Dubbing films
Dubbing films
From Forum Keadilan
Some people want the dubbing of foreign films and television
shows stopped (Forum No.16/IV/1995). The stoppage would run
counter to fostering and developing the Indonesian language. It
is even more saddening that the more frequent use of Indonesian
as a result of the dubbing of foreign languages, is seen as a
scapegoat for the decline in domestic film production.
We long for the use of our national language for all foreign
mass media products in Indonesia. Just consider the situation in
developed countries. Is there an English TV program broadcast in
the English language in countries like Germany, France and Italy?
Is there a French film shown in the U.S. or Japan using the
French language? The showing of all those products is the
consistent implementation of each country's national language
policy. The consequences are clear: there are new jobs, there is
strong development in translation work and increased use of the
national language. People become proud of the potential of their
language. More importantly, there is a decline of the dependence
on foreign culture and a consolidation of national identity.
I see the dubbing of foreign products as a positive effort
toward the use of our language. I admit many shortcomings in
translation and dubbing, but all that can be improved.
It is not rational to say that dubbing is the cause of morally
adverse foreign influences on our nation. If such were the case,
the problem is not with the language, the translation or the
dubbing, but with the product itself. It is very naive to say
that the elimination of dubbing and replacing it by Indonesian
subtitles will sort out any negative influences. Intentional
sidetracking in translation to sift any negative influences is
damaging to the totality of a work and is thus in violation of
translation ethics.
It is regrettable that there are still some regulations
contrary to article 36 of the 1945 Constitution which says that
our country is monolingual. The public use of another language,
written or oral, is a clear violation of the letter and spirit of
our Constitution.
HARIMURTI KRIDALAKSANA
Depok, West Java