Translation of Captions of English movies into Japanese
BY
13102203
Aiko Ido
A FIVE PAGE PAPER
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF
SEMINAR 1 (World Englishes)
Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department
English Course
SUPERVISOR: Judy Yoneoka
Kumamoto Gakuen University
Oe 2-5-1 Kumamoto
Japan
2/17/2016
This paper consists of approximately
1,078words
Abstract
This paper is about translating of captions of English movies into
Japanese. It is made of five sections. Section Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ will introduce three
points about captions.
I.
II.
III.
Introduction
Rules for caption translating
Difficult points of translating captions
IV.
V.
How to study English with captions
Conclusion
Translating captions is very hard because it must be translated
according to some rules for translation. But Japanese viewers can enjoy
watching movies and also study English by captions.
I.
Introduction
There are captions in foreign movies to help Japanese people to
understand. Those who make these captions are called caption translators.
Natsuko Toda is the most famous in Japan. She translates in captions and is
also an interpreter for Hollywood stars.
Translating captions is very difficult. Firstly, English abilities are
indispensable to the translators. Also, expression ability to understand is
important, too. Of course, there are some rules for translation. The
translators must translate on the basis of these rules.
This paper will begin by discussing some of the rules for translating
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captions on Section Ⅱ . Section Ⅲ
will introduce difficult points of
translating captions. On the other hand, it is a remarkable point that
captions are useful to study English. There are various native English in
movies. Viewers can study English by listening and seeing them. Section Ⅳ
will introduce how to study English with captions.
II.
Rules for Caption Translating
When creating captions, the translators must translate on the basis
of the set rules. It takes longer to read words than to hear and understand
them. Captions are words translated from the actors’ speech. However, if the
lines are translated as- is, it could be too long to read. The translators must
make short captions that can be read in a few seconds, so for example, two
seconds of speech are described by eight words. The following is an example
from a famous movie:
1“Come
with me if you wanna live.” (The Terminator, 1984)
The caption is 「助けてあげる。」. The literal translation is 「生き延びたいな
Nishimori, Marie. (1994) Nishimori Marie no Bairingaru Eigagekijyo
Japanese), The Japan Times, Ltd.
1
3
(in
らオレについてこい。」. Though the literal translation is sixteen words, the
caption is only six words. The translators must paraphrase in order for the
viewers to understand easily. They must also translate captions on the basis
of the connection between stories and characters. The enjoyment of movies
depends heavily on how the translators translate the captions.
III.
Difficult points of translating captions
There are two difficult points of translating captions.
Firstly, Chinese characters. The translators can use Chinese
characters to make short captions, but the number of Chinese characters
must be reduced for people who are not used to reading movie captions.
Translation can be made without Chinese characters; however, it would be
too long. So, the translators must take this into account.
Secondly, comedy movies. These are the most difficult to translate.
If people of different nationalities watch the same movie, the timing of the
laugh is different. The so-called “American joke” is sometimes not funny for
Japanese people. Most of them have felt so. Japanese people can’t
understand the native meaning of the joke, so it must be paraphrased for
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them. Natsuko Toda says 2“If translators translate American joke literally,
it’s not interesting for Japanese people because the background of their
culture is different. So, we must translate and sometimes paraphrase lines
with accuracy abiding by the real intention of lines and limiting the number
of words".
The “Austin Powers” series is a good example. There are many
“American” jokes in these movies. It is because the culture and the custom
between Japan and America is different, and because of the limit of
translation in captions.
IV.
How to study English with captions
The website http://www.eigos.com/cinema/menu.html has a lot of
reasons why it is good to study English with captions. They are as follows;
 Movies are English teaching materials.
Movies are the best materials to communicate natural English
because we can experience various types of English, Standard English,
2
Interpretation Translation,
http://www.kjps.net/user/rumitakizawa/interpretation_translation.html,
2004/11/25
5
accents and slang etc.
 Easy to learn English expressions
English expressions in movies are easy for us to learn because they
connect each scene. When we hear English expressions, we visualize the
scenes.
 The improvement of English conversation abilities
The words of daily conversation and colloquial expression in movies
are easier to learn than those used in textbooks and other study aids. This is
connected with the improvement of English conversation abilities.
 Listening abilities are reinforced.
English in movies is spoken for native speakers at natural speed. At
first, it is difficult for non-native listeners, but they gradually become used to
it and are able to understand the spoken English.
 The improvement of pronunciation and intonation
We can practice pronunciation and intonation by listening to
English in movies. Moreover, English abilities are improved by seeing
captions together.
 Studying is enjoyable.
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People whom like watching movies can study English and enjoy it.
Also, culture is reflected in each line of a movie. So, we can learn
cross-cultural understanding.
Now, slang, colloquial expressions and puns in captions.

Slang
3Indeed,
worked for me. Big time! (My Best Friend’s Wedding, 1997)
“Big time!” is emphasized in the former sentence.

Colloquial expressions
4“Here
is looking at you.” 「君の瞳に乾杯」(Casablanca, 1942)
This sentence is from colloquial expression “Here is health to you!” and “Here
is luck to you!”

Puns
5JOE:
I’m Joe…knock, knock.
ROSE: Who’s there?
3
Slangs from Movies, Songs and Paperbacks,
http://usanavi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/reviewindex.html, 2004/11/25
4
Burattooyaji no Tsukommi Eigahyou,
http://blog.melma.com/00108615/20040816095124, 2004/11/26
5
Knock, knock. Who’s there?,
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~torisan/mglist-k.html, 2004/11/26
7
JOE: Orange.
ROSE: Orange who?
JOE: Aren’t you going to give us a break by zipping this credit card
through the credit card machine?
(You’ve Got Mail, 1998)
This is a “knock knock joke” and it is known for puns in English. Japanese
people who hear this for the first time don’t understand, because “knock
knock” jokes are not known in Japanese culture. The caption is completely
different from the line. This pun is said that the pronunciation of “Orange
who” is similar to “Aren’t you” and it is fixed form.
V.
Conclusion
As expected, translating captions is very difficult. The caption
translators must translate, conforming some rules and the thinking of the
intended viewers. By the grace of the translators, viewers can enjoy
watching movies with captions. It is also possible to improve English
abilities by continue studying English in how to study English with captions.
Bibliography
8
Burattooyaji no Tsukommi Eigahyou,
http://blog.melma.com/00108615/20040816095124, 2004/11/26
Eiga de Manabu Eigo, http://www.eigos.com/cinema/menu.html, 2004/11/25
Honyakuka ni Naritai, http://www.e-geos.net/newcourse/translator.html,
2004/10/04
Interpretation Translation,
http://www.kjps.net/user/rumitakizawa/interpretation_translation.html,
2004/11/25
Jimaku no Mamechisiki,
http://fresheye.oem.melma.com/mag/61/m00012561/a00000040.html,
2004/10/04
Knock, knock. Who’s there?,
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~torisan/mglist-k.html, 2004/11/26
Nishimori, Marie. (1994) Nishimori Marie no Bairingaru Eigagekijyo
Japanese), The Japan Times, Ltd.
(in
Shimizu, Shunji and Toda, Natsuko. (1999) Eigajimaku ha Honyaku dehanai
(in Japanese), Hayakawashobo.
Slangs from Movies, Songs and Paperbacks,
http://usanavi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/reviewindex.html, 2004/11/25
9