29 replies to this topic

[Eien No]

Fluency. I'm a proofreader and that's definitely what I strive for when I make my corrections. Of course, I tend to favor the translator's wording and only when it sounds completely strange that I make any corrections but as a generality, I try to stick with wording that will roll easily off the tongue.

 

That being said, the way characters communicate in manga is expotentially different than the way a conversation in english would be carried out. We don't use honorifics and we don't tend to call our siblings "big brother" or "little sister" when speaking with them. Oni-san and Nee-chan have a different feel to them so when these terms come up in manga, I'd prefer if they were kept as so. It's the same when characters have some sort of special move and the english translation is strange and I mean the bad strange.

 

In a sense I suppose I support the middle-ground, but I do tend to favor fluency.

[manga2x]

No Middle ground choice...

Any Reason why there is No Middle ground choice?

 

I that case, Adequacy (Accuracy) is more important to me than Fluency

I don't mean it as absolute Adequacy.

I do support sacrificing a bit of Accuracy for the sake Fluency.

Hence, the middle ground choice is my actual preference.

Edited by manga2x, 28 April 2013 - 09:41 AM.

[Matteo Fabbretti]

There is not middle ground because both choices are meant to be general tendencies, not absolutes.

 

The first choice does not mean absolute literalism: it could mean footnotes or honorifics or anything else.

 

The second choice does not mean rewriting the lines completely according to the translator's whim, but make it sound as natural as possible: no notes, no honorifics (or like in the example I gave: instead of beans, candies).

 

Let me make an example: if I asked you "do you tend to prefer vanilla or chocolate" and you answer "vanilla" it does not mean that you hate chocolate. what I want to know, in general terms, do you tend to enjoy reading manga that try to maintain a Japanese flavour  etc.. or do you find it bothersome?

Edited by Matteo Fabbretti, 28 April 2013 - 11:46 AM.

[KeySquared]

As a translator (albeit a very horrible one), I try to strive for adequacy, really. I try to portray that country's words and phases so that the reader can understand culture and such; but I admit I've been leaning towards fluency lately. 

 

So, middle ground, I guess? Translate rocky phases to actual idioms in English (EX- Korean saying: It's like lying on your back and eating rice cakes. English saying: It's a piece of cake)  but if there's a specific cultural reference then leave it and say something in the T/N. I'm a person who just translates for fun, so... I use T/Ns more often than I'd like- but I can understand how this can be a problem for actual scanalators.

[Matteo Fabbretti]

I didnt put a middle ground option because I think in practice if you dont mind translator notes and onorifics you are already on the adequacy side.

 

so to rephrase it:

adequacy: I'm OK with notes on page, honorifics, etc. I find them useful.

fluency: I'm not OK with notes, honorifics, etc. I find them unnecessary.

[Chocolate Chip]

Once again, the word you are looking for is accuracy. Not adequacy.

[Krazoa]

I hate when translators use dialogue which doesn’t fit with the persona or situation of the character.

[Metroidhunter32]

Typically I want the translation to flow well, but I like the honorifics still being in.  The way that I think of it, do I want the translator's primary language to be jappaneese/korean or do I want it to be english.  I perfer english, because they can determine the rough meaning and give me something that flows well.  I'm also a fan of footnotes for things that don't translate smoothly without loosing meaning, or to explain a funny pun.

[Tyler Durden]

I'm actually a fan of the footnotes that Translators put. I know it kind of kills some of the fluency, but I love it for the way we truly understand what the orignal saying or wording was. And sometimes (here I'm thinking TOG) it's nice when the transator explains Baam can mean both Chestnut or Night. I think it truly adds something. Also keep in mind this isn't a movie. Asides are okay, no need for absolute fluency

[Faye]

I voted accuracy (adequacy) because I like the characters to retain the "flavor" the author gives them.

I don't necessarily means you have to keep the exact same wording or jokes that won't work well in english, but giving t/l note is always a plus in my book

 

And I love translations that managed to keep the nuance of the original dialogues as much as possible

Example:

 

http://vatoto.com/read/_/78211/beelzebub_ch140_by_red-hawk-scans/19

I don't know what the real dialogues are, but this translation captures the nuance very well (Aoi a.k.a the black-haired girl in denial of the blondie's declaration, pretending that when she said wive, she meant wine)

Edited by fayrbrant, 05 June 2013 - 10:55 AM.