“Coco” and the Case of the Disappearing Spanglish: A Case Study
Introduction
On October 27, 2017, Disney and Pixar released the animated feature film Coco at the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico. The film's storyline centers around Miguel, a young Mexican boy aspiring to be a musician despite his family's prohibition against music. As Miguel navigates his way through the Land of the Dead to seek blessings from his ancestors, the film beautifully integrates elements of Mexican culture and traditions, particularly the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.
One of the most striking features of Coco is its use of code-switching between English and Spanish, a reflection of the Spanglish spoken by many Latinx communities in the United States. This case study explores the challenges and decisions involved in translating this linguistic hybridity for different audiences, focusing on the original English version and the Spanish-language edition dubbed in Mexico.
Spanglish in Coco
At the time, Coco was unique in its extensive use of Spanglish, a term referring to the blend of Spanish and English used by US Latinx populations. This linguistic variety is not merely a casual mixing of languages but represents a cultural identity that transcends the geographical borders between the United States and Mexico. The film uses approximately 294 Spanish utterances in its 109-minute runtime, including expressions, personal names, cultural terms, diminutive forms, and song lyrics. This intentional use of Spanglish serves not only as a cultural marker but also as an aesthetic element that reinforces the setting and authenticity of the film.
The decision to incorporate Spanglish in the English version of Coco was likely influenced by the increasing presence of Spanish in American media and literature. By doing so, Disney and Pixar acknowledged the bilingual reality of many Latinx viewers and created a narrative that felt inclusive and representative of their experiences. Spanish elements were not translated or subtitled, assuming that the audience could either understand the language or infer the meaning from the context.
Translation Challenges and Decisions
Translating Coco into other languages presented unique challenges, especially in maintaining the linguistic and cultural nuances of the original. In both the French and Brazilian Portuguese versions, the Spanish elements were preserved, mirroring the code-switching seen in the English version. However, the accents and comfort levels of the voice actors in Spanish varied, potentially affecting the authenticity of the translation. Despite these challenges, the decision to keep the Spanish terms intact aimed to replicate the hybrid linguistic experience for audiences in the French (France) and Brazilian Portuguese versions.
In stark contrast, the Spanish version of Coco dubbed in Mexico eliminated the linguistic hybridity entirely. Since the film is set in a Mexican cultural context, the translators chose to retain all the Spanish elements while translating the English dialogue into Spanish. This approach resulted in a seamless, monolingual Spanish version, devoid of the code-switching that characterized the original. While this decision made the film more accessible to a Mexican audience, it also removed the transnational and borderland feel that was central to the original version.
Implications for Viewers and Cultural Representation
The different approaches to translating Coco highlight the significant impact of linguistic choices on audience interpretation and cultural representation. In the English version, the use of Spanglish allows viewers to imagine the story taking place not just in Mexico but also in the US-Mexico borderlands, reflecting the experiences of many Chicanx and Latinx individuals. The Spanish version, however, situates the narrative firmly within Mexico, eliminating the possibility of a transnational context.
This divergence in translation strategies raises important questions about the portrayal of cultural identities and the role of language in storytelling. For a US audience, the Spanglish in Coco underscores the fluidity of cultural and linguistic borders, challenging the notion of a monolithic national identity. On the other hand, the monolingual Spanish version reinforces a singular cultural perspective, which, while resonating with Mexican viewers, overlooks the hybrid identities prevalent in the United States.
Lessons for Production and Post-Production Teams
The case of Coco offers valuable insights for film and TV production and post-production teams. Here are some key takeaways:
Cultural Sensitivity and Authenticity: Collaborating with cultural consultants and voice actors who are proficient in the relevant languages can enhance the authenticity of the dialogue. In Coco, the use of Latinx voice actors in both the English and Spanish versions contributed to the cultural accuracy of the film.
Audience Considerations: Understanding the linguistic and cultural background of the target audience is crucial. The decision to use Spanglish in the English version of Coco was informed by the bilingual reality of many US Latinx viewers. Similarly, the monolingual approach in the Spanish version catered to Mexican audiences.
Preserving Linguistic Nuances: The distance between writers and post-production translation teams can result in a disconnect in the goals that each has when rendering the dialogue. By improving the communication between writers and translators, special attention can be given to linguistic nuance in the translation process.
Balancing Accessibility and Representation: Translators must strike a balance between making the film accessible to the target audience and preserving the cultural and linguistic diversity of the original. While the Spanish version of Coco prioritized accessibility, it inadvertently erased the transnational identity present in the English version.
Conclusion
This case study underscores the complexities of translating cultural and linguistic hybridity in films. For subtitlers and dubbers, Coco serves as a case study in what happens when linguistic elements that were innovative in one version disappear in another. By improving communication between the writers and the localization teams, the linguistic diversity and cultural authenticity of the original version can be preserved across linguistic lines to create more inclusive and representative narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
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This blog is based on: Attig, Remy (2019). “Coco and the Case of the Disappearing Spanglish: Negotiating Code-Switching in the English and Spanish Versions of Disney and Pixar’s Animated Film” in Hybrid Englishes and the Challenge of/for Translation: Identity, Mobility and Language Change. Edited by Karen Bennett and Rita Queiroz de Barros. London: Routledge, 151-62. DOI: 10.4324/9781315142333-9
