So, I read the first issue and I have to ask, why is the Spanish not translated? I don’t have anything against the language and I am not one of those who thinks everything should be English, I’m just disappointed there are chunks of the story I can’t understand without translating it somewhere else. I thought with a Spanish version that the English version would be all English. I mean, the dialogue could be in between the < > and have the*translated from Spanish. It just really seems odd to me that it wasn’t done that way. Anyone else feel the same?
1 Like
The fact is that now you can translate it somewhere else. Google translate is only a browser window away. You may even pick up a few words in Spanish that way!
Not arguing that, but when I read on break at work, I don’t have time to go translate. While I’m in bed reading to unwind and go to sleep, I don’t want to go for the translation because it will wake me up.
1 Like
Read it when you have the time 
I think it was meant to illustrate the reality of bilingual households. The Reyes family is bilingual and operate in bilingual communities. Their use of Spanish alongside English communicates their unique place in the cultural landscape as Mexican-Americans. <The poetry of which would be lost by doing this like it’s the Bronze Age.>*
*Translated from Spanish.
This may make it a little less convenient to read on the fly, but we’re not talking about Joyce’s Ulysses here where entire paragraphs were done in French. Most of the parts in Spanish were not super crucial to the plot, and feels like a small price to pay to keep the flavor of the Reyes’ cultural depth intact.
3 Likes
You are coming across like you think I have a problem with multiple languages. I don’t. But, there’s a Spanish version of the comics and I took it to mean the English language version would be English. The first issue has a lot of Spanish in it and it makes me less likely to read more of the character I truly want to read more of. As you said, it’s not a Shakespearean masterpiece, so translating it and saying it’s translated won’t be taking anything away. Finally, if you want to get more of the haters to appreciate different cultures, make it something they can also enjoy without effort. Snowball effects are real. They read the character, then they watch the character, then they are more open to subtitles for part of the dialogue, then they are open to watching foreign films. Granted, many people still complain about subtitles and then talk about how they feel Passion of the Christ is the best ever, so it’s not a perfect solution, but every little step does add up…
1 Like
Thank you for letting me know how I come across! Allow me to do the same for you. You’re a native English speaker. So am I. A majority of the rest of the world is not, but a majority of them have to learn English anyway because it’s the most economically dominant language on the planet. I taught English in Korea for five years. South Korean students have to learn English and pass certain English tests to earn qualifications to further their careers. This is a rather challenging life hurdle to their personal goals considering there are very few native English speakers on the peninsula to practice with.
Because of my time in Korea, I actually learned a lot about how the world bends over backwards for me as a native English speaker. I had a lot of friends there from many different countries across Europe, Asia, and some from Africa. They could all communicate with me because they had to learn English. I could go see superhero movies in Korea because they were all in English, the native Koreans had to deal with subtitles. On international flights, all the pre-flight instructions were done in English. The world has to be bilingual to to cater to native English speakers. I’m not bilingual like many native English speakers. This is not because I’m stupid (that might be part of it, but it’s not the reason), it’s because I don’t have to be because the world changes for me.
I want you to know, that I purposely did not write any of the above in my previous posts because I did not want to come across to make you feel like you had a problem with multiple languages. But, you felt that way anyway, right? Simply because I didn’t just automatically agree with you?
Well, you let me know how I came across to you, so here’s how you come across to me: You are a native English speaker who was slightly inconvenienced by having to deal with a few pages of Spanish, and felt the need to bring it up because, in most cases, the world does not inconvenience you like this. Again, context, you did not have to learn a new language to get a better job or live a decent life. You can go to theaters in your own country and, 99% of the time, watch movies in your own language. These pages didn’t even require you to learn a new language at all. You just had to open a new browser tab.
Yet, you still felt the need to complain. How do you really think that comes across to me in context to all of the above?
So, this is why:
I hear you on all this. And, I’m not saying you don’t have a point. However, I hope you understand why its very difficult for me to respect. The world bends over backwards for native English speakers and native English speakers basically say we’re more likely to deal with other cultures so far as they continue to bend over backwards for us.
I am not writing any of this to shame you. I don’t think you are or are trying to be narrow-minded. However, I am trying to give you a greater context for your complaints over what is, in reality, a minor inconvenience to you which was done to add cultural depth to a comic book. Cultural depth that, in my opinion, should not be held hostage over how easy it is to read on a fifteen minute break.
Yeah, we’re done. Not going to waste my time reading as you go on a way too long tangent to lecture me. You seem to be all triggered because I simply pointed out that when there is an English version and a Spanish version, I take that to mean the whole thing is English and the other is all Spanish. Good day…
That is far from the sole reason. They do this, as so many people know English (or broken English) as a second language. This allows people who do not speak the same language to communicate through a shared second language. English is the most universal language making it the most logical. Part of it is the success of British Radio and American movies. More and more young non-native speakers through them know some English.
It is the same as why in the Wild West the Cowboys and Native Americans often communicated deals in Spanish. It was not the native language for either, but they could communicate details like how many cows were worth passage.
1 Like
Oh, I’m not triggered at all. Like I said, I’m a native English speaker. What you said doesn’t personally affect me in the least. I’m just trying to point out that you having to translate a few pages of Spanish is a small concession to make in a world full of concessions for non-native English speakers. I’m also not the one shutting down the conversation and refusing to read what the other is saying. You are 100% allowed to express your opinions in a public space, but you should be prepared for the possibility that someone may disagree.
Didn’t mean to imply it was.
And this is true. However, the end result is the same. The fact that English became the universal language favors native-English speakers and puts non-native English speakers at a disadvantage. What I’m trying to point out is that because we have such a massive, ingrained advantage, is it really worth complaining about a few moments where that advantage is gone?
Here’s the thing, if I were using the app in another country, I would want the comics translated into my native language. But, you definitely seem to be trying to argue, so let’s just stop…
At least you get what I’m talking about in concept…
Yeah, I know, I’m such a bully…