Our Scotland - www.our-scotland.org

kevin04 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 462

Ok, I don't mind seeing Gregory's Girl on BBC Alba, or if they have an English language program on BBC Alba, like a film, or a program.

I've noticed that they put English subtitles on for English speaking programs and I'd be curious to find out why they don't put Gaelic subtitles down below instead for an English speaking Program.

Countries in Europe such as Sweden, Norway - do this, and I think this would be a great asset to learners, as they may pick up a few phrases that they hear in English and see in the subtitles as how to say them in Gaelic. I even know a Spanish Guy who lived in Holland, and he says that he picked up most Dutch by watching Programs like Sopranos in English, but reading the Dutch Subtitles.

Any ideas, why they subtitle English into English?

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

Personally I'm dubious about whether or not having English Language programmes with Gaelic subtitiles would be of any benefit too, other than giving the channel possibly artificially high viewing numbers from time to time. As the two languages are so vastly different it's very difficult if not impossible for those of us who can not speak Gaelic to know what words which have just been spoken in English is the Gaelic equivelent in the subtitiles (I've worded that baddly I know but it's a difficult one to explain, so I hope it makes some sense.

In my opinion BBC Alba should be in Gaelic and in Gaelic only with subtitles to those of us who can't speak it. Otherwise what really is the point in BBC Alba? What is it doing that BBC2 Scotland wasn't doing? The two things which BBC Alba seem to be doing which is undoubtedly in my mind introducing a lot of people to the language who wouldn't normally bother is showing full length football matches and live Shinty matches, and also programmes about the language.

kevin04 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 462

GunChleoc · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:14 am Post subject:

Gaelic programs sometimes do have a bit of English in them, like e.g. documentaries or the news, when they interview English-speaking people.

They don't subtitle these though, they only subtitle Gaelic into English.
_________________
Oileanach chànan chuthachail
http://www.foramnagaidhlig.net

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

kevin04 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 462

Good post again, what I am basically meaning is, e.g for parts of the News, Interviews with Bands/Footballers, and for general bits of the programming that are spoken with English, then stick Gaelic subtitles down the bottom.

I don't think either that they should be showing english speaking programs, or tv shows.

I'd be curious to find out if they do this on the Welsh Channel? Or, do they do want BBC Alba and TG4 Ireland do. I have a friend from Ireland who says that they'll dub cartoons into Gaelige in Ireland, but when they show US shows, the subtitles are provided in English.

Cymro · Getting on a bit! Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1645

In Wales with S4C what you'll see is mostly Welsh subtitles whenever they interview well known people such as let's say Gordon Brown (BBC provide the news and a few programmes for S4C despite the channel itself being independent of the Beeb), occasionally you'll see them have an interpreter speak over a person if they aren't well off but this isn't that common, usually if they are speaking a language other than English or Welsh.

S4C don't show any American programmes such as say Friends so dubbing isn't an option. They do show many cartoons while many where actually Welsh to start off with and have since been sold to other countries (Fireman Sam, Superted (I think), and Sali Mali), other programmes such as Bob the Builder are re-recorded into Welsh. This I have no problem with as it isn't a key part of the programming given that selling it's own cartoons to the rest of the world is a huge money maker for S4C.

Where possible, and I appreciate it's difficult for BBC Alba given the channel is still very much in its infancy and there is quite possibly a smaller pool of talent to dip from, every attempt has to be made to encourage indigenous Gaelic programmes. Some will be awfull (S4C was diabolical in its infancy by today's standards - they even did a programme featuring me and my cousins when we where young talking about the Birth of Jesus once to coincide with my grandfather who was a Chapel Minister retiring! Embarassed

), but that will improve as new skills and ideas develop, this can only be a good thing for the langauge and hugely important. Since the establishment of S4C vibrant and successful Independent Welsh Language TV companies have developed in North West Wales and in Cardiff. One company have been massively successful - Tinopolis and now own the company that make Question Time! This can happen with Gaelic language TV too, but only by having the courage to go with what may be short term crap so that some gems come through and are developed. Creating employment and wealth in areas where the language is still relatively strong will be the main thing that will save the language in my opinion. Relying on English or elsewhere will undermine this and merely act as a translation service at best.

calum · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

I think a mix of subtitled programs and some without is best. Best to leave kids' shows without the subtitles though.

Time to put it on Freeview anyway.

http://tocasaid.blogspot.com/2009...bliadhna-dhaois-one-year-old.html
_________________
http://tocasaid.blogspot.com/

kevin04 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 462

Calum - Good post.
In a nutshell.
Kids prog's are fine, and the other's should have subtitles. As for snippet's of people talking English in the news e.g Salmond, Brown etc - They should stick Gaelic subtitles up.