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How a Meme Exposes the Flaws of Translation
Behold, the years begin coming and they do not cease from coming
Translation is a fickle beast.
There’s nothing that shows this flaw to the same degree as that one meme where someone translates the lyrics from Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star’ into a language then back into English — usually something a bit outlandish like Aramaic or Old English.
The end result is always something that is vaguely similar, but not quite right.
You’d expect if you’re bringing just putting something back into the original language, you’d get the original text, right? Oh boy.
Multiple meanings and new words
One of the most complicated words in English, especially to the Portuguese speakers in my family is the word ‘to miss.’ Why does it have so many meanings? You can miss a throw and hit something else or similarly you can miss the bus and be late to work. Or, from the perspective of my dad and aunts who feel so strongly — you can miss someone…
