this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2024
559 points (100.0% liked)
196
16579 readers
1676 users here now
Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.
Rule: You must post before you leave.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
While technically correct, when it comes to translating slang things become more art than science.
The goal is to evoke the same feeling and imagery.
Like how I changed "Honestly" to "Literally". Both are English but over here we don't use "Honestly" like that so the word "Literally" was a better choice.
For us old fogeys, literally still means without metaphor, so someone who literally shit the bed actually soiled their bedsheets leaving a mess for maid service, as opposed to figuratively making a mess in an other situation.
Honest, honest Iago just looked like a reliable friend who tells the truth and intends no harm. Politicians are honest. My weather station, when properly calibrated, is truthful in that it reports accurate facts.
But literally literally means figuratively these days
And honestly honestly can mean figuratively as well
Words are weird yo
Definitions shifting and twisting over time is honestly so damn cool though, and common spellings falling out of favor for different ones is also pretty cool
The speed with which words change these days is dizzying, it’s honestly making my head literally spin
Context sure is important - like when a late-night host throws in
before delivering a line that may be so preposterous the entire theater erupts in laughter. Or it might be followed by them reading a nearly unbelievable headline from a reputable source as it’s superimposed on screen.