Questionable lyrics?

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Junior Member
<a href="/en/translator/airyaydayway" class="userpopupinfo" rel="user1361719">Airyaydayway <div class="author_icon" title="Page author" ></div></a>
Joined: 17.11.2017
Pending moderation

I was going over a translation request and the lyrics seem kind of naughty or explicit, if you will. Now, if a word has two meanings I can ''pretend my nose bleeds,'' that means I act like I don't care and pick an innocuous option.

Now, if I translate it to what I think it means, then in Dutch it is even more obvious what is going on!

I don't care either way, but is it OK to make a ''dirty'' translation, or would that be frowned upon? In that case I'd go with an innocuous, but somewhat nonsensical translation.

What do you think?

Thanks.

Retired Moderator and Scholar of a Dark Age
<a href="/en/translator/sciera" class="userpopupinfo" rel="user1077079">Sciera </a>
Joined: 16.02.2011

It is okay. Whatever is allowed in lyrics is also allowed in translations here.
However, if there are differing levels of explicitness it would be recommendable to point that out in footnotes.

Moderator and leader of the Balkan Squad
<a href="/en/translator/crimsondyname" class="userpopupinfo" rel="user1311076">crimsonDyname <div class="moderator_icon" title="Συντονιστής" ></div></a>
Joined: 14.10.2016

When in doubt, always go for the most accurate translation possible. If it's "dirty" or explicit, it's just a fact of life.

Junior Member
<a href="/en/translator/airyaydayway" class="userpopupinfo" rel="user1361719">Airyaydayway <div class="author_icon" title="Page author" ></div></a>
Joined: 17.11.2017

Alright thanks. I'm just going to go ahead then.

Moderator 👨🏻‍🏫🇧🇷✍🏻👨🏻
<a href="/en/translator/don-juan" class="userpopupinfo" rel="user1110108">Don Juan <div class="moderator_icon" title="Модератор" ></div></a>
Joined: 05.04.2012

If you don't feel like translating some harsher stuff, you can use euphemisms - and add a comment explaining your choice of words. I usually do so when I have to translate a song with a dirty message.