Interesting article on translations

[fignewton]

Here's another interesting article on translation and how not to do it. Why yes, Stargate, you've been guilty of this, haven't you? :) With our dear Daniel as primary culprit!

Realistic Translation for Fiction Writers

OTOH, Stargate sometimes gets it very right, too. I loved Sha'uri teaching Daniel how to pronounce things properly in the movie. Come to think of it, that cheat gets used a lot: finding a native speaker. Teal'c often helps Daniel (I'm thinking primarily of Brief Candle, but there are many other times), they trick the Aschen into translating "sterility," Jack reads nu nani anquietus for Daniel in The Fifth Race, and Descended!Daniel can read Ancient much more fluently. I'm sure there are more that I'm missing.

What other canon moments qualiify, to you, as realistic translations of an unknown language?

Comments

[fignewton]

...And now I have an image of Daniel solemnly juggling bits of pottery while he contemplates a broken tablet.