BY any metric Squid Game has been a huge hit around the world since it was released less than a month ago. It has risen to the number one spot on Netflix in dozens of countries. Even given the global popularity of Korean entertainment, it’s still surprising that so many people on the planet are on the same page.
It’s also true that the vast majority of Squid Game fans are probably not native Korean speakers and have to rely on the various subtitles that Netflix has available, unless they prefer dubbing (ugh). But would a non-Korean speaker know if the translations were right or wrong? You’d just have to take Netflix at their word.
But now, criticisms of Squid Game apparent mistranslations are piling up, with the now viral tweets of New York-based comedian Youngmi Mayer leading the charge.
not to sound snobby but i’m fluent in korean and i watched squid game with english subtitles and if you don’t understand korean you didn’t really watch the same show. translation was so bad. the dialogue was written so well and zero of it was preserved
— youngmi mayer (@ymmayer) September 30, 2021
ok i made this really fast so it’s not very good but these are the small examples i could find in ten mins pic.twitter.com/5kIsrlWDjq
— youngmi mayer (@ymmayer) September 30, 2021
Her tweets and TikTok videos about Squid Game’s faux pas have garnered millions of views.
As she explains, certain pieces of dialogue are slightly mistranslated, which can make a big difference when meaning is considered, especially as they pile up and change the way we think about certain characters.
In one clip highlighted by Mayer, the character of Mi-nyeo says, "I'm not a genius, but I still got it work out. Huh." However, upon review, she says the line should really mean, "I am very smart. I just never got a chance to study.”
As Mayer explains, this is a common trope in South Korean pop culture, of the streetwise character who lacks formal education, but is able to hold their own.
However, while the complaints of Netflix’s translation work is valid, apparently these botched subtitles on Squid Game are not universal. Under Netflix’s subtitle options there are two different English subs available, the standard and CC (or close captioning). The latter is the preferred choice for those hard of hearing.
While the CC version is rife with errors, the other subtitles are generally closer to their original Korean meaning and should be preferred choice for any viewer. Unless they know Korean or they are actually willing to learn it.
A couple years ago Netflix came under criticism for their new translation to the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which opted for a more literal translation of the show’s original Japanese dialog. It might have been less artful, but it got the point across.
Of course, the reality is translations from one language to another are never truly one to one. Each language has their own nuances and cultural specificities, some languages put more importance on tone and inflection, and some languages don’t have equivalent words. – The Vibes, October 5, 2021
