# Translating the language of comics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [March 28, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864 "2022-03-28T23:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/41 "2022-03-29T18:20:23Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I, for one, do not get it. Does it by chance refer to Hollywood? Is it funny? Yes, and mildly. Hollywood has quite a reputation as a home for weirdos. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/42 "2022-03-29T18:25:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > A small cup of strong black coffee, probably espresso, often served to round out a large dinner. I occasionally add a drop of cognac to the coffee to liven it up. Is this really dated in France? Ah, you mean a [carajillo](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carajillo)! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/43 "2022-03-29T18:28:02Z")
Evidently. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/44 "2022-03-29T18:35:05Z")
> [@How are puns and wordplay translated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-puns-and-wordplay-translated/926560/1): > > what is the general practice for translating puns/wordplay like this into other languages? “Don’t.” Some things just don’t translate. For example, I assume Chinese doesn’t have crossword puzzles. ---
**Author:** ![Themenin0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@Themenin0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin0)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/45 "2022-03-29T19:07:40Z")
I have to admit that I’ve never come across “demitasse” - although the meaning’s clear. French coffee vocabulary is basically : “un café” - you’ll get an espresso “un déca” - decaffeinated espresso “café allongé” - a diluted espresso (this might be specifically parisian or city - I’ve seen bartenders hesitate in small towns) “café noisette” - espresso with a little milk (macchiatto) “(café) crème” - with heated milk “grand crème” - something like 20cl “café calva” - has a shot of apple cognac in it, used to be a common morning drink in industrial bars, but I think it’s pretty much history at this point. And looping back to Asterix - the central plot of “Asterix chez les Normands” hinges on a play on words - the proverb, “la peur donne des ailes”. Does this work in English ? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/46 "2022-03-29T19:09:13Z")
In the Tintin comic _Objectif Lune_, Captain Haddock dismisses the moon rocket with one of his trademark quips: “Autant jouer du cornet à piston devant la tour Eiffel en s’imaginant qu’elle va danser la samba?” Rough translation: “One might as well play the cornet in front of the Eiffel Tower and expect it to dance a samba!” In the English translation, _Destination Moon_, he says “You might just as well play a penny-whistle in front of Nelson’s Column and expect it to dance a samba!” Apparently, the Eiffel Tower reference was too obscure for English-speaking readers… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/47 "2022-03-29T19:18:29Z")
> [@Themenin0](#): > > I have to admit that I’ve never come across “demitasse” - although the meaning’s clear. > > French coffee vocabulary is basically : > “un café” - you’ll get an espresso > “un déca” - decaffeinated espresso > “café allongé” - a diluted espresso (this might be specifically parisian or city - I’ve seen bartenders hesitate in small towns) > “café noisette” - espresso with a little milk (macchiatto) > “(café) crème” - with heated milk > “grand crème” - something like 20cl > > “café calva” - has a shot of apple cognac in it, used to be a common morning drink in industrial bars, but I think it’s pretty much history at this point. Very interesting and informative, thanks! I’ve always called coffee with hot milk _café au lait_. Is this expression not used in France/Europe? > [@](#): > > The central plot of “Asterix chez les Normands” hinges on a play on words - the proverb, “la peur donne des ailes”. Does this work in English ? “Fear gives wings”? A bit of context would help here. I assume it’s a cultural thing? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/48 "2022-03-29T19:18:41Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Apparently, the Eiffel Tower reference was too obscure for English-speaking readers… I don’t think the premise of the change was necessarily that Anglophones wouldn’t _understand_ a reference to the Eiffel Tower, but just what kind of reference would be more natural for a character to make when speaking English. I have read (I think) all of the English translations of Tintin, and it’s pretty clear to me that they were leaving it very ambiguous what the “home” location of Tintin, Haddock, etc. were. It’s not made clear at all that they are Belgian and living in Belgium. All their dialogue is written as if, in fact, they are really English. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/49 "2022-03-29T19:25:22Z")
> [@Themenin0](#): > > And looping back to Asterix - the central plot of “Asterix chez les Normands” hinges on a play on words - the proverb, “la peur donne des ailes”. Does this work in English ? Isn’t it hilarious that [Red Bull’s slogan](https://www.techpluto.com/red-bull-gives-you-wings/) is “Red Bull gives you wings!” and that it is meant as a positive attribute? It’s because it comes from the German expression “verleiht Flügel” which has no fear connotation and literally translates as “gives wings”. Still it shows no knowlegde at all of French culture, Asterix included. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/50 "2022-03-29T19:31:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I’ve always called coffee with hot milk _café au lait_. Is this expression not used in France/Europe? Also, coffee that is basically espresso diluted with hot water is called _café Americano_ in places I’ve been to in Eastern Europe. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/51 "2022-03-29T19:35:34Z")
> [@Themenin0](#): > > And looping back to Asterix - the central plot of “Asterix chez les Normands” hinges on a play on words - the proverb, “la peur donne des ailes”. Does this work in English ? Yes, it does. “Fear gives you wings” is perfectly comprehensible, if not exactly a common proverb. Incidentally, they turned this one into one of the best Asterix cartoons ever made – **Asterix and the Vikings** , although they added to it from other Asterix books and changed a lot of the plot. Most of it is still there, though. > **[Asterix and the Vikings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix_and_the_Vikings)** > > Asterix and the Vikings (released in French as Astérix et les Vikings and Danish as Asterix og Vikingerne) is a 2006 Danish-French animated adventure film based on the French comic book series Asterix, written by Stefan Fjeldmark and Jean-Luc Gossens, and directed by Fjeldmark and Jesper Møller. A loose adaptation of the story of the comic album Asterix and the Normans, written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, the plot follows Asterix and Obelix trying to train the nephew of t... ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/52 "2022-03-29T19:36:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Fear gives wings”? A bit of context would help here. I assume it’s a cultural thing? Yeah, I don’t really know what it means. Something like: fear makes it possible to travel very fast? I don’t know of a common English expression for that. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/53 "2022-03-29T19:41:05Z")
I’d say fear gives you “courage,” though other interpretations are possible. But I still don’t know how it ties into the story. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/54 "2022-03-29T19:46:35Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > But I still don’t know how it ties into the story. It’s because the Vikings/Normans want to learn how to fly. (“Fear gives you wings”) They seek out an expert in fear (ie - a coward. The nephew Justforkix) so that if they scare him, he will show they how to fly. Of course, he doesn’t. Eventually, Asterix has the clever idea of recruiting the bard Cacophonix to sing for the Vikings, and his horrible singing puts fear into them, and they try (unsuccessfully) to fly. As Getafix explains at the end, true courage is not having no knowledge of the meaning of fear (another idiom used in the story, which probably translates better), but of knowing fear but progressing anyway. They changed a lot of that part for the cartoon movie. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/55 "2022-03-29T19:49:15Z")
Thanks! đź‘Ť ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/56 "2022-03-29T20:31:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, I don’t really know what it means. Something like: fear makes it possible to travel very fast? I don’t know of a common English expression for that. I thought it was pretty straight forward from context: people who are scared of something can run away from it very, very fast. Or, in a more comic-bookish sense, characters who are startled by something often are shown leaping up into the air in fright. Like, a squad of legionnaires trudging through a forest, complaining about how they’re exhausted from marching and couldn’t take another step - until they hear a twig snap in the underbrush, and they’re immediately sprinting a half kilometer in the other direction, or dangling from the upper branches of a tree, trying to hide before they get thumped by one of those invincible Gauls. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/57 "2022-03-29T21:15:06Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And then: > > **OBELIX:** I say, Asterix! I think this bridge is falling down! > > There’s no attempt to link the two gags, but they both stand on their own! I am pretty sure (not having a copy of **Asterix in Britain** to hand) that _Asterix_ and _Obelix_ are not just in Britain, but are currently in **Londinium** - so Obelix is really saying > Londinium bridge is falling down … referencing the nursery rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/58 "2022-03-29T21:41:43Z")
It’s pretty clear to anyone who knows the nursery rhyme that this is indeed what’s implied. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/59 "2022-03-30T10:51:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In English, yes. I don’t know if the French even have half-pints. The metric system, you know… I’m not sure if the metric system was in wide-spread use in the days of the Roman Conquest. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/60 "2022-03-30T10:56:28Z")
I’m sure it wasn’t. What does the Latin translation of the book say? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864.md?page=4)