Foreign Journalist Translation Woes: "Maverick" Is "Dog Without A Leash"

by Rima Abdelkader at NYCity News Service

Joe Sixpack. Hockey Mom. Maverick.

Even for those passionately following the presidential election, the definition of these campaign buzzwords can change with the voter, pundit or reporter who interprets them.

Imagine, then, how foreign language journalists must struggle to put the terms into context for their audiences when such words often have no direct translation.

That problem faced Al Jazeera reporter Abderrahim Foukara when he wrestled with how to describe "maverick.'' The world's most watched Arab network finally decided to define the American colloquialism as "a bird that sings outside the flock."

A Sixpack By Any Other Name...

It is relatively simple to interpret Senator Barack Obama's major theme of change - but not so for the phrases most associated with Senator John McCain and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin.

For Al Jazeera, and foreign-language media throughout the world, the issue of how to translate the language of American politics is more than just a matter of journalistic accuracy. Their decisions reflect their own diverse histories and cultures, as well as their ethical guidelines about bias in translation.

Palin routinely tells her audience she represents Joe Sixpack - shorthand for the everyday American man or woman who perhaps enjoys an occasional beer after work.

At least one French journalist defines the term much less generously - and in a more politically charged manner. Le Monde U.N. Bureau Chief Jean Louis Turlin translates Joe Sixpack using a French cartoon character, Beauf.

"Le beauf' plein de bière," said Turlin, is an "uneducated, extremely conservative brother-in-law" who is "narrow-minded as well as racist."

Cultural Differences

American political reporters define the term much differently.

"It's a cultural connection, and while there is an obvious overlap between race and culture, these voters are by no means racists or racially suspicious," said ABC News Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran. "Some might be, but it's a much bigger issue that that."

Gov. Palin describes herself as a hockey mom, which New York Daily News reporter Celeste Katz defines as "a woman who spends a lot of time on and is concerned about her kids."

But how do foreign news media define a sport that is not played in their country? They coin their own phrases based on their own histories and cultures.

"I explained it as mothers of school kids that are taking care of their sports loving children," said Erol Avdovic, U.N. bureau chief for Croatia-based JUTARNJI List daily.

Radio Marti's Carmen-Maria Rodriguez defined hockey mom as "madraza" or "a great, boisterous mom."

Made in America

Both Senator McCain and Governor Palin also routinely describe themselves as mavericks - a term said to have originated from 19th Century Texas statesman Samuel Augustus Maverick, who refused to brand his cattle.

Katz defined maverick as "a quintessentially made-in-America word for someone who often goes his own way."

But Turlin substitutes the French word "franc-tireur," which was used to describe civilians who took up arms against an opponent despite the customary rules of war in the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. It now "refers to someone who does not belong to a regular army," he said.

In Italy, "cane sciolto" or "dog without a leash" would be used, said ANSA Italian journalist Matteo Bosco Bortolaso.

The context of the phrases can get lost in translation.

"The McCain-Palin campaign knows the power of these phrases lies in the fact that they do not need much explaining to Americans at all," said Katz. "Each of those three descriptors immediately brings a certain idea to mind for most voters who read or hear them."

But Katz said an important part of the job for the journalist covering the campaign is "to explain very clearly to our readers just why McCain and Palin are using these three phrases in the first place: They are trying to make themselves out to be people who understand the average American's life and concerns, as well as politicians who will not keep running Washington the way it's being run now if they win."

Check out the original article here.

Comments

[JT16682]

... and soils everyone's lawn?

[Gatormouth]

I understand the French having problems with "maverick" - but that isn't what McCain is anyway. Try "poseur". Much easier for them to understand, and more accurate. Palin isn't exactly a maverick either. I think "rebel" would work better...as in secessionist.

[powertoolbabe]

Perhaps "GOLD DIGGER" is more appropriate for Palin - since her 'SHOPPING SPREE GONE WILD' episode hit the news.
$150, 000.?..... That's more than my house was worth after the housing crisis!

[cedarpoet]

Whether you describe a "maverick" as a "dog without a leash" or "a bird that sings out of the flock", McCain cannot be a maverick by any stretch of the imagination when he votes 90% of the time with Bush on war (on Iraq) and peace (the economy) the main issues that count. Furthermore, the fact that he backed away from his immigration reforms to please the extreme right wing elements within the Republican Party represents the last nail on the coffin of the so-called maverick. The reality is McCain is a loyal foot soldier for the neo-conservatives within his party, the people who gave us such glories as the war on Iraq, deregulation and its effects - the economic meltdown in wall street and main street. The main question is: why would any sane individual vote for McCain Palin after 8 years of failure under Bush and Company?

[simonrac]

A pitbull with lipstick without a leash? I better cover my privates.

[JLee]

A bird that sings outside the flock! I like that. It's poetic. A bit generous for McCain, perhaps, but still a nice image.

[echothebat]

Who is a Maverick? By definition, mavericks don't LEAD...I mean, who FOLLOWS a maverick? Mavericks don't aspire to unite and inspire a people to work together.

Ok, I get it, McCain wants to portray himself as 'outside the [republican] flock' - but by any cultural definition - the connotation of "LEADER" is not synonymous with "MAVERICK."

Odd message for a PRESIDENTIAL campaign - why would we select a MAVERICK as our Commander and Chief???

[TheLar]

A maverick is never very far from a horse's ass. - Larry Nocella

http://www.larrynocella.com/2008/10/maverick-is-never-very-far-from-horses.html

[veggiequeenmo]

hahahahahahahahahahaha...time to take those "mavericks" to the local no-kill animal shelter to be adopted. but first they need to be dewormed, get their ears cleaned, their nails trimmed and, of course, they need to be spayed and neutered. don't want to add to "maverick" overpopulation!

[BellGirl08]

hahahahahahaaa
hahahahahhahaha
hahahhahahaa

Now that's funny! I would say it applies to McCain, totally.

But it DOES NOT apply to Palin. She calls herself Maverick so she must be lying again. The way I see it, is the Palin handlers have that pitbull on a choker chain. I mean, come on, she has NOT given ONE press conference.

She is not 'allowed' to talk with the press. Why Palin handlers? Why? Don't you think the American people have a right to know who the person is on OUR ballots?? She wants to run OUR government. It's OUR right to know what she is all about. The press should STOP giving her free press and free time and make her start answering some questions!

[bahamaslass]

Can you imagine these two actually meeting with foreign heads of Government? No one would understand a word they said...........O.K. nothing new!

[AnalyzeIT]

"dog without a leash"

a bird that sings outside the flock."

"uneducated, extremely conservative brother-in-law" who is "narrow-minded as well as racist."

It all sounds about right!!!

OBAMA-BIDEN

[tregibbs]

Holy cow ! This "dog" is kept on a VERY tight "leash" - Palin's not allowed to talk to the press - what's Italian for that?

[Roses]

How do you translate 'dog with a muzzle'?

Obama/Biden '08

[Mauverick]

Italian translation: 'cane con la museruola'

[Elefaentchen]

I thought Maverick was a character played by Tom Cruise in "Top Gun." Does that make Palin his "Goose"?

[RuffNReddy]

I think a 'Dog without a leash' adequately describes Palin.
She is the self-described 'pit bull' after all, and she's running a little wild out there in Pro-America country.

[JScott]

Maverick an old style lame Ford Mo. Co compact car designed on the cheap and put together badly.
I think that about describes it. If they want more tell em to google it.