Translation Services

Humor helps you translate Turkish A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down As you probably know already, Peri and I like the Turkish cartoon-humor of 'Maganda' (The Lout) -- the Alfred E. Neuman-like cartoon-strip character that we first found in Gözcü Gazetesi in the late 1990's. We've appreciated the cartoon-series on multiple levels...for its value in helping us explain the meaning of Turkish idioms and cultural 'idiosyncrasies' -- and for its pure entertainment value as humor (usually somewhat politically-incorrect) that makes us laugh. It's that latter quality that transforms a Maganda cartoon into a translation inspiration... to keep you going... doing your damnedest, trying to extract the correct meaning regardless of the difficulty of the sentence... because you know that when you finally do break through, there'll a chuckle on the other side... that will palliate the translation struggle you've endured, and make your translation success more sweet. In the typical cartoon examples below (seen here for the first time on our website blog), we hope you'll appreciate what we mean -- when you try the translations on your own first, by left-clicking the cartoon images. Is it Madame or Mademoiselle? Click for enlargement! Our figurative translation... The Lout: Excuse me Madame, but your knickers are showing. Female Passenger: Will you demonstrate some manners, please!? And besides... I'm not a 'Madame', I'm a Miss. You got that? The Lout: I beg your pardon... but how could I know it? My vision was blocked. Our literal translation... The Lout: Excuse me Madame your panties are showing. Female Passenger: Be well-mannered, one time. I'm not 'Madame', I'm Mademoiselle. OK? The Lout: I'm sorry. I couldn't know. That much wasn't visible. Is this really proper...? Click for enlargement! Our figurative translation... Female Hospital Visitor: Oh Doctor...Is it proper to make love in hospital with the patient's doctor like this? I'm feeling very bad about it. The Loutish Doctor: Don't let it upset you, my dear. You're not the first nor the only patient to make love with her doctor. Female Hospital Visitor: But Doctor... You're a veterinarian... Our literal translation... Female Hospital Visitor: Oh Doctor...Is it right making love in hospital with the patient's doctor like me (like I am doing)? I'm very upset.The Loutish Doctor: Don't be upset, my dear. You're not the first nor the only patient who has made love with her doctor. Female Hospital Visitor: But doctor, you're a veterinarian. Rusty Nail Click for enlargement! Our figurative translation... The Lout: Wife! Go to the doctor and tell him I want him to write me a prescription for viagra. And tonight we'll recall the good old days, in memorable fashion... The Lout's wife: If that's what you want, then I have to go to the Pharmacy too... The Lout: Oh really, why's that? The Lout's wife: If you're going to use that rusty old thing on me, I at least need to have a tetanus shot... Note: It's quite common for Pharmacists to give innoculations in Turkey. Our literal translation... The Lout: Wife, go to the doctor and tell him I want his writing a viagra prescription to me. Tonight let's talk like sooo about the old days... The Lout's Wife: If so. I too will go to the Pharmacy. The Lout: Oh God, why? The Lout's Wife: If you're going to use that rusty old thing on me, I will also have the Tetanus shot given, at least... Note about our translation services: Site visitors who write us seeking translation services can actually help themselves, by providing us some context to go on. We can usually produce a better translation when we know a little context. To Jim and Peri's Short Translations Bargain Service...

Related Pages: