Are the languages spoken (other than English) accurate in the films?

Dirty Punker

I was watching You Only Live Twice yesterday and I wondered whether or not the Japanese agent speaking to her clutch-recorder-thing was saying something correctly in Japanese. Then I got to thinking, do any of the foreign-language-speaking characters in the movies are saying anything correctly in their respective languages or are they speaking a broken version of it like the infamous Die Hard actors? I should also mention that I'm new to this forum and I'm not sure whether or not this has been discussed before, so please give me a heads up before this thread is locked/deleted.

UnderwaterBattle007

Dirty Punker wrote:

I was watching You Only Live Twice yesterday and I wondered whether or not the Japanese agent speaking to her clutch-recorder-thing was saying something correctly in Japanese. Then I got to thinking, do any of the foreign-language-speaking characters in the movies saying anything correctly in their respective languages or are they speaking a broken version of it like the infamous Die Hard actors? I should mention that I'm new to this forum and I'm not sure whether or not this has been discussed before, so please (like the song said) be gentle and be patient.

Welcome to the forum

There is a section where you can introduce yourself etc.

But regarding what you say it is an interesting point, but I struggle with my mother tongue which is English so can't answer, hopefully some other members might be able to give an insight.

Thunderpussy

http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44901/a-question-for-european-bond-fans/
This may be of interest, as it's on a similar theme.

Dirty Punker

Thanks Thunderpusshy, it's close but not exactly what I'm after. Thanks for the link though!

Thunderpussy

No problem, just thought it may have been of interest.

Ornithologist

There has been a fair amount of German over the years, which makes sense considering we are competing with the Russians for the title of most notorious movie villains.

The accuracy differs, I think. Most is grammatically correct but delivered in a way which makes it very clear the speakers aren't German. Which makes sense for Brosnan's "mein Büro hat ein Auto für mich reserviert" and the great "Lass dich nicht verarschen!" in TND, but less so for the henchmen in DAD at the ice palace. There are other "Germans" who don't sound like such in Octopussy and then of course quite a few henchmen where I wonder why they should speak German at all (but it must be due to the above!)

Herr Michael

"Lass dich nicht verarschen!"

Is that the line they translate as "Don't let her push you around" when he drops the 740i with the valet at Carver's reception?

Barbel

Yes, it's been slightly cleaned up in the translation. In the German dub, the line is different but I can't remember now what it was.

Ornithologist

Barbel wrote:

Yes, it's been slightly cleaned up in the translation. In the German dub, the line is different but I can't remember now what it was.

What a shame. I'll have to look that up because I like that line precisely because it is idiomatic (something a native speaker might actually say).

Thunderpussy

I have read it was a common expression ?

Herr Michael

Barbel wrote:

Yes, it's been slightly cleaned up in the translation. In the German dub, the line is different but I can't remember now what it was.

I found this on the IMDB site: "Don't let her take you for a ride"

Barbel

Ah, thanks!

Mr_Osato

In Amsterdam in DAF, Connery speaks German instead of Dutch.

Dutchfinger

Mr_Osato wrote:

In Amsterdam in DAF, Connery speaks German instead of Dutch.

Beat me to it! Was just about to post that! That line always really disturbed me!

I can picture Guy Hamilton on the set: "Right, we gotta make Connery speak in the native language here... How do these folks, say 'good evening' and 'after you' around here? Hmm... Let's just make him say: "Guten abend" and "bitte", nobody knows what the Dutch people say anyway..."

It's like saying "Gracias" instead of "Obrigado" while you're in Portugal... (I learned that one this past summer :P )

ggl007

A little off topic but I'm still wondering why a waiter in a Montenegro train asked a passenger... in Spanish!!

Check at 00:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5C7LMOWyYc

"¿Quiere un pliego, señor?"

Jag

Dutchfinger wrote:

Mr_Osato wrote:

In Amsterdam in DAF, Connery speaks German instead of Dutch.

Beat me to it! Was just about to post that! That line always really disturbed me!

I can picture Guy Hamilton on the set: "Right, we gotta make Connery speak in the native language here... How do these folks, say 'good evening' and 'after you' around here? Hmm... Let's just make him say: "Guten abend" and "bitte", nobody knows what the Dutch people say anyway..."

It's like saying "Gracias" instead of "Obrigado" while you're in Portugal... (I learned that one this past summer :P )

Isn't Dutch and Deutsch the same anyway? ) ) )

Dirty Punker

I totally forgot that Bond spoke German in Tomorrow Never Dies, very interesting. About Montenegro, if anyone watched my review of Casino Royale you'd know that (obviously) it wasn't filmed at Montenegro at all. It's actually a mix of the Czech Republic and the UK which is odd, considering the novel took place in the fictional Royale somewhere in France. I gave it the name of Bondenegro.

Dutchfinger

Jag wrote:

Isn't Dutch and Deutsch the same anyway?   :)) ) )  

They'd wish ) )

Ornithologist

Dutchfinger wrote:

Jag wrote:

Isn't Dutch and Deutsch the same anyway?   :)) ) )  

They'd wish ) )

It's true, but only we spell and pronounce it correctly )

Higgins

I can't be drunk enough to spell like dutch people do

Higgins

always good for a laugh

ggl007

Dirty Punker wrote:

I totally forgot that Bond spoke German in Tomorrow Never Dies, very interesting. About Montenegro, if anyone watched my review of Casino Royale you'd know that (obviously) it wasn't filmed at Montenegro at all. It's actually a mix of the Czech Republic and the UK which is odd, considering the novel took place in the fictional Royale somewhere in France. I gave it the name of Bondenegro.

Of course, but that doesn't explain the Spanish valet, does it?

Thunderpussy

No one ever expects the Spanish valet !

Dirty Punker

Considering they took the train from Cairo to Sardinia, they could've taken the train from The Bahamas to Bondenegro ) )

Number Six

In FYEO, when Bond and Melina are at the market in Corfu, they're given some fruit and Bond thanks the man saying "parakalo". Which means "you're welcome".

ggl007

Dirty Punker wrote:

Considering they took the train from Cairo to Sardinia, they could've taken the train from The Bahamas to Bondenegro ) )

Of course! And through Spain!! )

Alec 006

I am married to a German, and yes it is a common expression. As with many colloquialisms a literal translation is a bit clumsy. But the gist is exactly that, "Don't let them push you around".
More literally, "Don't let them make an arse of you".

-{ -{ -{

Herr Michael wrote:

Barbel wrote:

Yes, it's been slightly cleaned up in the translation. In the German dub, the line is different but I can't remember now what it was.

I found this on the IMDB site: "Don't let her take you for a ride"

Gassy Man

I still don't know if the blue-pajamed troops in GF are supposed to be North Korean or Chinese, as the gibberish they speak sounds like neither.

Higgins

Alec 006 wrote:

I am married to a German, and yes it is a common expression. As with many colloquialisms a literal translation is a bit clumsy. But the gist is exactly that, "Don't let them push you around".
More literally, "Don't let them make an arse of you".

-{ -{ -{

Herr Michael wrote:

Barbel wrote:

Yes, it's been slightly cleaned up in the translation. In the German dub, the line is different but I can't remember now what it was.

I found this on the IMDB site: "Don't let her take you for a ride"

I'd say that it means more "don't let them fool you"

Dirty Punker

Depends on what your definition of riding is -{ .

PPK 7.65mm

According to most sources, all of the blue suited henchman in Goldfinger's private army are Korean like Odd Job.

Also even thought I do not speak fluent Japanese, I know that most of what is spoken in You Only Live Twice by Bond and some of the of the minor characters is correct. For instance the attendant at the sumo hall says Dozo which is Japanese for please, and later Bond says dōmo arigatō which means thank you to the attendant for showing to him to his contact.