subtitles

As discussed several times in the lectures, English subtitles are one of the controversial issues relating Maori TV and other Maori Medias. The discussion ranges from the necessity of subtitle itself to the accuracy of subtitles or the possibility of translation of Maori language into English.

Though Maori TV and other media should never give up improving the subtitle on the accuracy, we should be aware that universally we can never translate different language in fully accurate way. However, the fact does not lead the conclusion that we cannot communicate with each other or understand each other.
For example, it is simply impossible to express exactly same thing in Japanese and in English. You might see Japanese Animation with English subtitle, but it is never exactly same with Japanese version. Japanese expressions have unique nuances which are embedded in Japanese custom and culture, and English expressions are simply different from that in Japanese language. There are sometimes apparent mistranslations in movies or televisions and so on. Even if you think you can understand the other language through the subtitles, it is never fully attained. However, I do not think we should give up communicating with others, trying to know others. For example, even if the English subtitles of Japanese movie are just funny or even completely wrong sometimes, I do not think they—non Japanese speakers-- should not watch the movie, or they should not make English subtitles for Japanese speakers. That is because otherwise they cannot know anything about the movie and also about Japanese. Without subtitles, it is impossible to communicate with each other on media. Abandonment subtitles are giving up communication or the possibility to understand each other. It is naturally same with Maori and English (or Japanese or whatever). As discussed in the lectures, there are naturally difficulties to translate Maori to English (or English to Maori—though interestingly this direction of translation is not often discussed). It is easy to say “they do not understand Japanese/ Maori way”. However, we should not give up seeking the way to understand each other. I believe, it is possible to understand English speakers to know understand Japanese culture, as “Pakeha” or other ethnicities are able to know about Maori. It is not efficient to just complain how the subtitles on Maori TV are inaccurate. It is highly important to make accurate subtitles because it is only information for non- speaker of the language to understand the content. In addition, we should be more aware it is never possible to translate a language into another in fully accurate way (even about English to Maori though it is hardly discussed), and positively seek the way to improve the subtitles and communicate more, rather than giving up communicating.

I was always wondering why the translation from English to Maori is hardly discussed about. That must be a result of fact that almost all Maori speakers are able to speak English, too. (That could be also the reason of harsh complain on the inaccuracy of English subtitles of Maori language.) It seems unbalanced for me. It is also unbalance that there is no Maori language subtitles of English though Te Reo Maori is often attached English subtitles on Maori TV. It is obvious that Maori TV does not assume the demand of the Maori subtitles or the existence of Maori speakers who do not speak English. For me, the fact seems to symbolize the situation of Te Reo Maori and how people think about the situation itself. However, the number of native Te Reo Māori speakers is supposed to be increasing as the result of Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa movement. It is possible that the Maori subtitles of English will be demanded in the future. If many Te Reo Maori native speakers who are not fluent in English come out, the issue of subtitle would be more and more serious.

In short, what I would like to say here is that it is necessary to think about the problem on subtitles seriously but positively as the tool of communication rather than just complaining the inaccuracy of the current subtitles. Otherwise we are just becoming apart from each other and confirmed into our own cultures or language groups.