America’s films, Quebec’s voices: Double-dubbing and the reasons behind it
Many people believe a good translation is one that doesn't seem like a translation. Yet many Quebeckers find American films dubbed in France are just the opposite - they contain annoying dialogue riddled with Parisian slang, at times impossible to understand. The solution? Do a version dubbed in Quebec.
Luise von Flotow is fascinated by "double-dubbing" and studies the motivations for it as well as the results of double-dubbing. An internationally recognized researcher and award-winning translator, professor von Flotow is also chair of the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Ottawa (currently on sabbatical).
"It seems to us that a population that rejects French made in France, and prefers to have local dubbing, would also prefer to hear a local version of its French," says the researcher. Not only are Quebec accents and regionalisms - including swearing - generally not allowed in films dubbed in Quebec, but also "the fear of making a 'mistake,' of offering up poor quality French, leads to less creative translations," says professor von Flotow. What is the result? Sometimes the final product just doesn't sound realistic. Ironically, the translation we tried to make invisible by using 'international French' becomes, on the contrary, very visible.
Luise von Flotow attributes these conservative translation choices in part to the linguistic insecurity of Quebeckers, who were convinced long ago that their French was "inferior" to the French spoken in France. Nonetheless, this researcher believes the very colourful French spoken by Quebeckers would allow them to appropriate the cultural products of the United States that inundate their screens every day.
Professor von Flotow's research teaches us more about the emotional connection Quebeckers have with their language and about the historic, cultural and ideological aspects underlying dubbing practices in France and in Quebec.
By Sophie Coupal
Published: April 2010