日本人が英語で演じるということ

16th/01/2013

the_last_samurai

外国映画の中で日本人の役者が英語を話す日本人を演じるときに生ずる問題の一つに、どの種類の発音で話すか、ということがあります。たとえば2003年にヒットしたハリウッド映画 The Last Samurai などは、明治新政府に対して蜂起した西南戦争(1877年)をモデルに武士道をテーマとしているので、その時代性を考えると発音の問題はさらに難しくなります。たとえば当時の士族が完璧なアメリカ発音で話すなどということはまずあり得なかったでしょうし、かといって英語圏中心の観客が理解に苦しむような日本語訛でも困ります。つまり authenticity と intelligibility との妥協点をどこに設定するか、ということになります。

今回は The Last Samurai の主人公 Algren が、不平士族の領袖である勝元と出会うシーンの台詞を朗読してみたいと思います。

A scene from The Last Samurai
冒頭のセンテンスの “a thousand years ago” で、日本人は “ago” の “a-” を長くのばしてしまう癖があります。要注意ですね。Algren は General American、勝元は General British で発音してみます。↓

The Last Samurai 2.mp3

KATSUMOTO: “This temple was built by my family a thousand years ago. My name is Katsumoto. What is your name? (no answer) Are my words not correct? I will practice my English with you … if you would honor me.”
ALGREN: “You kept me alive just to speak English … Then what do you want?”
KATSUMOTO: “To know my enemy.”
ALGREN: “I’ve seen what you do to your enemies.”
KATSUMOTO: “The soldiers in your country do not kill?”
ALGREN: “They don’t cut the heads off defeated kneeling men.”
KATSUMOTO: “General Hasegawa asked me to help you end his life. A Samurai cannot stand the shame of defeat. I was honored to cut off his head. Many of our customs seem strange to you. The same is true of yours. For example, not to introduce yourself is considered extremely rude, even among enemies.”
ALGREN: “Nathan Algren.”
KATSUMOTO: “I am honored to meet you. I have enjoyed this conversation in English.”
ALGREN: “I have questions.”
KATSUMOTO: “I have introduced myself, you have introduced yourself. This is a very good conversation.”
ALGREN: “I have questions.”
KATSUMOTO: “Questions come later.”
ALGREN: “Who was the warrior in the red armor?”
KATSUMOTO: “My brother-in-law, Hirotaro.”
ALGREN: “And the woman who cares for me?”
KATSUMOTO: “My sister, Hirotaro’s wife. Her name is Taka.”
ALGREN: “I killed her husband?”
KATSUMOTO: “It was a good death.”

Today’s my singing

Elvis の歌に “You’ll Think Of Me” というステキな曲があります。アルバム Back in Memphis に収められている曲で、ファン以外にはあまり知られていないのが残念です。今回はこの曲を歌ってみましたのでアップします。歌詞の内容は現在ではあまり歌にとりあげられなくなった男性像を表現していますね。

Youll Think Of Me 2.mp3

I’m sorry now, girl, but I must leave you
There’s something deep inside my soul keeps calling me
The winter wind, girl, will not deceive you
And in your cold and empty bed, you’ll think of me, oh yes
You’ll think of me

You’ll see me coming, you’ll see me going
Don’t ask me why I’m just the kind needs to be free
Just like that outlaw wind keeps on a-blowin’
Yeah, in your cold and empty bed, you’ll think of me, oh yes
You’ll think of me

Now I know you loved me just like I wanted
I know you’d follow me across an endless sea
But, baby, I’ve got a heart that’s haunted
Yeah, in your cold and empty bed, you’ll think of me, oh yes
You’ll think of me

Ah but you should know, girl, that I’ll be crying
Out on that lonely road where not a soul can see
I’ll shed my tears for a love that’s dying
Yeah, in your cold and empty bed, you’ll think of me, oh yes
You’ll think of me

The summer sun, girl, will bring a stranger
And he’ll be better to you than I used to be
And when he takes you into his arms, girl
Well, in your warm and loving bed, you won’t think of me, no, no
You won’t think of me

Then in your warm and loving bed, you won’t think of me, no, no
You won’t think of me

(*発音矯正を望まれる歌手・俳優、また、英語教師などの英語を使うお仕事をされている方は、ホームページをご覧の上メールにてお気軽にご相談ください。)

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One Response to “日本人が英語で演じるということ”

  1. Collin より:

    Hi admin, this is kinda nice! I can’t read Japanese but can guess what you’re trying to explain here. You sound really good! Keep up the nice work!
    Looking forward to your next post :-)
    Collin

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