The Bangkok Podcast27 Touko 2025

Making Thai Subtitles: Culture, Slang & Curse Words [S7.E72] (Classic ReCast)

In this month's Classic Recast, Greg interviews Palm, a professional translator of English to Thai, but in a very specific context: subtitles for film and television. Palm begins by explaining that she literally learned English by being a couch potato and watching a lot of Western TV shows and movies, surviving by figuring out the subtitles word by word. This led naturally to an interest in doing it for a living, and lo and behold, her dream came to when she got a job translating for MTV Thailand. Eventually, this led to translating for a major video distribution company (which shall remain anonymous).

Greg quizzes Palm on the difficulties of her job and how she can possibly find Thai equivalents for all the weird expressions and slang in English. Palm notes that this in fact makes her job fun, as she often has to do research to first make sure she has the proper understanding in her own head before she can determine the best Thai equivalent. Unsurprisingly, curse words are quite difficult, and Greg and Palm discuss some rude expressions and how Palm approaches translating them.

They also discuss the difference between simply translating a word, and translating intentions, concepts, and context. Apply this to, say, hip-hop culture, or RuPaul's show "Drag Race", and you can see where it becomes difficult!

Palm concludes with some advice for wannabe subtitlers, so listen in for some excellent career guidance if you are so inclined.

As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

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Realtor Tracy Leelalumlert Dives Deep Into Bangkok's Condo Market [S8.E50]

On the heels of a recent episode where Greg and Ed opined on the nuances of the tricky Bangkok property market, this time they have a real, er… real estate pro on to get into things from her POV - Tra...

30 Kesä 47min

Thai Games: From Playgrounds to Cards to Beetle Fighting [S8.E49] (Classic ReCast)

Thanks to a suggestion from a listener Greg and Ed discuss the fascinating topic of games that are common - if not unique - to Thailand. Both guys have some familiarity with some games played in publi...

23 Kesä 41min

Eight Specific Things That Bother Greg About Bangkok Driving [S8.E48]

Inspired by an unusually long commute, the boys decide to discuss a list of things - very specific things - that bother Greg while he drives his trusty silver Honda around Bangkok. Greg begins by shar...

16 Kesä 32min

Conflict & Legacy: Journalist Denis Gray Discusses His New Memoir [S8.E47]

In this episode, Greg interviews legendary foreign correspondent Denis Gray about his memoir, Lost Horizons. Denis details his fascinating life story, beginning with his family's escape from communis...

9 Kesä 43min

Thai Style vs Western Style: The Diverse Art of Storytelling [S8.E46]

With Ed unavailable this week, Greg welcomes his friend John as co-host to talk about storytelling. Specifically, the difference between how westerners tell stories, and how Thais tell stories. This i...

2 Kesä 36min

Foreign Fool: A Conversation with Author Alan Platt [S8.E45] (Classic ReCast)

When it comes to characters, Bangkok has them in droves - people who have been places, eaten things, talked to people, and lived adventures that would make your mother put her hand to her mouth and pr...

26 Touko 32min

When Owners Don't Own: Thailand's Thorny Nominee Issue [S8.E44]

The issue of Thai nominees has heated up in the past little while, with daily news stories about crackdowns, changing laws, and foreigners running scared (or just running). The discussion begins with...

19 Touko 45min

An Expert Spills the Beans on Thailand's Coffee Industry [S8.E43]

Greg begins his interview with coffee fan, aficionado and expert Noon by exploring her background as the former president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand and her current role managing ...

12 Touko 46min