mencionó en otro hilo... (me resulta ofensivo ese comentario) Cada uno piensa lo que piensa y creo que la mayoría pensamos lo mismo...



También opino que esto no da para más, amigos...

Originally Posted by exxcéntrica

Hi Kelly, I generally agree with you on posts with foul language or pornographic sentences or such, but this particular wording can be something VERY friendly in Spain!!

I believe in Mexico too. So we are not talking about pornographic material or bad taste here. In Spain, swearing is a part of the culture. Even my mother in law swears!
)

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Originally Posted by exxcéntrica

T
What do you think? Should we translate any kind of material? What about swear words? In Spain this is part of the culture. EVERYBODY swears!

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[QUOTE=CarlosRoberto]Hi, Kelly: ...
... Finally, who can qualify the quality of language in an international forum, full of exchanges between people from very different countries? I could say that "culo" is an obscene word, but Exx and millions of spaniards would say it's as innocent a word as "nalgas". And the same would happen the other way round. The very words of the FCC can be subject to interpretation: what does "obscene programming" or "profane language" exactly mean? These criteria have always been as subjective as the period in which they are expressed. During the fifties they meant something very different than during the sixties, or the seventies.
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I would publicly like to apologize to the friends who I sent a message to trying to straighten out what I thought was an error or the system, believe it or not. I had no idea how the point system worked, Now I do.

I am extremely sorry.

I do believe some kind of flagging's system would not be a bad idea. Some forums suggest to members to post "might offend" in the thread title, as the members are normally aware that the language might not be "proper" even though, as we have seen here , this very much depends on the country.

But I would like to express my disapproval for these kind of posts.

vicente, again! my most faithful heckler!
If you don't like what you are reading "Leave the thread!". I believe that's what you said vicente, isn't it?
There are plenty of other threads where you can put your translating skills into practice

These are personal attacks and I think it is shameful to behave like this. This is outrageous and I am really sorry to have ever tried to understand this particular poster.

I apologize.