Making Thai Subtitles: Culture, Slang, and Curse Words [Season 3, Episode 77]

Making Thai Subtitles: Culture, Slang, and Curse Words [Season 3, Episode 77]

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.

Episoder(561)

Murder in Thailand: Kevin Maes Talks About His Book "Kingdom of Trials" [S8.E15]

Murder in Thailand: Kevin Maes Talks About His Book "Kingdom of Trials" [S8.E15]

In a special episode, Greg and Ed interview Kevin Maes in Kevin's own podcast studio on Rama IV. Kevin is a long-time expat in Thailand hailing from Belgium who became entangled in a very unfortunate ...

8 Okt 20251h 1min

Talking with Phra Pandit: Amulets, Talismans, Relics & Faith [S8.E14] (Classic ReCast)

Talking with Phra Pandit: Amulets, Talismans, Relics & Faith [S8.E14] (Classic ReCast)

It's been a while, but one of our favorite semi-regular guests is back! Bangkok Podcast's official Buddhist correspondent, Phra Pandit, welcomed Greg at his temple to talk about amulets, talismans, an...

30 Sep 202536min

Greg & Ed Opine on BBC's 'Documentary' and Media Misconceptions of Thailand [S8.E13)

Greg & Ed Opine on BBC's 'Documentary' and Media Misconceptions of Thailand [S8.E13)

Greg and Ed discuss the recent BBC 'documentary' called 'The Dark Side of Paradise' and what it says about media representation of Thailand. Ed explains that the recently aired 3-episode series has be...

23 Sep 202541min

Chatwan Mongkok Digs Into Bangkok with His 'Soiciety' Newsletter [S8.E12]

Chatwan Mongkok Digs Into Bangkok with His 'Soiciety' Newsletter [S8.E12]

Greg and Ed interview Chatwan Mongkol about his relatively new website called 'Soiciety.' Chatwan begins by explaining that he was born and raised in Thailand but then went to the U.S. for a year of h...

16 Sep 202542min

Grave Topic: Discussing Bangkok's Protestant & Chinese Cemeteries [S8.E11]

Grave Topic: Discussing Bangkok's Protestant & Chinese Cemeteries [S8.E11]

Diving into the differences between East & West, Greg and Ed discuss two famous cemeteries in Bangkok. Ed takes the Teochiew Chinese Cemetery off of Sathorn Road, and Greg talks about the Protestant C...

9 Sep 202532min

Can Bangkok Be Enjoyed Without Booze? [S8.E10]

Can Bangkok Be Enjoyed Without Booze? [S8.E10]

Greg and Ed discuss a much neglected topic in Bangkok expat life: how to survive as someone who doesn't drink alcohol. Everyone knows that Bangkok has an epic nightlife, but much of that experience re...

2 Sep 202529min

Don't Do These Things: How to Earn an Expat Demerit Badge [S8.E9] (Classic ReCast)

Don't Do These Things: How to Earn an Expat Demerit Badge [S8.E9] (Classic ReCast)

In a follow-up to previous episodes on expat 'Merit Badges,' Greg and Ed discuss 'DEmerit Badges,' mistakes that long term expats make that they should NOT make. In other words, if you've lived in Tha...

26 Aug 202537min

Bangkok Smackdown: Lumphini Park vs Benjakitti Park [S8.E8]

Bangkok Smackdown: Lumphini Park vs Benjakitti Park [S8.E8]

Greg and Ed discuss the pros and cons of Lumphini and Benjakitti parks in central Bangkok, and best of all - you get to vote for your favorite by clicking here! The boys begin almost with a disclaim...

19 Aug 202539min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
alt-fortalt
min-barneoppdragelse
fladseth
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
krisemoter
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen