How I translate for younger audiences
Translating the voice of a 3 year old should be easy, right?
The toughest crowd to impress.
Creative translation is challenging, and translating for children is no exception.
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of translating a talking cactus, an eco-warrior orangutan, a short-tempered crocodile, and many more.
I’m going to share what I've learnt from working on animation scripts for kids aged 3–12 but the advice can be applied to other types of translation, whether it's a picture book, young adult fiction or an educational textbook.
I’m going to look at language variations, educational value and inclusive language.
Let’s go!
Tin & Tan
A fun series aimed at early years audiences with an emphasis on caring for the environment.
Know your audience, and who’s paying
Where will the show be broadcast? Does it require a particular variation of English? Who is funding the project?
As much as I dislike the term "mid-Atlantic", it's what I’m most commonly asked for when I do this type of work.
This means avoiding anything overly regional that could be too alienating to either side.
Personally, I would LOVE to throw in some local West Country lingo, but it might get lost on my audience.
It's worth bearing in mind that a younger audience will be familiar (and less offended) with certain terms such as garbage, cookies, or recess.
While people might have strong feeling about this (apologies to my Grandad), many terms have found their way into the UK vernacular and vice versa.
If a word is overly US or UK in either direction, I try to find a middle ground where both audiences can relate.
As always, check the brief and if in doubt, ask!
Get to know the characters
What do a fashionista hipster bee, a neurotic dragon and a know-it-all talking head have in common?
They’re all characters I’ve translated and they do not speak the same!
If your project has a long list of characters, there should already be a dossier that outlines each one's interests, background and personality traits.
This will help create a style guide for the kind of language they use that you can refer to as you go along.
Things to consider:
Are they serious or more playful?
Do they use slang?
Do they have any catchphrases or repeated tics?
Does their language change depending on who they speak to? (e.g., parents, teachers, their school crush)
Are they from a certain part of the world?
It’s important to note here that this is not a way to reinforce stereotypes, old tropes or regionalism.
Away with the “bossy” female characters and “brave” boys!
Say hello to the main characters from the beautifully illustrated world of Polinopolis.
Speak their language, but not too much
Being too formal is a quick way to make kids switch off but being too down with the kids is downright cringey.
Strike a balance and choose words that will age well. If a particular phrase is too of-the-moment, it will sound outdated within the year.
Go with what feels natural and ageless, where possible.
Exception: the great thing about creative translations is getting free rein to invent language or phrases.
If your project is set in an imaginary land, far removed from a physical place, then you can invent your own terminology and catchphrases. Just make sure you check with the scriptwriters first!
Educate, don't alienate
Whether your translation is created especially for an educational course or not, TV is a great way to broaden kids' vocabulary in a more natural and organic way.
Think of it as the linguistic equivalent to your mum or dad chopping up vegetables really small to sneak them into a spaghetti bolognese without you noticing.
While it's important to not make sentences overly verbose and convoluted, dumbed down language isn't going to help either.
Be inclusive and make your language accessible
Call out gender stereotypes and tired tropes.
Use gender neutral titles and pronouns. This includes using “they’ instead of “he” or “she”, “police officer” instead of “policeman”. Use this handy UN guide to gender-inclusive language as a reference.
Always chat to the scriptwriter if something isn't right. Chances are they’ll welcome the feedback.
That's all folks, and remember, have fun!
Fancy seeing more of my work? Check out my creative projects for younger audiences.
