History Main / TrollingTranslator

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/InLivingColor'' uses this mercilessly in a first season sketch about a new ambassador to an obscure African nation. Her translator, Mr Mubutu, tends to say more of what she's thinking than what she's saying.

* In ''Film/MyBigFatGreekWedding'', this is Ian's RunningGag; in one memorable scene, he asks how to say "dinner's ready!" in Greek, but the phrase he's told actually means "I have three testicles!". After the first time he wises up and asks multiple people, but unfortunately, they're all in on it and reply with the same incorrect translation.

'''French Translator:''' ''Nous avons confisqué votre voiture et son contenu.''\\

'''French Translator:''' ''Vous pouvez quitter le Canada, mais ne retournez jamais.''\\

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* One episode of ''LiveActionTV/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' had Zack's friend Bob (who can speak French) do this to Cody in order to help with a ZanyScheme of Zack's to have a French girl he's got the hots for but who is only interested in Cody to break up with him, as all of the translations are insults.

* A mafia godfather discovers that his deaf bookkeeper has cheated him out of a million or so dollars. (Some re-tellings add the detail that the bookkeeper was chosen for his deafness - he can't testify in court to something he didn't overhear.) He confronts the bookkeeper one day and brings along an ASL interpreter. Godfather asks the bookkeeper where the money is, interpreter relays, bookkeeper signs that he has no clue what the godfather is talking about, interpreter relays. Godfather presses a gun to the bookkeeper's head and asks once again where the money is, interpreter relays, bookkeeper signs that the money is in [a location irrelevant to the joke]... at which point the interpreter tells the godfather "He thinks you don't have the balls to pull the trigger."

* ''Literature/TheMarvelousLandOfOz''. Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead visit King Scarecrow in the Emerald City. Because Jack is from the North territory and the Scarecrow is from the Emerald City, they believe that it logically follows that they speak different languages, and require a translator. (This is patently ridiculous; Oz only has one language and the two decide they need a translator by having a very polite conversation ''with each other'' about it.) Jellia claims to speak both "languages" and volunteers to translate, but instead makes up wild insults to tell each one that the other is saying. It's only after several cycles of both Jack and Scarecrow complaining that she's not translating accurately that she gets them to see the obvious fact that if they can understand her "translations", they can understand each other just fine without any help.

'''Mountie:''' You may leave Canada, but never return.

-->'''Mrs. Walsh:''' Pants and shirts are in the second. Just throw them all into cardboard boxes. Forget the suitcases. Clark, can you translate all of that?
-->'''Mouth:''' Why certainly, Mrs. Walsh.
-->'''Mrs. Walsh:''' That's wonderful.
-->'''Mouth:''' (''to Rosalita, in Spanish'') The marijuana goes in the top drawer. The cocaine and speed in the second. The heroin in the bottom. Always separate the drugs.
-->'''Mrs. Walsh:''' Now Rosalita, this is the attic. Mr. Walsh doesn't like anybody up here, ever. That's why it's always open.
-->'''Mouth:''' (''in Spanish'') Never go up there. It's filled with Mr. Walsh's sexual torture devices.
-->'''Mrs. Walsh:''' This is my supply closet. You'll find everything you need: brooms, dustpans, insect spray. I would really like the house clean when they tear it down. Clark, can you translate?
-->'''Mouth:''' (''in Spanish'') If you do a bad job you'll be locked in here with the cockroaches, for two weeks without food and water.
-->'''Mrs. Walsh:''' Okay, Rosie? Okay? You're going to be very happy here. Come on, Clark, we've got much more to do. You're so fluent in languages!
-->'''Rosalita:''' (''in Spanish'') My God, I'm in a crazy house!

-->'''Jack Burton:''' (''pointing to Chinese writing on elevator'') What does that say?
-->'''Wang Chi:''' (''speaks Chinese'') "Hell of Boiling Oil".
-->'''Jack Burton:''' You're kidding.
-->'''Wang Chi:''' Yeah, I am. It says "Keep Out".

--->'''Ian:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' I'm sure you will find the Olympic Park as inspiring as we do.
--->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in English]'' He thinks you will find the Olympic Park as exciting as he is.

--->'''Siobahn:''' Okay guys, so just to keep you up-to-date we're in pretty good shape and as you can see, we're gonna be taking you right through the center of London today!
--->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' The bus has been driving in the wrong direction. We are turning around now.

--->'''Kay:''' The 2012 Games will be the first summer host city to embed sustainability into the organisation of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games from the outset.
--->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' She is going to make a speech about Legacy.
--->''[the interpreter sits down and doesn't translate the speech]''

-->'''Ambassador''': I wasn't sure what to expect based on the briefing I received in Washington, but I must say I find your country rather quaint, in a Third World sort of way.
-->'''Mr. Mubutu (in native language)''' "I'm acting like a pompous bitch right now, but we want to build a radar base here, so eventually I will have to kiss your shiny black butts."

--> '''Hugh:''' Xiulan, please assure your mother that you are precious to me beyond all price. I love you dearly and completely. You are in sole possession of my heart and I could never to anything to "pollute" you.
--> '''Xiulan:''' ''(in Chinese)'' He says he'll jolly well pollute me when and wherever he pleases, and I'll love every moment of it.

-->'''Canadian Mountie:''' We've confiscated your car and its contents.
-->'''French Translator:''' ''Nous avons confisqué votre voiture et son contenu.''
-->'''Mountie:''' You may leave Canada, but never return.
-->'''French Translator:''' ''Vous pouvez quitter le Canada, mais ne retournez jamais.''
-->'''Mountie:''' I am a big fat French idiot.
-->'''French Translator:''' ''Je suis un grand gros'' - HEY!

When it happens only to subtitles, that's FunWithSubtitles.

* {{Lampshaded}} in ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', as Jack Burton and Wang Chi are sneaking around David Lo Pan's base.

* ''[[Film/AceVentura Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls]]''. Ace's translator understood the dialect of the other tribe perfectly. However he decided to make Ace sound crazier and dangerous with what he told them he said. Including "I am a Princess". Whether he's trolling or not is slightly vague, as ''speaking'' a language fluently is a different ballgame from understanding it perfectly.

-->''[the interpreter sits down and doesn't translate the speech]''

-->Yo tengo herpes genital...para ti. (Said with a cocky attitude. Translates to, "I have genital herpes...for you.")

-->'''Ian:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' I'm sure you will find the Olympic Park as inspiring as we do.
-->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in English]'' He thinks you will find the Olympic Park as exciting as he is.

-->'''Siobahn:''' Okay guys, so just to keep you up-to-date we're in pretty good shape and as you can see, we're gonna be taking you right through the center of London today!
-->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' The bus has been driving in the wrong direction. We are turning around now.

-->'''Kay:''' The 2012 Games will be the first summer host city to embed sustainability into the organisation of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games from the outset.
-->'''Interpreter:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' She is going to make a speech about Legacy.

--->'''Ambassador''': I wasn't sure what to expect based on the briefing I received in Washington, but I must say I find your country rather quaint, in a Third World sort of way.
--->'''Mr. Mubutu (in native language)''' "I'm acting like a pompous bitch right now, but we want to build a radar base here, so eventually I will have to kiss your shiny black butts."

* In ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'', Jinnai does this deliberately during a meeting between the Bugrom queen and Princess Rune Venus. Having acquired the same immigrant superpower as her brother, Nanami eventually starts doing it too.

* In a ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' Franchise/StarWars parody, the Mos Eisley barfight was actually just a trolling Evazan drunkenly mistranslating Ponda Baba's innocent questions to Luke Skywalker. (The two are architects, according to the skit.)

* In ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'', Jinnai does this deliberately during a meeting between the Bugrum queen and Princess Rune Venus. Having acquired the same immigrant superpower as her brother, Nanami eventually starts doing it too.