Mick Hartley

Dubbing

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Mick Hartley

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Why (oh why) do they do that? I mean, in documentaries such as this, when a local African talks, they dub over them with someone struggling to speak English in a halting African accent. What’s the point? We know it’s dubbed, because they allow the speaker to start off before the dubbing starts, so why not give them the dignity of sounding at least half-way intelligent – eloquent even – by dubbing with proper English. Even better, use subtitles. As it is the impression’s given that they can’t even speak properly in their own language: basically, that they’re stupid.

I don’t think you can accuse the BBC of racism here: I’m sure I’ve heard Frenchmen being dubbed into English wiz ze most reedeeculous French accent. It’s just patronising and annoying.

Comments

  1. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    I haven’t seen this particular example, but I absolutely agree with your general point. It is like some novelists who write rural folks’ speech in a phonetic manner and so give the idear that they can’t tork right.

    Reply
  2. P. Froward Avatar
    P. Froward

    I’ve read that Chuck Berry grew up in a middle-class household; his mom was a teacher, and I don’t recall what his dad did, but he grew up speaking standard middle-class American English. The story goes that back in the 1950s, he’d be interviewed for print media, and editors would translate everything he said into “negro di’lec’” of some kind. For, like, authenticity, or something. Except back then they used more honest words than “authenticity”.

    Reply
  3. P. Froward Avatar
    P. Froward

    …not that honesty about that kind of thing really gets you off the hook.

    Reply
  4. John Barr Avatar
    John Barr

    Here’s a video that demonstrates the dilemmea the BBC faces. Subtitles or not? That’s the question. http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/09/news_from_iraq.html

    Reply
  5. J.Cassian Avatar
    J.Cassian

    I always thought the Thatcher governmemt missed a trick when they introduced that ludicrous rule forcing TV news to have Sinn Fein statements dubbed by actors in the late 80s. They should have hired the guys who dubbed cheap Kung Fu movies or “Monkey” to do Gerry and Martin’s voices. “Hah! Gerry Adams-san consider stance of British white-skinned ghost running dog regime most dishonourable to Provisionable IRA and its ancestors.” Their credibility would have been in ruins within weeks.

    Reply

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