Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

acting out

Chinese translation:

抓狂/发飚

Added to glossary by Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Jun 27, 2007 05:05
16 yrs ago
English term

acting out

English to Chinese Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Common Phrase
The context:

Nurse Mildred Ratched (possibly a play on the word 'wretched') is a fictional character from Ken Kesey's 1962 novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". She was portrayed by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film version in an Academy Award-winning role.

A cold, sadistic tyrant obsessed with her own power, Nurse Ratched has become synonymous with the stereotype of the nurse as a "battleaxe." She has also become a popular metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and authority in bureaucracies such as the mental institution in which the novel is set.

Nurse Mildred Ratched is the head administrative nurse at the Salem, Oregon State (Mental) Hospital, where she exercises near-absolute power over the patients' access to medications, privileges, and basic necessities such as food and toiletries. She capriciously revokes these privileges whenever a patient displeases her. Her superiors turn blind eyes because she maintains order, keeping the patients from {acting out} (either through antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs or her own brand of "therapy", which consists mostly of humiliating patients into doing her bidding). Her greatest success is with the stuttering, suicidal Billy Bibbit, who is so terrified of her that he does whatever she says.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_Ratched
Change log

Jun 28, 2007 03:17: orientalhorizon changed "Language pair" from "English to Chinese" to "Chinese to English"

Jun 28, 2007 03:18: orientalhorizon changed "Language pair" from "Chinese to English" to "English to Chinese"

Jun 28, 2007 13:58: Wenjer Leuschel (X) Created KOG entry

Jun 29, 2007 04:08: Wenjer Leuschel (X) changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/73066">Wenjer Leuschel (X)'s</a> old entry - "acting out"" to ""抓狂""

Discussion

Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 29, 2007:
另一个汉语的词也适用:发飚(这是在台湾常用的词)。在 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 这部电影里,那位演员 Louise Fletcher 把 Nurse Ratched 的角色诠释得淋漓尽致,最常抓狂、发飚的其实正是这位护士长。很值得看的电影,让人明白人间的权力结构可能带来的不义。
Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 28, 2007:
最后,我想说:我们在这里有一个 Catch 22,那就是,在论坛里不能讨论 KudoZ 的问题,在 Ask the Asker 里也变成不能讨论翻译问题的问题,但另外却也找不到地方交换意见。因此,我特别珍惜我提出的这个问题引起热烈的讨论,在此特别向提出建议和讨论的各位同仁致谢!
Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 28, 2007:
So, I guess, I have found the right word for the term: 抓狂.
Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 28, 2007:
@Shirley: 在德語裡有一個詞跟 acting out 很相近,叫 Ausrappeln,台灣的說法叫做「抓狂」:當一個人受到不義的對待時,沒有正常的管道獲得抒解,很容易造成這種現象。在 One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest 電影裡,Nurse Ratched 欺負那些病犯,如果他們因此抓狂宣洩情緒時,她就採取那些 antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs or her own brand of "therapy" 對付那些病患。但是,那位 McMurphy 沒有那麼容易抓狂,一直到 Nurse Ratched 把 Billy Bibitt 逼上自殺之路後,McMurphy 才抓狂掐了她的喉嚨。這個舉動當然有嚴重後果:McMurphy 被切除腦前葉。那位敘述故事的印地安酋長,看了不忍,便用枕頭將 McMurphy 悶死,然後 flew over the cuckoo's nest --- 這就是小說和電影名稱的由來。
Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 28, 2007:
@Shirley: 謝謝你參與討論 acting out 這個翻譯上的問題。One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Net(飛越杜鵑窩)是一部相當有趣的電影,Nurse Ratsched 這號人物在人間可以說是某種典型的人物,她所控管的病患受到極不人性的擺弄。我在此所引用的 Wikipedia 文本並未完全說出 Nurse Ratched 的角色,同文中還說到 McMurphy 的出現所造成的奇妙現象,那是很關鍵的信息,沒看到那部電影,不容易解析 acting out 所指為何。不過,我大體上並不否定同仁們至今所提供的各種類似的答案,但其實還沒有一個答案是恰當的翻譯,所以我還想再等一下,看看還有沒有人想到更好的措辭。
Shirley Lao Jun 27, 2007:
Refer to the link for a brief description of "acting out" (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0000/ai_26020... In psychology, "acting out" has a very negative connotation and is often linked to antisocial behaviors, conduct disorder, etc.
Shirley Lao Jun 27, 2007:
Therefore, the nurse here is controlling the patients' emotions and behaviors that are out of control.
Shirley Lao Jun 27, 2007:
I believe "失控" is a good interpretation of "acting out", because the text mentions that the nurse maintains order and controls the patients through antipsychotic medication or psychotherapy.
Shaunna (X) Jun 27, 2007:
Sorry, didn't read the whole thing through. Orientalhorizon already got that definition down. :-)
Shaunna (X) Jun 27, 2007:
Wenjer, "act out" has at least two meanings. The usage you mentioned fits into the first definition listed in Merriam-Webster. The second definition, which I copied in my answer, is what it really used as in this context I think.
orientalhorizon Jun 27, 2007:
and this context is about controlling the mental patients, so either of the above may fit here.
orientalhorizon Jun 27, 2007:
Yes, you're right, but this phrase can also mean: 1. To express (unconscious impulses, for example) in an overt manner without conscious understanding or regard for social appropriateness. 2. to behave badly from being unhappy or upset.
Wenjer Leuschel (X) (asker) Jun 27, 2007:
@orinentalhorizong: I haven't found the right botton to notify you. So, I add this note here. To act out is something like to carry out, to perform or to realize something. For instance, "He is determined to act out his ideal." or "We roared when Mary acted out the episode." I think the translation you suggested deviates from these possible senses. I know you must be able to figure out how it can be properly translated in the above context. Please take a closer look of the context. I appreciate your help.

Proposed translations

7 hrs
Selected

任性行为,任意之举,使性子

act out 就是使性子,略带耍脾气的意思。

One definition of "act out" from Merriam-Webster:
2 : to express (as an impulse or a fantasy) directly in overt behavior without modification to comply with social norms
intransitive verb : to behave badly or in a socially unacceptable often self-defeating manner especially as a means of venting painful emotions (as fear or frustration)

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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-06-27 13:29:55 GMT)
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As for tuning the Chinese expression, I believe you can do a better job than I can.
任性而为?
Note from asker:
In this sense, the Chinese term should be tuned further.
Something went wrong...
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much! Based on your suggestion, the term is tuned now."
8 hrs

情緒及行為失控

PPT] PowerPoint 簡報File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - View as HTML
Time 時間. 情緒及行為失控的發展階段. Stages of Acting-Out Behavior. 老師在不同階段的工作. 建立關係  適時介入  評估情況: 緩急輕重 課後跟進事件 ...
www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/TC/Content_4751/students emotion... - Similar pages

[PPT] PowerPoint 簡報File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - View as HTML
「你知道你應付問題的方式,會有甚麼後果? 」 鼓勵學生為自己的行為負責任. 情緒及行為失控的發展階段. Stages of Acting-Out Behavior. 老師在不同階段的工作 ...
www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_5884/emb workshop 200... - Similar pages
[ More results from www.emb.gov.hk ]

[PPT] 投影片1File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - View as HTML
認知行為治療. 假設︰. 人願意改變; 人能夠改變; 思想能改變情緒及行為. 改善認知 ... 放縱情緒 ACTING OUT. 在壓力下不顧別人感受地表現出焦躁失控,甚至訴諸暴力。 ...
stpatrick.catholic.org.hk/notes.ppt - Similar pages

Something went wrong...
1 day 38 mins

行為反常

I think the term means acting abnomally.
Something went wrong...
+2
25 mins

表现不好;(因疾病发作而)失控

控制不住自己。

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Note added at 26 mins (2007-06-27 05:32:15 GMT)
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通俗地说就是“发疯”。

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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-06-27 09:56:02 GMT)
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或者换个更老百姓的说法,就是不老实、不听话。

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2007-06-28 09:50:41 GMT)
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I did saw a movie on similar topic, I am not quite whether it is an American or Canadian one. The doctor therein is very very cruel, and mental patients are actually tortured, not treated. Any inpatient who doesn't behave would be subdued finally by using some horrendous measures.
Note from asker:
Now I found out the botton to add note to you. The explanations from other peers have shed some light on this matter. I will need a proper Chinese wording, less emotional judgement. By the way, have you seen the movie or read the book? A pretty good one for knowing what would happen when people are pushed to the wall.
Peer comment(s):

agree Shirley Lao
15 mins
thanks a lot
agree Huijun Suo : To act out whatever ideas in their mind, fantasies, idiosyncrasies, etc., to do whatever they feel free to do.
5 hrs
thanks a lot
Something went wrong...
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