evillights wrote:Whenever MoC does release a Chinese-language film, the title will appear in original characters within the inside-cover, along with a romanization in parentheses, and probably a note about why it's been rendered that way, followed by a precise translation, and an accompanying footnote with whatever else needs to be discussed... just as we did for 'Kwaidan' (in which instance, the exact way the word is pronounced was also provided, with some background about why it is what it is).
If you want to be picky, the modern Japanese word for kwaidan is actually kaidan, which is comprised of two distinct kanji, and is not an exact, literal translation, but close enough, while the word itself has several different meanings depending on the first character. Nevertheless, in this particular instance, Kwaidan, or Kaidan (as it is listed on our beloved IMDb), simply represents the Japanese word for ghost stories. Therefore, depending on which side of the Meiji era you are standing, the ''we" in your reply may have blooped on this particular title as well, or perhaps we should place the blame on Lafcadio Hearn. In any event, I don't understand English, much less Japanese, so you needn't reply to this post unless you absolutely must.
The spelling Kwaidan is based on premodern Japanese pronunciation; when Hearn came to Japan, the orthography reflecting this pronunciation was still in use. In modern Japanese the word is pronounced Kaidan.
evillights wrote:You ask where a practical solution begins -- well, like I said, it begins simply with an informed, good-faith effort to respect the original name. Instituting the Cyrillic rendering of "Piotr" in the middle of an essay seems like a pretty monkish, hermetic, or even alienating way to go about things -- but writing "Piotr" instead of "Peter," or "Jeanne" instead of "Joan" does not. The French don't refer to you in print as "Michel," nor should they, because it's a name that's different than "Michael."
I would imagine that most people in the English speaking world would recognize Kozintsev's Hamlet as being an adaptation of the play by William Shakespeare, while Gamlet, or its Cyrillic counterpart, Гамлет, would create total panic in Peoria.
By the way, the French actor Michel Lonsdale also goes by the name Michael, if that's any help.
And for what it's worth, I prefer the title I Soliti ignoti to that of Big Deal on Madonna Street, so there.
Okay, basta così!
davidhare wrote:does the movie really lead you to favor "fool" or "jester"? Giullare to me is ambivalent, just as is Francesco's persona.
Dr Amicus wrote:Now, just waiting to see if this sets up a discussion as to the differences between a Troubadour and a Jester.
giullare: n.m. Jester, buffoon, juggler, minstral; strolling player.
Take your pick.
