MovieChat Forums > Arven (2004) Discussion > languages?

languages?

posted 18 years ago by Michael_Laws
10 replies | jump to latest

Hoping someone can help me out here, since the DVD's English subtitles didn't in any way distinguish one language the characters were speaking at a given time from another. I think it's probably significant when the characters (especially Maria) switch from Danish to Swedish, or vice versa, and as a speaker of neither of those languages (I know how to say "sorry" and "thanks" in Swedish, and "sister" in Danish, and that's about it) it was fairly hard to tell when this was occurring. I mean, yes, I do realize that Danish is, oh, just a wee bit harder on the ear (particularly when it's a man yelling), but it's still hard to tell the difference.

I could pretty easily tell when they switched to French, though... haha.

But yeah... could anyone just briefly give me a rundown of what languages the characters are speaking, and when, and when they switch from one to the other? Thanks.

Oy, gehl goat glassed. Now nae cahnt leaves here till we find oot whae cahnt ded eht.

[–] nick-seier 18 years ago

Hi.

It's actually quite simple. The danish people talk danish all the time and the swedish people talk swedish all the time. We understand each other perfectly, the two languages are very similar.

Thank you is the same in both swedish and danish :)

Hope this helps. otherwise, you can always ask more specificly :)

/Nick

[–] Michael_Laws 18 years ago

So Ulrich Thomsen is always speaking Swedish when he talks to Maria? That is pretty simple, actually. Thanks (or should I say "Takk"-- that's the Icelandic spelling, anyway).

And after that, well, the game was mine.
-- Francis Begbie

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Michael_Laws 18 years ago

Thanks, that's sort of the feeling I had while watching it-- that the switches in language would take on a symbolism. Unfortunately something like this is very difficult to get across via subtitles (though if it were up to me, there would be a way of telling when they switch languages-- maybe yellow subtitles for Danish and white for Swedish?).

And yes, fantastic film. I also just saw Blinkende Lygter-- Ulrich Thomsen is f ucking hilarious in that! But so is the whole cast. Again, fantastic movie. You Danes make some good ones!

And after that, well, the game was mine.
-- Francis Begbie

[–] zaphodnl 18 years ago

Things are a little more complicated than discussed above.

I watched the Swedish version of the movie, in Danish and Swedish, using the English subtitles for the benefit of my American wife.

Maria always speaks Swedish, but when in Denmark she tweaks her Swedish ever so slightly to make it more easily understood by Danes. For instance, for the English "good", she uses the Swedish word "gott" instead of "bra", a Swedish word which I have found is confusing to Danes.

Christoffer always speaks Danish, but when in Sweden, and in the beginning, he uses Danish words which are more easily understood by Swedes. His Danish when speaking to Maria is also simpler and less dialectal (Scandinavian) than when he speaks to his compatriots. Of course, when rehearsing her plays with her, he tries to speak Swedish.

But isn't that what we all do to some extent? When in our childhood town, we unknowingly switch to that idiom.

What surprised me is that the Danes use "farfar" and "mormor" instead of the (old fashioned?) "bedstefar" and "bedstemor" (for the English "paternal grandfather" and "maternal grandmother"). Has Danish usage changed in favor of the Swedish equivalents since the 1960's? Or does this vary by region in Denmark?

BTW, the English subtitles contain several grave errors. One key example is the death of Christoffer's father. The subtitles say that he "hung himself". (Of course, he hanged himself.) Very unprofessional!! For the information of the translator, Mussolini was shot, then hung by his feet...

And there are no subtitles in the extras, except that Maria's Swedish is translated to Danish.

[–] Tobiaslarsen 18 years ago

personally i always used mormor and morfar. but other people use bedstefar and bedstemor, it seems to vary. but dosnt seem to have anything to do with location in denmark.

[–] showa48 17 years ago

I find mormor, morfar, farmor and farfar better than the less specific "bedstemor" and "bedstefar".

That's just individual taste. To my best knowledge there isn't a regional or generational pattern.

[–] pixiedust-7 17 years ago

I was taught "mormor" and "farfar" by my Danish professor. I suppose that's what they use now?

Otherwise, yes, I think the whole language thingie is a bit confusing but since you get it, it makes sense. And well of course when in France Christoffer speaks French.

Something that was funny was also when Maria had lunch with Christoffer and his family and there's a difference in Danish and Swedish about a dessert I believe?

[–] bendixdk 17 years ago

*potential spoilers*

I pretty much agree with all that zaphodnl says, except that I am not so sure that they not at some point switch language, well at least Maria. The episode I am thinking of is where the grand daughter comes to visit after the baby is born, I am sure Maria says something to her in Danish. And I thought I noticed it in other places as well, but will have to watch it again to be sure. I might be wrong though...

[–] jerry4444 16 years ago

wow, this is interesting. this movie will be on tv tonight; i thought it'd be just in swedish. i wonder how much of my german would help, probably none at all, lol....