TGIF: Law & Order: UK explained to the Yanks February 18, 2011
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff, TGIF.trackback
Thanks to Silvina Jover-Cirillo (@ATGTranslations) for sharing this hilarious video. I’m a huge Law & Order fan. I have been known to lose several hours of the day to L&O marathons, so I stay away from the television when I need to translate. I have been enjoying Law & Order: UK for the last year or so. Apparently L&O: UK is launching on BBC America. This is their intro clip explaining the British justice system (and British culture) to American viewers. Even if you aren’t familiar with the show I promise it will make you laugh. And if you haven’t seen the shows yet you simply must!
Just one thing: according to Asylum UK, “Certain words get lost in their translation, mind, such as “knackers”, which they take to mean “pants”, when, as we all know it means “bollocks”, which they in turn would probably translate as “male cows or bulls.”
Ah, the English language… full of mysteries and misunderstandings for both sides of the pond.
Musings from an overworked translator 
Hello Jill,
Thanks for the mention! It is always fun to compare American and British English, especially when we have good tools such as this video. Enjoy your weekend 🙂
Silvina
It’s a funny video, but also tinged with sadness for us Brits: if we were still truly powerful and had influence in the world, you wouldn’t need even half of these terms explaining to you (just as a British person could probably watch the American version without any misunderstandings owing to your cultural influence over the world). Sadly we are yesterday’s news/superpower, even though we’ve muddled on rather well since then. In any case, I hope you enjoy the programme!
“They have a well balanced diet of sandwiches and pens.”
Love it. Thanks Jill.