How To Translate a Horror Movie Into Another Language

Language is something that is specific to a particular locale and resonates with a certain set of people. A phrase translated in two different languages might have two completely different meanings, so one must always be careful about how they translate.

Translating a horror movie into a different language is a tough job, especially because it is often difficult to portray the exact emotion and chills with the intensity the script of the movie is written with. Not only that, but having the right tools is necessary to avoid errors and provide a perfect representation of the theme and tone of the dialogues.

Today we will discuss a proper way to translate scary movies into a foreign language.

Use Microsoft Word

When you translate big amounts of texts, such as a script of a movie, you need a time-tested tool. Microsoft Word is an age-old application software under Microsoft Office that helps with smooth and seamless text editing. MS Word is the most functional because of its many languages and easy-to-use grammar and thesaurus tools. It can automatically detect spelling and grammatical errors with ease, making the entire process a hell of a lot easier.

Make use of Translation Memory Tools

No matter which text editor you use, the manual effort needed to translate all names and titles throughout the movie becomes a big hindrance. A translation memory tool will automatically change the specific keywords to the desired language throughout your work.

You could avail a Translation Software

There are tons of digital translators that can aid the process of translating from scratch. The only problem is that you can’t completely guarantee the efficiency of any software. Thus, you will always need to proofread. Still, the use of good translating software, like Google Translate, can help translate effortlessly. There are many professional software and electronic tools like SDL Trados, which are extremely costly. These are not effective cost-wise, especially if you are translating your first movie.

Any tool can help you translate to English, but what about other languages? Some languages like Arabic are harder to find good digital translation tools for. In this case, the best Arabic translation services will be your best choice. Their experts will help adapt your script, keeping local language nuances in mind.

Spellcheckers Go A Long Way

No matter how proficient you are, you are bound to make mistakes in your spelling. This is especially problematic because typos and missed letters may be hard to notice in a big amount of text you are working with for a movie. Although one may use MS-Word to avoid and correct spelling mistakes, it often fails to detect some errors which might make your entire document look bad and make your writing sound ridiculous.

Mind the Tone and Mood of the Scene

Horror movies are dominated by the characteristics of thrill and must spike your senses. This is what makes the movie so intriguing and relevant to the viewer. When you translate a horror movie, resist word-for-word translation, but rather try to find phrases that will best transfer not just the meaning, but also the tone and the mood of a certain movie line.

Search Your Vocabulary

Just like certain words in English are quite impactful, every other language is bound to have such words that will be able to convey the intensity of emotions. This is of utmost importance when translating to another language because everyone wants to have that rollercoaster of emotions inside them.

Trigger The Audio-Visual Senses

When you portray something in a foreign language, you must target the viewer’s brain and neurons and strive to trigger the same senses using words, as would be triggered by phrases in the original language of the movie. Certain pieces of writing make the entire scene come alive through words. You can check this principle out in action in classic Italian horror movies, which retain their charm even when translated.

Get Your Spooks On!

With the above points and tips in mind, one can easily translate a horror movie into any language. Like any other undertaking, it will require dedication, research, and great attention to detail, but if you tick all the boxes, you will receive a translation that will keep your movie viewers glued to their seats!