American political ad in Chinese

RJ
November 02, 2012, 01:29 PM posted in General Discussion

Current Pro Romney ad:

http://www.viralviralvideos.com/2010/10/23/chinese-professor-says-america-now-works-for-us-commercial/

Anybody want to take a crack at providing the hanzi?

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RJ
November 03, 2012, 06:48 PM

Heres what I have so far. Corrections or additons welcome.

为什么上大的国家都会下面完蛋  
古希腊
罗马
不列颠帝国
美国
因为他们都犯同样错





庞大的医都改革
首府接管自由职业
债务累累
当然我们死党的大债主
现在他们都给我们干活

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bababardwan

Not sure at all mate, but here's the best I can make of it:

为什么{强大}的国家都会[走下灭邦的/呢]?

古希腊

罗马罗{帝国}

不列颠帝国

美国

因为他们都犯同样错

[与圆来斯的]他们[曾共]的原则

[被]大[尔死了]

美国[收复]企图[以]庞大的开支和税收

来摆脱严重的经济衰退

巨[尔的]所谓刺激开支、

庞大的医{疗}改革

首府接管自由职业

债务累累

当然我们[私控他们的]大债主[务]

呵呵呵

现在他们都给我们干活

the bits in [ these brackets ] are just my best guess at it

the bits in {these brackets} are where I'm more confident

Even though it's set in Beijing, I think he has a southern accent, no?

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guolan

I also hear 强大, then maybe 走下灭亡呢?

Uhoh, just realized I need to stop sitting on the sofa and get to work before I'm late! Hopefully, I'll have more time to look this over tomorrow.

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RJ

Ah yes, that seems to work very well.

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RJ

thanks baba, that helps but Im still stuck in the same spots as you, and Im running out of gas. As for the accent, I dont know, I assumed it was an educated version of a Beijing accent. Perhaps we can get some help from a native speaker?

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guolan
November 04, 2012, 01:22 AM

I've been trying to go check this out, but no luck, the internet here hasn't been normal speed for a couple days now. I'll try again tomorrow.

On the plus side, Chinese Pod still loads without a hitch! I'm impressed.

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RJ
November 04, 2012, 02:49 AM

you can try these links as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkLhVo3PbY

http://advertising.chinasmack.com/2010/the-chinese-professor-ad-now-america-works-for-us.html

apparently cpod added a server inside of China. Glad to hear its working out for you.

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guolan

Thanks, the youtube option is working for me.

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toianw
November 04, 2012, 02:22 PM

Jeepers, that's some creepy political ad. Anyway, here's my take:

为什么强大的国家都会走向灭亡呢?

古希腊、罗马、不列颠帝国、美国。

因为他们都犯同样的错误。与原来使他们成功的原则背道而驰。

美国政府企图以庞大的开支和税收,来摆脱严重的经济衰退。

巨额的所谓刺激开支,庞大的医疗改革,政府接管私有企业,债务累累。

当然,我们是他们的大债主

现在,他们都在给我们干活。

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guolan

Impressive! I was just getting excited about figuring out his "si" was actually a "shi" (使). But I wouldn't have gotten much beyond that, as I never would have figured out 背道而驰, and I've never heard the word 企图 before...and I hadn't even begun thinking about the rest of the ad!

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RJ

Impressive indeed. You're the man Ian.

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bababardwan

toianw,

Well done as always mate

罗马...I can still clearly here a {帝国} on the end of this

yeah, like guolan, I only realised towards the end that he was dropping his "h" sounds so what sounded like "c" and "s" etc was actually "ch" like in chenggong and "sh" as in shi, which threw me. I should have gone back at that point and relistened. But this indicates a southern accent, right? dropping the "h" sound? I 原来 thought yuanlai was 原来 but as I hadn't figured out the rest properly and was trying to find something close to the translation I went back and had a wrong stab at it. Also knew the word for back was bei but went the wrong direction on translation. Amazing how easily the little stuff can throw you [or that is, me, hehe]

背道而驰...didn't know this expression...good pick up mate...and thanks heaps :)

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guolan

I'm pretty sure that's southern. I remember in the south being asked if I was a "louse" all the time. :) I always thought of lice as I replied that, yes, indeed, I was a teacher.

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RJ

I think thats correct. They do drop their h's. Shi was always si. I had trouble with prices down south.