Buffalax (verb) 1. To translate and subtitle a foreign film clip in a linguistically inaccurate, but absolutely hilarious way, so that the written subtitles are a loose interpretation of what the speaker or singer might be uttering if he or she were speaking English. 2.To improperly translate a choreographed dance sequence from a movie or video from the Asian subcontinent for the amusement of English speakers around the world. 3. (noun) A culturally insensitive faux translation. Example: Since being buffalaxed early last year, the following Benny Lava clip has been viewed half a million times:
Origin:
First cited by a major English language publication in November of 2007 when Wired magazine published this article. Use of the term quickly spread via Blogs and YouTube, and by the summer of 2008, buffalax had developed widespread use among miners of internet humor. In December of 2008 it was named Best Neologism of the Year by Beyond Words Language Blog.
Perhaps no country has been hit harder by the current economic crisis than Iceland. An ALTA project manager who recently returned from Reykjavik, the northernmost national capital in the world, brought back news of protests, high unemployment, and a touching story about an Icelandic translator who goes by the name Newsfrettir.
In the introduction to her blog, Icelandic News in English, Newsfrettir explains that she was one of the thousands of Icelanders who have been left jobless since October’s wave of layoffs. As she says,
I lost my job at the end of October as a result of the depression so, for now, I consider my job to be translating Icelandic news for those of you who are interested in this crisis that is shaking the very foundations of the Icelandic society.
These translations are my only income, so i have a donations link at the bottom of every news article if someone wants to donate.
Newsfrettir signs off with the upbeat words, “Viking greetings with fighter spirit from Iceland!”, which, leaves the impression that despite how difficult the situation becomes, this translator will see it through. And, while Newsfrettir may not be a professionally trained translator, the effort serves as a reminder that translation continues to be a valuable asset during times of economic decline.
Tongue twisters are designed to be difficult to articulate, and they are nearly impossible to translate in a way that keeps the playful challenge intact. Nevertheless, they are fun to say in every language. Here is a collection of our top tongue twisters from across the globe…
FRENCH
Un pâtissier qui pâtissait chez un tapissier qui tapissait, dit un jour au tapissier qui tapissait: vaut-il mieux pâtisser chez un tapissier qui tapisse ou tapisser chez un pâtissier qui pâtisse?
(A pastry chef who made pastries at the house of a tapestry maker who made tapestries, said one day to the tapestry maker who made tapestries: is it better to make pastries at a tapestry maker’s who makes tapestries or to make tapestries at a pastry chef’s who makes pastries?)
SPANISH
Si yo como como como,
y tu comes como comes.
żCómo comes como como?
Si yo como como como.
(If I eat like I eat, and you eat like you eat, how do you eat like I eat, if I eat like I eat.)
El amor es una locura
que solo el cura lo cura,
pero el cura que lo cura
comete una gran locura.
(Love is a madness that only a priest can cure, but the priest who cures it commits a great madness.) Read the rest of this entry »
Hope everyone had a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!
Today marks World AIDS day, and as part of the organization Bloggers Unite, we would like to do our part to raise awareness.
ALTA realizes the devastating affects of the AIDS virus throughout the world, and we have taken part in AIDS Walk fundraising events to help bolster research and education programs. No matter what city you live in, or what language you speak, you can make a difference.
Here are a few good organizations that will welcome your contribution of time, money, or talent this holiday season:
As we in the U.S. prepare our turkeys and stuffings for Thanksgiving, it seems like an appropriate time to consider popular dishes from around the world.
The names of certain traditional dishes can sizzle on one’s tongue, often making them difficult to capture with translation. Even if the name of the dish is easy to translate, the mixture of curiosity and suspicion that often greets the first mention of an exotic dish usually ends with one question: “What’s in it?”
Here is a list of popular dishes from around the world whose names are as fun to say as the meals are to eat:
Khachapuri [Georgia]
In Georgia, every dinner ritual begins with khachapuri — a warm, thick and flaky bread, layered with different kinds of cheeses. There is an abundance of dairy in Georgia, and some attribute the longevity of the Georgians to their high volume of yogurt consumption. The horn-full of locally produced wine is offered with khachapuri. It is a tradition to serve wine in the horn instead of the glass—as a sign of respect to his host, a guest must drink his wine without setting it aside.
Jansson’s Frestelse [Sweden] Jansson’s Tempatation is a traditional casserole made of potatoes, onion, pickled sprats and cream. Pickled sprats, known as “ansjovis,” have often been mistranslated into English as anchovies or herring. There is a controversy over the origin of the name: some believe it is named after Pelle Janzon, a Swedish opera singer of the 19th century, who was also a famous gourmand. Read the rest of this entry »
