Translating film titles goes often together with epic fails. Commercial interests and artistic licence are constraints for the translator, and often deliver diverse results. Four categories and a little contest are your today’s dose of happiness

[English] Il faut bien avouer que la traduction de titres de film est un exercice périlleux: entre les impératifs commerciaux et le respect de l’oeuvre originale, les résultats sont, disons … très inégaux. Quatre catégories et un concours, que demande le peuple ?? Traduction anglais-anglais Certains titres sont étrangement traduits de l’anglais vers… l’anglais! C’est [...]

The upcoming Oscar ceremony made us think about the role of languages in the movie world. Poor translators, I thought, they are always blamed for their mistakes or mistranslations by a bunch of picky smart asses like us . But when I had a closer look at some film title translations I must admit that [...]

[English] O Carnaval representa o que realmente é ser brasileiro. Junta elementos de nossa cultura em um festival aguardado por todos, no qual cada um pode – ao menos por alguns dias – ser o que quiser. Carnaval é época de mandar todas as preocupações embora. Aproveitar o feriado, curtir a folia, ouvir música alta, [...]

Carnival is the ultimate expression of what it is to be Brazilian. It is a joyous celebration of all that is Brazilian in a festival that is awaited by everyone, in which people can be – at least for a few days – whoever they want to be.

[English] 无论是在南美还是欧洲，很多国家正沉浸在狂欢节的喜庆气氛中。Lexiophiles已经发表了很多篇文章介绍狂欢节在各国的传统和风俗。“狂欢节”对中国人来说是一个很西方的词汇，因为我们没有自己的“狂欢节”。不过在中国，有一个“元宵节”——它被人认为是中国的“狂欢节”。 “元宵节”少说也有2200多年的历史了。每到这一天，人们赏灯笼、猜灯谜、放焰火，还举行舞龙狮、踩高跷、跑旱船等民俗活动。当然最重要的，是要在这一天的晚上吃一碗“元宵”。 “元宵”由糯米制成，看起来就是一个白色的面团，不过其实里面有豆沙、白糖、山楂、各类果料等做的馅，也叫做“汤圆”。因为它的名字听起来和“团圆”相近，因此人们用它象征全家人团团圆圆，和睦幸福，也用它怀念离别的亲人。 Resource: http://ayay0016.blog.163.com/blog/static/44169620091971157396/ “元宵节”另一件传统的庆祝方式就是“赏灯”。在汉明帝永平年间（公元５８–７５），汉明帝为了弘扬佛法，下令正月十五夜在宫中和寺院“燃灯表佛”。“赏灯”的习俗由此从宫廷流传到民间。继而到唐宋年间发扬光大，一直延续至今。在中国的有些地方，元宵节“赏灯”还别有意义：因为“灯”和“丁”语音相近，而“丁”值男孩儿。所以在元宵节妇女都会刻意在灯下游走，希望能“钻灯脚生卵葩”（就是钻到灯下游走，好生男孩）。

There are many countries involving in carnival now, wherever in Latin America or Europe, which has been introduced by Lexiophiles recently. “Carnival” is a very western word for Chinese people, since we do not have “Carnival” in our country. However, there is a “Lantern Festival”, which is considered by some people as the Chinese “Carnival”.

Carnivals are everywhere and Colombia is not an exception. Our carnivals where introduced by the Spaniards a long time ago and have elements from the European Culture as well as African and Amerindian. The most famous ones are Barranquilla’s Carnival, Blacks and Whites Carnival and The Carnival of the Devil. Do you want to know more about them?

In a post about Valentine´s Day, what better way to start than with a Shakespeare quote? After all, one of our masters of literature knew what he was writing about: his pieces show his deep understanding of love and its intricacies.

Have you ever heard anything about Polish carnival? I bet not because it is indeed not very famous and cannot in any way be compared with those in Brazil, Venice, or Germany. We still do have and celebrate carnival in Poland, though.