Singing in foreign language

[MizMoonshine]

Watching Moana (for the 129373948300385th time) with subtitles. Whenever there's a song in English, the subtitles display the lyrics, whenever it's not English it just says "singing in foreign language".

AIBU to think that Disney obviously has access to the lyrics and it's somewhat disrespectful to just slap up "foreign language".

I was also watching a show about castles not long ago and the subtitles popped up with "foreign language" when someone was speaking Welsh. I, a Welsh person, was a bit pissed. Would have been happy if it said "speaking Welsh" or have the translation if they couldn't justify putting up the actual wording.

Disney has tried to represent a culture fairly but the work just feels undermined by this one thing.

YABU - Get over it, Disney can't be expected to have accurate subtitles for every language.

YANBU - They have access to the script, they should be respectful of the language they're using.

Actually that’s nonsense. The songs in Moana were written for the movie so they could have just included the Samoan and Tokelauan lyrics. Is it because the English subtitles are CC ? What happens if you change the language ?

The Samoan lyrics you hear throughout Moana are actually really important to the storyline of Moana. For example in the scene where Moana's giving Te Ka/Te Fiti her heart back the Samoan lyrics speak of how Brave and Pure-Hearted Moana is. But they're obv not that important or else it would come up with automatic subtitles or be in English / the language the main movie is shown in
I'm not suggesting they're nonsense words but that they obv don't feel it's necessary for most people to understand, esp kids

@SleepingStandingUp

The Samoan lyrics you hear throughout Moana are actually really important to the storyline of Moana. For example in the scene where Moana's giving Te Ka/Te Fiti her heart back the Samoan lyrics speak of how Brave and Pure-Hearted Moana is. But they're obv not that important or else it would come up with automatic subtitles or be in English / the language the main movie is shown in I'm not suggesting they're nonsense words but that they obv don't feel it's necessary for most people to understand, esp kids

And ignorance like this is why Polynesian culture is rarely represented

Bye now. Have a blessed one

And ignorance like this is why Polynesian culture is rarely represented it's got nothing to do with ignorance or Polynesian culture. O wouldn't say of its in French it should have lyrics or of its a foreign movie with an English song it should, I'm saying the movie creaters are conveying something beyond the words. Of course they can be looked up of people want but in the moment of the movie it's about the song, the rhythm, the feel of the sounds for the audience. Yes of course they have to use the correct words, that add an EXTRA layer of meaning, but you don't need to be able to read the words to understand the significance of what is happening. Esp in a kids movie who are less adept at watching and reading simultaneously.
I apologise if it came across as "who cares what is said if it's in "forrin", that's not what I meant

I'm not suggesting they give the English translation.
I'm suggesting they include the words used in the movie. Or, at the very least, lable the language being spoken as what it is.

Character: "Rwin dy garu di"
Acceptable subtitles:
Speaking in Welsh
Or
"Rwin dy garu di"

Rwy'n 😂 I'd make an excellent point if I could spell.

Award for best typo of the thread so far goes to SleepingStandingUp
for
Obv of you're dead or hard of hearing

I agree though that subtitles should be factual and the language stated or written - in a different colour maybe, for everything that's going on in a film or a programme.

We watched The Bridge and my DD could read the English subtitles and know who was speaking Danish and who was speaking Swedish all the way through whereas I had to concentrate at a much higher level than my normal one to discern that.

DD always uses subtitles on TV for general day to day English as well as anything in different languages. She has done since she discovered them when she was about 6. Says it helps her to understand what's going on much better.
There seems to be some evidence for that being helpful for children's general comprehension as well as learning to read, e.g. www.readingrockets.org/article/captioning-support-literacy-0

@DynamoKev

I, a Welsh person, was a bit pissed Why were you drunk?

. It an American who is a welsh speaker

@MizMoonshine

I'm not suggesting they give the English translation. I'm suggesting they include the words used in the movie. Or, at the very least, lable the language being spoken as what it is.

Character: "Rwin dy garu di"
Acceptable subtitles:
Speaking in Welsh
Or
"Rwin dy garu di"

I agree it's ridiculous to not name the language at least

@BlankTimes oops, good catch. DH is partially deaf not partially dead.

Impressed your DD can differentiate the languages whilst also following along in English, I love the show but kind of suspend acknowledgement that there's different languages, much like in Vikings

I have Toy Story in French. He still speaks Spanish in this part.
I also wondered what happens in the Spanish edition.

I too was curious about this. According to Reddit, 'Spanish Buzz' is 'Romantic Buzz' in the Spanish version. He still speaks Spanish but in a flowery, romantic way.

If any Spanish Mumsnetters can confirm whether this is true, it would be interesting.

I am now wondering if the subtitles for rugby games include the national anthems and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is properly subtitled.

Slow day at the office op?