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11/11/2005 TranslationSince I've done a Japanese/English translation cource, the way I look at translated materials have changed, quite a bit.
Although I still have the notion that "If the original is in a language I understand, then watch or read the original," I don't have a dislike toward translated material like I had before. I used to comment on bits that was not translated, or translated in different words and roll my eyes at it without thinking any more of it. However now, although I do the same, I also try to think of why the translator did it like so. Only after that I will comment if its efficient, or lacking.
However, I do have my own set of rules for translation, and number 1 on the list was "Don't change the character's name!" However, my favorit game 逆転裁判 has an English version now called Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Although this IS my favorit game, I can still say from a third person's point of view that it has a good translation! Even though all the character's names are compleatly different from the original, (and that is the number 1 rule on my list thet you shouldn't do) it's nesesary for almost all the character's names are puns! So now my number 1 rule has change a bit, turning into "Don't change the character's names, unless there is a good reason to, beside of Westernising it"
On the other hand, when I do comment about translations, I usually say "It could have been this way." But for one of my final take home exams, I had to compair a story called 伊豆の踊子 The Izu Dancer (I would have titled it The Dancer of Izu) and I have to say, it wasn't good enough. The one I had to compair the Japanese with was published in 1954 by Edward Seidensticker, and to me it seemed like he misunderstood the story or the culture or something, for I felt really unplesent about it. Although he had the vocabulary right, the mood of the story felt different, and somewhat awkwerd. I only know a bit of the original story, but just reading that, I don't understand why Seidensticker translated the way he did...
Anyway, so I might be giving a lot of more translations a chance now. This includeds the Harry Potter books which I really couldn't get myself to go near it with a 11-foot pole. (Besides, I had to translate a bit of it in the couse as well)
Everday StuffAfter coming home yesterday (or this morning) around 2:30 in the morning, I didn't get out of bed untill noon. It's actually not because I felt tied, but my thighs and arms hurt after setting up and putting things away for DUST yesterday. So I got up, finished my translation take home exam, and now still cleaning up the kitchen (well, mostly the stove). Well, I'm getting hungry, so I might go off and make dinner now
Yum Yum
  (mind you, I'm not having ppizza for dinner)The Security Pass and T-shirt that I got from DUST |
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