Lost in translation

The English translation of this picture's caption is funny...

北 여자교통경찰관


자전거 교통안전의 중요성을 강조한 드라마에 출연한 북한의 여자교통경찰
"Female traffic police of North Korea which performs to the drama which emphasizes the importance of bicycle traffic safety"

They are performing to the drama

LOL

But...in a way, they are performers, right? Perhaps sometimes more comedic than dramatic, but public performers nonetheless.....

HA!! I took the translated phrase, translated it back to Korean, then took the Korean translation and translated it back again to English. NOW look what it has become:

"Feminine traffic police of North Korea which executes in the play which emphasizes the importance of bicycle traffic safety"

And when it goes through another translation cycle ......

"Feminine traffic police of North Korea which accomplishes from playing which emphasizes the importance of bicycle traffic safety"

and another..........

"Emphasizes the importance of bicycle traffic safety and from playing, feminine traffic police of North Korea which attains"

Translations don't always capture the essence of the original, obviously. I wonder what 'performs to the drama' was supposed to mean in the original Korean?

JIMBIALEK wrote:

Translations don't always capture the essence of the original, obviously. I wonder what 'performs to the drama' was supposed to mean in the original Korean?

Directs traffic in dangerous situations?

Nah... I like preforming to the drama better.

I found another funny translation, of a caption on this picture -


남측 대표단이 평양시내를 이동할때 항상 에스코트 하던 교통경찰관들입니다. 평양시내도 요즘 음주운전 단속이 심하다고 하더군요.

Babelfish translates this to:
"The traffic police tube where the South Korean side delegation when moving, always the S court does P'yongyang downtown admits. Says that the Pyongyang arrival recent driving under the influence control is serious"

Googles' translation is - South Korean delegation to Pyongyang was an escort officer in traffic are always yidonghalttae. Pyongyang also said today that, as bad as drunk driving crackdown.

yidonghalttae ....

Another miss .....

http://korean.people.com.cn/73554/6970473.html

Well, at least I understand the picture.

Dear Leader wrote:

Another miss .....

MY translation is...
Female traffic police are the beauty of Pyongyang.
The female traffic police are very popular. As they stand in their intersection, foreign visitors take pictures of them bravely and commandingly directing busy traffic with their baton.
World wide they are associated with the beauty of Pyongyang.
They are intelligent and elegant, taller than 5'4", with a youthful slim physique, all unmarried and between 16 - 26 years old.
They are a select few who are chosen from many who apply.

speaking of Dramas wouldn't it be cool if NK did a Drama, similar
to south Korean one. main focus on Trafic Girls,that would be Wild.
even if it had some NK propaganda in it (some) they would make money from it &
could be the start of something. I know they have a close eye on the south & the
rest of Asia im surprised they didn't copy the idea already.

Raymasaki wrote:

speaking of Dramas wouldn't it be cool if NK did a Drama, similar
to south Korean one. main focus on Trafic Girls,that would be Wild.
even if it had some NK propaganda in it (some) they would make money from it &
could be the start of something. I know they have a close eye on the south & the
rest of Asia im surprised they didn't copy the idea already.

They did make a Trafficgirl movie - it's available on the DPRK website. The date on the cover says 2008, but it looks like it was filmed sometime in the '80s
http://www.korea-dpr.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=161
clip http://www.dprk.bplaced.net/Movies/DPRK_Traffic_Excerpt.mov

id like to see that too. But i wish they made a colorfull
new one2004 on ward, mybe sometime they will

Dear Leader wrote:

Raymasaki wrote:

speaking of Dramas wouldn't it be cool if NK did a Drama, similar
to south Korean one. main focus on Trafic Girls,that would be Wild.
even if it had some NK propaganda in it (some) they would make money from it &
could be the start of something. I know they have a close eye on the south & the
rest of Asia im surprised they didn't copy the idea already.

They did make a Trafficgirl movie - it's available on the DPRK website. The date on the cover says 2008, but it looks like it was filmed sometime in the '80s
http://www.korea-dpr.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=161
clip http://www.dprk.bplaced.net/Movies/DPRK_Traffic_Excerpt.mov

Such a very amazing link!