Lost in Translation

            Tin-Tin holds a special place in my heart. Going to a magnet school for language, I read comic strips like Tin-Tin and Asterix & Obelix in French for class very often. The first noteworthy aspect of this comic strip was in fact the change in tone I perceived due to translation. The stereotypical sharp and witty French comedy that I was longing for was replaced by an infantile parody of itself that left me wanting more. In fact, I would venture to argue that cultural and linguistic differences in the French language could fundamentally change the manner in which Tin-Tin is read. To test my theory, I re-read Tin-Tin in French and compared various interactions. Take for example the first exchange between the (crudely personified) Native Americans and the antagonist Bobby Smiles. Prior to even opening the conversation, he explicitly says in a thought bubble that he has to talk his way out of this situation. And once he started to convince them that his pursuer Tin-Tin was in fact a young warrior trying to steal their land, it seemed as though the Native Americans were oddly wooed by the mere utterance of words from a white face, and take his dubious story as gospel. I thought that this seemed strange and started to investigate.

            To begin, in the French version, Smiles does not plainly state his plan (to lie to the Indians). Rather, he coolly says "Comment me tirer d'affaires?", which is an expression that would be more accurately translated to "How am I gonna' get out of this." The difference seems trivial but is important when you think about the characterization of the villain. The difference is even more pronounced in the frame where Smiles implements his ruse. In English, Smiles explains Tin-Tin's hostile intensions with 4 fairly choppy sentences, ending with a declaratory "I have spoken"! In French however, Tin-Tin is ousted in two rather strained sentences that completely changes the credibility he establishes in such a short time. Not only does the syntax and sentence structure seem frantic and wordy (mimicking genuine fright), but he also uses phrases like "Oh, Puissant Sachem" or "Mighty Sachem" and "la noble tribu des Pieds-Noir, "Noble tribe of black feet" when addressing his audience. He is actually trying to personify trustworthiness by using flowery language in an attempt to gain their good graces. He was manipulative and calculating in the execution of his plan. He ends by saying “je le dit” (which was directly translated), but is another French phrase that seems more analogous to “I promise” and much less pretentious than “I have spoken”.  

This is a long winded way of showing that in one page, Bobby Smiles goes from nonsensical villain, to a duplicitous, formidable foe. It raises the stakes and therein adds a dimension of awe to Tin-Tin’s eventual success. There are countless examples of lack luster dialogues that are rich with undertones and connotations when read in the original voice.
Differences in verbal lexicon between languages might qualify as peripheral information, but it is truly informative in the context of the overall atmosphere of Tin-Tin. Stylistically, the stories themselves are plot-driven adventure tales, with few signs of character development, themes, or larger purpose. But in these little moments is where Tin-Tin shines! Perhaps flatter characters and bubbly language made the text more accessible – however, the case is being made that something might have been lost as well.