Sunday, March 05, 2006

How do you translate a metal that does not exist?

Today's funny translation moments:

"Marie, what does the word adamantium mean when Wolverine says: I'll have to trust my adamantium skeleton."

My response:

"That means that Wolverine's bones are fused to a rare indestructible metal found in Wakanda in deepest Africa where the Black Panther rules."

(blank stares from all sides)

Then there's:

"What does it mean: If I'd known you were coming, I'd have cleaned out the janitor's closet?"

Uh...

3 comments:

Steve Buccellato said...

Solution: Find out what the Arabic translation is for "aluminum" and use that. I think Wolverine needs some humility!

Marie Javins said...

That'd be even worse than the time he had bone claws... oops, geek moment. Sorry. Don't tell anyone.

Jared said...

Just tell them where the word comes from:

ad·a·mant (n.)
1. A stone once believed to be impenetrable in its hardness.
2. An extremely hard substance.

ad·a·man·tine (adj.)

Made of or resembling adamant.
Having the hardness or luster of a diamond.
Unyielding; inflexible: “If there is one dominant trait that emerges from this account, it is adamantine willpower” (Eugene Linden).