avbprincess Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) United States Americans, that is. :) Hello Hive! I'm helping someone writing American English subtitles for a French film. In the film, a man says good night, every night, to the family with whom he is currently living, using the exact same words. The man is saying that he hopes they have a good night. I'm trying to decide how his words should be written in English that would sound most natural to Americans. Can you ladies please help me out by choosing the option you think sounds best, even though Americans would not naturally use these particular phrases? Note #1: I did not include an Other option because we're not really open to other options at this point. Note #2: I'm not including the original French for reference because I want to know what sounds best in English, disregarding the accuracy of the translation, which is not in question. ETA: For more context, the man is being formal with his "hosts," as he is a WWII German soldier who has been placed in the home of a French family during the Occupation. He is also trying to be gracious and kind because he knows they don't want him there. The phrases I've included in the poll are, of course, very formal and not modern at all, but are very appropriate for the time and circumstances of the film. Edited February 27, 2017 by avbprincess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Someone being totally natural would say politely, "Good night everyone!" I bid you a good night. No. Way too formal. I wish you a good night just doesn't sound right and is also too formal. Alley 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I'm not sure I understand. Do you want it to sound like something an American would say? I didn't vote. I can't imagine a modern American using any of those phrases. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted the second, but for something said EVERY night, it's most common to just say "Good night." All the choices sound a bit formal for daily use, but if the character is trying to make it an extra-special gesture, almost like a catch-phrase, it makes sense. As a frequent subtitle reader, none of the voices would be weird or distracting to me. There are always some quirks when you read subtitles and I just assume they're going for more of a direct translation. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 All of your options sound unnaturally archaic and formal. Unless the film is set in a past century none would be appropriate. "Good night" is an ordinary phrasing, no "I wish you" or "bid you". 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Depends on the tone of the speaker. A would be a speaker saying it warmly or kindly. C would be more serious and dismissal-like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) None of those sound at all natural for someone to say on a daily basis in America in the 20th century. Even if they were said once, I can't imagine them being said without a wink (and I'd almost imagine putting on a British accent...) If the film is set in France or elsewhere in Europe and better yet a long time ago and maybe these people are aristocrats, I might pick the third? Edited February 27, 2017 by Matryoshka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avbprincess Posted February 27, 2017 Author Share Posted February 27, 2017 Update in OP, with more context to explain why I've listed those options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) United States Americans, that is. :) Hello Hive! I'm helping someone writing American English subtitles for a French film. In the film, a man says good night, every night, to the family with whom he is currently living, using the exact same words. The man is saying that he hopes they have a good night. I'm trying to decide how his words should be written in English that would sound most natural to Americans. Can you ladies please help me out by choosing the option you think sounds best or that you would personally use? Note #1: I did not include an Other option because we're not really open to other options at this point. Note #2: I'm not including the original French for reference because I want to know what sounds best in English, disregarding the accuracy of the translation, which is not in question. ETA: For more context, the man is being very formal with his "hosts," as he is a WWII German soldier who has been placed in the home of a French family during the Occupation. He is also trying to be gracious and kind because he knows they don't want him there. The phrases I've included in the poll are, of course, very formal and not modern at all, but are very appropriate for the time and circumstances of the film. Ah! context is everything. You shouldn't be asking what would sound most natural to Americans or what Americans would personally use. None of these phrases sounds natural and we would not use them. But your context is not one of natural, native speaker use. It is formal, non-native speaker use in uncomfortable circumstances and approaching a century ago. I would go with your second option, which I'm guessing is pretty much a direct translation of the French. The first option is also fine. Third option is weird--excessively archaic. Edited February 27, 2017 by maize 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I thought the third was most formal. I voted three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I wouldn't use any of those, but I've actually seen the third one in print and not the first two, so that's what I'm voting for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted for the second one, but the third one also works well in that context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 My dad commonly used the third. FWIW, he was the son of French immigrants and served in the US Army in Germany during WW2. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Factoring in the updated information, it doesn't need to sound American at all. It just needs to be a translation that makes sense. In that situation, a translation of how a German would formally say good night to his hosts would be just fine. The acting itself will infuse more meaning into that simple "good night" than a wordy translation. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I'm Australian so I didn't vote but number two is best for the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaluv+2more Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted before I read your post (oops). I voted for I bid you goodnight because I thought that was the "best" way of the three (which is what your poll asks). However, I agree that none of those options are natural in the US. Even in a formal setting, I would just say "Goodnight" or "I hope you have a good night". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsy Type Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted for the third because it sounded fitting for the time/circumstance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Even during the time period you're talking about those don't sound natural or American. The third one would probably come closest if he's trying to sound formal and doesn't really know how. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 None of them sound natural. Since it sounds like he's supposed to sound formal and perhaps a little awkward, I think the final one sounds the most like something someone would actually say. The "I wish you" part just doesn't seem right to my ears. I know you're not open to other options, but something like, "Have a good night" or "I hope you have a good night" would seem to make more sense to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 none of the above. an american would simply say "goodnight". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in KS Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 The second, but I think "Good Evening to you" or "Good evening to you, Mr. or Mrs. ---" would fit the bill better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 You would definitely not say I bid you a good night. I wish you ....... is still off. Have a good evening would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted #3, especially given the context you added. In my family we enjoy using formal phrases. My dad (an immigrant from a more formal country) still actually says things like this. He will thank my mother for the "excellent repast." My brothers and I do it for fun. We will "bid everyone good night" before "retiring to our chambers" (another expression my dad uses :-) ), "drawing a bath" and "performing our ablutions." Yes, we are weird LOL. But we get a kick out of it. We do try to tone it down when normal people are around, haha. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 given the additional details, #2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I think any of them would be fine. FWIW, if I was to see a film with the situation you describe, I wouldn't expect him to sound like a colloquial American, even of a century ago. Tat would sound quite wrong to my ear, like Kevin Costner in Robin Hood. I'd expect his phrasing to sound European, and like a fairly direct translation of whatever I imagine a German or French person would say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 The "most American" of all rock bands, the Grateful Dead, closed many of their concerts with the traditional song "We Bid You Goodnight" (sung a capella). Sounds like pretty "American" phrasing to me, especially in the context provided above. And while the song title is "We Bid You Goodnight," the lyric is "I bid you goodnight." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) To me, raised in Southern US but lived all over the country, the phrase "I wish you..." has a slight malevolent or accusatory edge. In conversation, you'd hear "I wish you would take out the trash" or "I wish you would call some time" or "I wish she would listen to me." I haven't heard Americans "wish" something for others except in a passive/aggressive manner. Usually "I hope" is used in benevolent phrasing: "I hope you have fun" or "I hope you have a good birthday." Less common, yet probably wouldn't sound too strange would be "I hope you have a good night", but "have a good night" or "good night" would be best. "I bid you goodnight" sounds the least odd in phrasing of the three listed. This reminds me of a time in Mexico where multiple people congratulated a friend for being blonde. We thought it was likely a direct translation of the Spanish word that sounded odd when said in English. Edited February 27, 2017 by ErinE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Library Momma Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I just read what you added. He is a German in France during WWII, so I'm not sure why it has to sound contemporary American. According to the context it sounds like it should be formal and a little forced so I bid you goodnight sounds right to me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacbeaumont Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I just read what you added. He is a German in France during WWII, so I'm not sure why it has to sound contemporary American. According to the context it sounds like it should be formal and a little forced so I bid you goodnight sounds right to me.I was thinking the same thing. Sent from my U9200 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! Also- Best wishes Wishing you a speedy recovery Wishing you a very Happy Birthday None of the above are passive-aggressive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! This is a song, not a statement. You would verbally tell someone, in general conversation, "I wish you a Merry Christmas" as opposed to saying it, "Merry Christmas to you" or just "Merry Christmas"? Also- Best wishes Wishing you a speedy recovery Wishing you a very Happy Birthday None of the above are passive-aggressive. These are informal ways of implying good will and none start with "I wish you...". A written "I wish you..." is different from a verbal "I wish you." Rephrasing the above so that they start with "I wish", it sounds odd when I say aloud: "I wish you a happy birthday." "I wish you a speedy recovery." These aren't phrases I've heard Americans use in conversation. Like I said before, I usually hear "I hope" when it's a more formal statement. "I wish you the best" is not something I've heard someone say in a benevolent manner. It's usually dismissive and depending on the tone, can be very derisive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 This is a song, not a statement. You would verbally tell someone, in general conversation, "I wish you a Merry Christmas" as opposed to saying it, "Merry Christmas to you" or just "Merry Christmas"? These are informal ways of implying good will and none start with "I wish you...". A written "I wish you..." is different from a verbal "I wish you." Rephrasing the above so that they start with "I wish", it sounds odd when I say aloud: "I wish you a happy birthday." "I wish you a speedy recovery." These aren't phrases I've heard Americans use in conversation. Like I said before, I usually hear "I hope" when it's a more formal statement. "I wish you the best" is not something I've heard someone say in a benevolent manner. It's usually dismissive and depending on the tone, can be very derisive. But neither have I ever, even once, heard someone in real life say "I bid you..." That brings to mind Robin Hood or some such. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I voted" I wish you a good night", but I think it depends at what time it is being said. If there is some time left in the evening "...a good night" sounds like there is time to do something to make it a good night. If it is immediately before people go to bed, then "...good night" is what I would normally say to my family. As long as you are making it formal by saying I wish you . . . , then I think you need to put the "a" in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avbprincess Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 Thanks everyone, this has been very helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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