Ancient Languages in a Popular TV Show: Case Study
Client Industry:
Entertainment (TV)
Project Overview:
Paragon collaborated with a long-running TV series during its 80-episode run from 2008 to 2014. The show, set in a universe of vampires and supernatural creatures, required translation and linguistic expertise to create authentic dialogue in ancient and modern languages. The project involved translating scripts, providing recordings, and offering dialect coaching in languages such as Aramaic, Old Norse, Old German (from 1000 AD), Russian, and modern German.
Languages Involved:
Aramaic, Old Norse/Swedish (from 1000 AD), Old German (from 1000 AD), Russian, Modern German
Project Duration:
Ongoing support as needed throughout the show's run from 2008-2014
The Challenge:
The TV series featured a rich and complex universe with characters spanning centuries, including vampires and werewolves who spoke ancient languages. To maintain authenticity, the show required scenes featuring flashbacks, rituals, and dialogues in languages that were thousands of years old, such as Old Norse, Aramaic, and Old German. Finding experts capable of accurately translating and coaching these ancient languages was critical to ensuring the scenes felt realistic.
Additionally, the production team needed help with modern languages like Russian and German for characters who were immigrants or involved in historical flashbacks. The Client required not only accurate translations but also audio recordings of the lines to guide actors in delivering their dialogue correctly.
The Solution:
Paragon’s extensive network of linguists, historians, and scholars made it possible to meet the Client’s needs across a range of languages and time periods. After successfully delivering translations and recordings for Russian and German, Paragon was entrusted with the more challenging task of handling ancient languages.
Key Steps in the Solution:
Language Expertise:
Paragon worked closely with experts in ancient languages, including Aramaic, Old Norse, and Old German, to ensure that the scripts were translated accurately. These scholars provided precise translations and adapted the dialogue to reflect the cultural and historical contexts of the scenes.Dialect Coaching:
In addition to written translations, Paragon provided recorded audio files of the translated lines, allowing actors and directors to hear the correct pronunciation and intonation. This ensured that the actors could deliver their lines with authenticity, even in ancient languages that no longer have native speakers.Speed and Accuracy:
Despite the complexity of working with rare and ancient languages, Paragon ensured that translations and recordings were delivered quickly to keep pace with the show’s production schedule. The Client was able to submit lines to Paragon with confidence that they would be returned on time without compromising quality.
The Results:
Paragon’s collaboration with the TV series production team helped bring authenticity to the show’s portrayal of supernatural characters speaking ancient languages. Our translations, recordings, and dialect coaching contributed to the realism of scenes involving rituals, flashbacks, and historical settings. The Client’s production was able to maintain its high standards of accuracy without any delays in their timeline.
This attention to detail and linguistic accuracy contributed to the show’s critical success, earning it Emmy and Golden Globe awards and nominations. Paragon’s role in the show highlighted our ability to handle unique and complex language projects while delivering exceptional results under tight deadlines.
Conclusion:
Paragon’s expertise in rare and ancient languages helped a popular TV series maintain authenticity and engage viewers with realistic depictions of supernatural characters speaking languages from centuries past. Our partnership with the Client demonstrated the value of combining linguistic precision with creative adaptation to meet the needs of the entertainment industry.
