The recent controversies with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and the literal translation of ‘Slumdog’ that made a person file a petition; reminds me of one of my own experiences, in the hands of “Literal Translation”.
While at school, we were 4 girls with my namesake; and it so happened in one the coaching classes of Chemistry, I went for in class 11 [when all the IIT buzz sets in]. Let’s name the characters as I, Namesake2, & Namesake3.
One afternoon, Namesake2 and I were having a discussion on some topic I don’t remember very well. By the by the direction headed towards our Physics teacher at school. Mr. Trivedi as I remember was a very dynamic person, with dashing and smart personality, and at the same time stern. Nobody could manage even trying to attempt some hanky-panky business, when he was around. The look on his face would be enough to tell people, “I’m watching, beware!” So here I look at Namesake2 and comment, “If looks could kill”, I pause, look at her perplexed face, and add on “I would be long dead!!!” After some 5 minutes, I see her crackling up with uncontrollable laughter. She repeats “Agar nazare maar sakti, toh tum marr chuki hoti!!”
Tongue in cheek, I am warily looking at her. Before I could manage an explanation, what I actually meant and what the phrase meant, Namesake3 arrives out of nowhere. Namesake3 finds Namesake2 laughing uncontrollably. [yes still!!! And now it’s my turn to look perplexed and uneasy] On further probes Namesake2 decides to share her new found information with Namesake3.
So here is what Namesake2 declares to Namesake3 “Akanksha [I] likes Mr. Trivedi, and unki aakhon ne usse ghayal kar diya hain”. Much to my amusement, it was like an ideal case of ‘foot in mouth’. I felt like somebody just ripped me off, from whatever I was being protected with [read clothes]. Suddenly I wanted to jump off! [I figured out the news would travel far and wide]
I realised that not everything can be said before everybody. There’s a need to first gauge the kind of audience that is present, and how receptive would they be to proverbs/phrases/idioms, or for that matter whatever issue that needs to be talked about. I completely left wording phrases after that fateful day!
While at school, we were 4 girls with my namesake; and it so happened in one the coaching classes of Chemistry, I went for in class 11 [when all the IIT buzz sets in]. Let’s name the characters as I, Namesake2, & Namesake3.
One afternoon, Namesake2 and I were having a discussion on some topic I don’t remember very well. By the by the direction headed towards our Physics teacher at school. Mr. Trivedi as I remember was a very dynamic person, with dashing and smart personality, and at the same time stern. Nobody could manage even trying to attempt some hanky-panky business, when he was around. The look on his face would be enough to tell people, “I’m watching, beware!” So here I look at Namesake2 and comment, “If looks could kill”, I pause, look at her perplexed face, and add on “I would be long dead!!!” After some 5 minutes, I see her crackling up with uncontrollable laughter. She repeats “Agar nazare maar sakti, toh tum marr chuki hoti!!”
Tongue in cheek, I am warily looking at her. Before I could manage an explanation, what I actually meant and what the phrase meant, Namesake3 arrives out of nowhere. Namesake3 finds Namesake2 laughing uncontrollably. [yes still!!! And now it’s my turn to look perplexed and uneasy] On further probes Namesake2 decides to share her new found information with Namesake3.
So here is what Namesake2 declares to Namesake3 “Akanksha [I] likes Mr. Trivedi, and unki aakhon ne usse ghayal kar diya hain”. Much to my amusement, it was like an ideal case of ‘foot in mouth’. I felt like somebody just ripped me off, from whatever I was being protected with [read clothes]. Suddenly I wanted to jump off! [I figured out the news would travel far and wide]
I realised that not everything can be said before everybody. There’s a need to first gauge the kind of audience that is present, and how receptive would they be to proverbs/phrases/idioms, or for that matter whatever issue that needs to be talked about. I completely left wording phrases after that fateful day!
