A poll for non-native English speakers about US films Options

[shrrshrr]

I prefer to watch any film in its original language, with subtitles if I don't know the language. I do not do dubbed films.

But I'm curious about how available non-dubbed films are outside the US.

I remember some time ago someone I was speaking with on the boards said that in her country (sadly I can't remember where she was from) most of the US movies were dubbed and she didn't have a choice for subtitles most of the time, even though she'd prefer it.

So how about all of you?

[brummsumsel]

I ditto that. I really prefer the original language, coz the German translation really really sucks.

[G-Funk]

Dubbing sucks. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/nod.gif)

Original language with subtitles all the way.

[lucyhowe]

If I'm going to watch a foreign film, then I go for the original with subtitles. I do have to be in the right mood to watch those movies though.

[terrestrial]

You had meant with pos. 1 subtitles in your native language, or?

so I had chosen 'other'.
I watch all movies with an English speaking origin in English with English subtitels = best to learn the language... Unfortunatedly not all DVD's offer the subtitles! So if I have to chose between an English movie without subtitles otr with German subtitles = I would watch it without the subtiltes (to distractive). But if I understand something absolut not, I would go back and repeat the scene with the German subtitles.
Japanese movies (Kurosawa collection...) I watch with English or German subtitles
Spanish movies I try to watch the first time in German, so I know what is it about and then to repeat the watching within a week or so in Spanish with Spanish subtitles. The same goes for Italian movies.... but not for French. For not explain reasons I have big problems even to understand a few words in French (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/spineyes.gif)
But I seldom watch Spanish... movies, I tend to get a bit of a headache whilst doing it in this way!
Especially enough to 'break' the poll (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/blush.gif) ? (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif)

[Maxi]

The non-Swedish movies in Sweden are always subtitled. And for that, I am eternally greatful. Which is why I chose I will only watch films in their original language, with subtitles.

But whenever I watch DVDs, I use the English subtitles instead of the Swedish ones, when possible. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/nod.gif)

Seriously, I don't understand the reason for dubbing in the first place (except perhaps if it's something for very small children who can not yet read). Hate dubbing with a vengence.

[CrushOnRaul]

What I don't understand (Okay, here we go (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/tongue.gif))
is why foreign countries dub these movies?
It's terribly expensive, using subtitles is way cheaper and probably the watchers prefer the original language. I love Japanese animation movies, but I watch them with subtitles.

But they darn keep dubbing these movies AND tv shows. I was in Italy and nothing is stranger than seeing one of your fave tv shows, in this it was ER, in Italian language.

[shrrshrr]

I ditto that. I really prefer the original language, coz the German translation really really sucks.

Ooh, good point - and sometimes the subtitles aren't as in depth as the original language, even (if I know both languages). You want to hear the original so you don't miss the nuances.

You had meant with pos. 1 subtitles in your native language, or?

so I had chosen 'other'.
I watch all movies with an English speaking origin in English with English subtitels = best to learn the language...

Yes, that's what I meant. And that's totally cool - I'd never thought of that! I watch Hindi movies with English subtitles and of course I'm picking up lots of Hindi, but I should try watching them with the Hindi subtitles so I can read what they're saying. Great idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

Crush and Maxi - I agree. Dubbing has to be way more expensive, but I wonder if it's because people are lazy and don't want to read? I couldn't say, because I don't understand why someone would want to see a dubbed film (and I didn't mean to insult those who do).

[terrestrial]

Yes, that's what I meant. And that's totally cool - I'd never thought of that! I watch Hindi movies with English subtitles and of course I'm picking up lots of Hindi, but I should try watching them with the Hindi subtitles so I can read what they're saying. Great idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

Crush and Maxi - I agree. Dubbing has to be way more expensive, but I wonder if it's because people are lazy and don't want to read? I couldn't say, because I don't understand why someone would want to see a dubbed film (and I didn't mean to insult those who do).

(IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/shock.gif) you can read Hindi! wow.... I think it is very difficult to learn a language, that hasa also another script! I had tried to learn greek.... can't more then to order something to eat an read their traffic signs/signpost... But if you can read it, it gives a big push to someones language ability to read and hear it in the to learn language... belief me, I am the best proof for it. You know my story .... (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/wink.gif)

About the dubbing:
for example my husband explains it so: he is a painter (paintings = not for coloring houses, I hope it is the right word).
He sees mainly a movie, he feels very distracted from the subtitles. Besides when he paints or plays music himself, he is not able to stay concentrated a long time and get very soon very tired, whilst watching a movie not in German. He is a lot better in English and also in a few other languages, can speak it very well, but not read it fast (but he reads not much in German too).
So when/if he watches a movie in a foreign language, after the first half othe the movie, he .... fell asleep. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/rolleyes.gif) Each time .... The same counts for my brother, when he watches a movie in a language, he is not fluent with (he is fluent = even nearly without an accent in Spanish, French and Italien and not so good but better then me in English, he lived in each country for a while beside UK) He is also a painter and sculptor and musician and also a not often reader..... and the reason I know my husband (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/wink.gif)
I think people, who are reading a lot / are fast readers, will not have problems to follow subtitles.

[Elle84]

8 votes for subtitles. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif) That's how I learnt my English... by reading subtitles in my own language.

[Maxi]

Crush and Maxi - I agree. Dubbing has to be way more expensive, but I wonder if it's because people are lazy and don't want to read? I couldn't say, because I don't understand why someone would want to see a dubbed film (and I didn't mean to insult those who do).

I agree with you. Actually, I thought about this not too long ago - about how non-English speaking movies are considered in the States - and about remakes of good stories first shot in a non-English language. How do people in general look upon movies with subtitles in the States? I have no clue. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

[shrrshrr]

(IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/shock.gif) you can read Hindi! wow.... I think it is very difficult to learn a language, that hasa also another script! I had tried to learn greek.... can't more then to order something to eat an read their traffic signs/signpost... But if you can read it, it gives a big push to someones language ability to read and hear it in the to learn language... belief me, I am the best proof for it. You know my story .... (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/wink.gif)

The Hindi is Romanized, meaning they use our alphabet, but as a matter of interest I could read Hindi because I studied Sanskrit in grad school. The language structure is different but the writing is the same/similar... But they don't do subtitles like that, as far as I've seen (not like Mandarin vs. Cantonese films, which do that a lot).

Elle84 - yeah, that's why my Hindi is getting better. I keep learning more and more. It's an added bonus of subtitles. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

[NikaRasmussenWelling]

I do not like subtitles, they're distracting. I can interpret about 40-50% of spoken English, I prefer to watch them in Englsh. I can't stand dubbed versions because, they're not the actors talking, and the inflections are way off from the original language. Also, I learn English better this way. I have to hear more and more of it so that I can start speaking it better, which I have been rather challenged with all of my life because I lack the linguistic skills. I more of a programmer the analytical side than I am in language. I write in english with the help of professional language translation softaaare, verb conjugators and dictionaries..

[carly-hope]

I prefer subtitles, specially if I do understand the original language of the movie, unfortunately in my country most of the movies are dubed, not in cinema - exception are animated and children movies, which makes me angry cause I couldnt see Shrek 2 nor ice age 2 in Cine there are usually subtitles. thats why I would be forever greatful for DVDs

[ec86]

Here in Germany, there is always a "voice over"/synchronisation. This really sucks, because you can never listen to the original voices. And if you see them in English here there are no subtitles, which is sometimes very complicated. I watched Superman Returns 2 times in English. I read the transcript and I watched it 2 times in German as well (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/wink.gif) but still, the idea of voice overs sucks.

[vrempire]

Luckily in my country Malaysia, all of the films retains the original language such as English, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thai, Latino etc. And they also include the subtitles.
The only show that they will translate the language to Malay language is the Japanese cartoon such as Doraemon, Initial-D etc..
Maybe because the children still cannot read the subtitles yet.

[ec86]

wow, then you're really lucky. I'd say it would be a great idea to do that here as well. But I think the people are too lazy to read and watch at the same time (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/rolleyes.gif)