# Translating the language of comics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864>\
**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:** 5\
**Page:** 6

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**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:** [April 1, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/101 "2022-04-01T19:46:09Z")

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Like the British airmen in _ **’Allo, 'Allo** _. Jolly good! ✌

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**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:** [April 1, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/102 "2022-04-01T21:04:32Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> “You just can’t _say_ that in German!”

Of course you can, as long as it is clear that you are taking the piss at the English! Or, even better, you are using the French to take the piss at the English. Which makes it hilarious indeed.

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/103 "2022-04-01T22:32:37Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> I seem to remember that the British expression “Old boy” was translated as “Alter Knabbe” in the German edition of _ **Asterix in Britain** _ . A Swedish girl I once knew thought this was hilarious and told me “You just can’t _say_ that in German!”

As @Pardel-Lux said, “Alter Knabe” is a perfectly cromulent rendering of “Old boy”. Maybe the Swedish girl was thinking of “Alter Schwede” (Old Swede), which has a different connotation and may be a bit off putting for a Swedish person.

> **[German phrase of the day: Alter Schwede](https://www.thelocal.de/20210305/german-phrase-of-the-day-alter-schwede)**
>
> So how exactly did the phrase "Old Swedish guy“ become a popular expression in the German language?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/104 "2022-04-01T22:39:59Z")

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I don’t think my Swedish friend (who was multilingual) meant it wasn’t _grammatically_ possible, just that it’s not a common saying in German.

Unless, of course, you _are_ “taking the piss” (a great expression!) out of the British.

There were other phrases translated literally that I thought sounded funny, even though I’m not a native German speaker.

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**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-the-language-of-comics/961864/105 "2022-04-01T22:57:07Z")

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> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> > [@CalMeacham](#):
> >
> > Changing it to “Getafix” makes him sound like a drug pusher.
> 
> Not, I suspect, to the two English people who translated it. Pretty sure they just had the “get fixed up” idea, given their backgrounds.
> 
> In any case, I’ve never had a problem with it…
> 
> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
> 
> ETA - I’m sure I recall one where a potion of his did have a hallucinogenic effect, but can’t think of the title.

One joke that went completely over my head at first was in _ **Asterix at the Olympic Games** _:

Obelix is afraid someone is going to steal their magic potion. He’s bewildered when Asterix tells him not to worry.

**ASTERIX:** Theft of cauldrons is not a crime among the Hellenes.  
**OBELIX:** (_Talking to his dog_) Do you understand the cauldron laws in these parts, Dogmatix?

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