What is the point of making some dialogues inaudible and not showing some language translations?

Question

Today I was watching Sherlock Holmes and The Game of Shadows. In that movie, several foreign languages like German,French etc. were used. The film itself had no translation in English despite some small elements. Some conversations were inaudible too. I do not mean those inaudible words can not be guessed, but why is it done so? I have a feeling that they made such things (not showing translation in English, inaudible voices ) intentionally and these are not errors. But I cannot understand how this technique can add value to the quality of any movie? Anybody has explanations??!!

Answer 1

I didn't know about Sherlock Holmes case, so i am answering it in general way.

If it is unintentional then its movie mistake but if its done intentionally then its can be due to various reasons

1. To hide Spoiler- sometimes its done intentionally do add inaudible dialogue or foreign languages to hide the spoiler in a movie which may end up ruining the climax for the audience.

2. For hilarious effect- Sometimes its for adding Humor as in the case of Luis Bunuel's The Phantom of Liberty. (source)

3. To reduce redundancy- If the same sequence of event and dialogue is there in the movie then sometimes redundancy of dialogue is also reduced by using inaudible dialogue. Example- About two-thirds of the way through North By Northwest, the Professor explains the whole "George Kaplan" scenario to Thornhill at the airport, and his voice is drowned out by the roar of plane engines. This is actually done to reduce redundancy.

4. Sometimes some dialogues are not so important, so they may make it inaudible.

5. Sometimes its also done to shorten the long conversation.

Some similar examples are given here.