Translating humour ─ a comedian’s nightmare

Humour is one of the most cherished elements of human interaction. However, when it comes to translating humour, even the most skilled linguists can find themselves facing a monumental challenge. Unlike technical translation, which mostly deals with precise terms, translating humour dives into the murky waters of cultural nuances, wordplay, punchlines, and deeply rooted social norms. Here’s why humour translation is as challenging as it is fascinating ─ and why it remains an art form in itself.

Why is translating humour so difficult?

Humour is inherently tied to culture and context. A joke that gets roaring laughter in one country might leave another audience puzzled ─ or worse, offended.

Consider the famous “Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop” joke: “Can you make me one with everything?” The pun plays on the double meaning of “one with everything,” referring both to pizza toppings and a state of spiritual enlightenment. When translated literally, the wordplay ─ and thus the humour ─ is lost.

This disconnect happens because jokes often rely on linguistic features like double engenders, idiomatic expressions, or socio-cultural references that don’t exist in other languages or contexts.

Wordplay and puns: translating the untranslatable

Puns are the Achilles’ heel of humour translation.

Take this English pun: “I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.” The humour hinges on the dual meaning of “hit” (physical impact and sudden realisation). A direct translation into a language like French, which may not share the same semantic flexibility, makes the joke incomprehensible.

Translators often resort to transcreation ─ adapting the joke to convey a similar effect instead of a direct translation. A French equivalent might involve a completely different setup and punchline to ensure the humour remains intact.

Navigating the invisible boundaries

Cultural references make humour deeply personal and often hard to export.

A British comedian might get laughs with a quip about cricket. At the same time, an American audience might not even recognise the sport.

Similarly, humour rooted in shared historical or political experiences, like German jokes about bureaucracy or jokes about “standing out too much” in collectivist cultures, requires deep cultural understanding to translate effectively.

Translators must ask themselves: How do I make this relatable to a new audience? For instance, a German joke about meticulous rule-following might be adapted to a joke about DMV lines for an American audience.

Tone and delivery: more than just words

Humour isn’t just about what’s said ─ it’s how it’s said.

For example, dry British humour, such as the iconic “Computer says no” joke from Little Britain, relies heavily on understatement and irony. At the same time, slapstick comedy thrives on exaggeration and physical gags. Translators must skillfully adapt the tone and delivery style to align with the target audience’s comedic tastes.

In Japan, where subtlety is valued, over-the-top humour might need to be toned down. Meanwhile, audiences in Italy, known for their expressive culture, might appreciate amplified humour. This cultural tailoring guarantees that the humour feels authentic rather than forced.

Taboo topics: walking the thin line

Humour often pushes boundaries, tackling taboo subjects to provoke thought or laughter. However, what’s acceptable in one culture might be shocking ─ or outright offensive ─ in another.

For example, British humour often pokes fun at societal norms with sharp satire. In contrast, humour in some Asian cultures avoids confrontation.

Take the hit sitcom Friends: jokes about gender roles or relationships often required rewriting to fit the social mores of non-Western countries. Translators must balance preserving the original humour with respecting the target audience’s values.

AI versus the human touch in humour translation

While AI tools have transformed translation processes, humour remains a domain where human creativity reigns supreme. AI still struggles with the cultural and emotional depth needed to craft a joke that resonates across borders fully. At the same time, translators need the linguistic expertise, cultural insight, and a knack for comedy to pull it off

For instance, when adapting Pixar films for international audiences, professional translators don’t just replace words ─ they reimagine entire sequences to fit the humour styles of the target culture.

Success strategies: how do professionals translate humour?

1. Transcreation over literal translation:
   When IKEA launched its furniture in China, product names with wordplay were localised to ensure they didn’t sound awkward or lose their humorous appeal.
2. Simplifying the joke:
   Translators often replace complex puns or idioms with simpler jokes that evoke a similar emotional response.
3. Incorporating local elements:
   Adding culturally relevant references can make humour more relatable. For example, replacing a joke about American baseball with one about European football.
4. Collaborating with cultural experts:
   Professionals often consult native speakers to vet humour translations for cultural sensitivity and accuracy.

Why humour matters in translation

Humour is a universal language that connects people, transcending barriers of nationality and culture. For businesses, it humanises brands and builds emotional connections with global audiences. For literature and entertainment, humour adds depth and relatability.

However, making humour work across cultures takes more than pure linguistic skill ─ it requires a deep understanding of human nature. Skilled translators aren’t just language experts but cultural ambassadors, bridging the laughter gap between diverse audiences.

At SwissGlobal, we really want to understand the nuances of translating humour. Our expert translators use creativity and cultural insight to ensure your content resonates with audiences worldwide ─ connecting the world one smile at a time.