Home

China

World

Politics

Business

Sci-Tech

Health

Opinions

Video

Live

Radio

World Asia-Pacific Middle East Europe Americas Africa

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

I agree

In global news, language barriers are unavoidable, and translation is often seen as a bridge. But when audiences do not understand the original words, translators can hold extraordinary power over how a message is received.

In this episode of Facts Tell, we unpack how mistranslation can reshape reality in international reporting. From the viral English subtitles attached to Somali-language remarks by US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to the disputed interpretation of Chinese factory dialogue in the French program Cash Investigation, we examine how subtitles can distort meaning, reinforce existing narratives and create impressions that differ sharply from what was actually said.

Watch the full episode, share your thoughts in the comments and follow CGTN for more analysis on how global stories are shaped through language, framing and interpretation.

03:48

Open in CGTN APP for better experience

Search Trends

Reality, mistranslated: When subtitles speak louder than sound