29 replies to this topic

[Matteo Fabbretti]

Hi guys

 

I am interested in gathering some opinions about what the fans think about manga translation for a university project.

 

Please keep in mind that these two options are not absolute, but more like general tendencies. what I want to know is what you enjoy the most.

Edited by Matteo Fabbretti, 27 April 2013 - 12:57 PM.

[Horn]

My preference: Fluency, all the way. Intact standard phrases/titles and stock translations annoy me to no end.

[Loki]

You also requested this on baka.

[Matteo Fabbretti]

Yes, I considered batoto and mangaupdates as separate communities, so I wanted to see what people though in both.

Edited by Matteo Fabbretti, 27 April 2013 - 02:32 PM.

[Rol]

Adequacy since I consider that many things are lost in translation, so I think it's best to stay as close as possible to the original.

[Viscoun]

always fluency. a good translator and proofreader can always find equivalents, and always should. those who don't are just lazy. or aren't that good at it.

of course, honorifics are a different matter...

[Rol]

always fluency. a good translator and proofreader can always find equivalents, and always should. those who don't are just lazy. or aren't that good at it.

Of course I agree with you but I always feel like there's something lost in translation, even if you're the best translator. The language reflect the culture and the the way people think, sometimes there's just no equivalent for a word in another language. Or it's not completely equivalent, and that's what I don't like.

[Viscoun]

Of course I agree with you but I always feel like there's something lost in translation, even if you're the best translator. The language reflect the culture and the the way people think, sometimes there's just no equivalent for a word in another language. Or it's not completely equivalent, and that's what I don't like.

 

so if it's perfectly literally translated but reads like a monster truck going over cars, it's okay?

[Rol]

so if it's perfectly literally translated but reads like a monster truck going over cars, it's okay?

I never said literally translated.

[Viscoun]

give an example, then. aside from honorifics, names, places, and so on

[Horn]

There's no way to 100% perfectly translate one language into another without having to sacrifice either fluency or adequacy. A translator will always have to find some middle ground. For this I will favor fluency, even localization if necessary.

(I'm not too big on suffixes even, but I've sorta learned to accept them...)

[Rol]

I don't have one. I don't have any "solution" for the "problem" I just said. I just think that a translated sentence can't always be considered exactly the same as the original one because of the cultural differences, etc... that make the languages different.

Edited by Rol, 27 April 2013 - 02:51 PM.

[Viscoun]

I don't have one. I don't have any "solution" for the "problem" I just said. I just think that a translated sentence can't always be considered exactly the same as the original one because of the cultural differences, etc... that make the languages different.

 

that much is true... and horn's right, there will never be perfect fluency, either. but i'd rather translators tried to do their best in terms of fluency, rather than sacrificing it for a tiny bit of extra accuracy.

 

oh well, different strokes for different citizens.

[Rol]

that much is true... and horn's right, there will never be perfect fluency, either. but i'd rather translators tried to do their best in terms of fluency, rather than sacrificing it for a tiny bit of extra accuracy.

 

oh well, different strokes for different citizens.

Just to say that I'm quite happy with the way the mangas are translated right now, I didn't want to sound aggressive ^^ To me the suffixes, the names and the locations should be left intact, after that you can do what you want x)

Anyway if translators decide to be less accurate for more fluency I won't even see it.

What I said apply essentially to movies or series I watch subbed and sometimes think "That's not really exactly what it means" or something like that, but I know it's really not an easy job.

[Viscoun]

Just to say that I'm quite happy with the way the mangas are translated right now, I didn't want to sound aggressive ^^ To me the suffixes, the names and the locations should be left intact, after that you can do what you want x)

 

yess agree

 

well we ain't perfect XD now if only we didn't build the tower of babel...

[Loki]

It always depends on the pov , if i was the translator i Fluency is what should be strived for , but as a reader i prefer Adequacy , especially the idioms and proverbs that dont have counterparts in the english language , i rather they werent substituted with what is closest to our undestanding , but explained why they were left in the original version.

[Matteo Fabbretti]

Guys, this is not a "problem" with a "solution". I am just interested in what you enjoy best. there are not right or wrong answer, just preferences.

 

Here is an example of what I had in mind: in the Japanese, this is a joke about  "oni wa soto"  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun

but its been adapted into english with a reference to halloween.

 

 

 

Edited by Matteo Fabbretti, 27 April 2013 - 03:36 PM.

[svines85]

Well, as you've got the question (and answers) phrased, I voted for "Adequacy" ...........I suppose in large part because I feel, like has been expressed here already, that there really is no "perfect" translation from one language to another. Some of the responsibility of understanding, not just the words but the nuances as well,  lies with the reader.,  

 

It would seem to me that too much effort or attempt to "sound like the author was a native english speaker" could create as many problems, and lose as much of the author's original meaning,  as a poor translation. 

[Phil777]

I voted for Adequacy, but TRUELY (and I do some linguistics on the side, so I should know), there should be some sort of middle ground between the two. =/

 

Or if the joke really does not translate that well, go for fluency, but explain the joke elsewhere, like the credits or in a TL note. =/

[Chocolate Chip]

Umm, don't you mean "accuracy" instead of "adequacy"?