Translation Question - Simplified Dialogue???

[BlueKojiro]

Hi, I wasn't really sure of where to ask this, since it didn't seem like there was any easy way to officially submit a question about the translations projects, but I started reading through SAO, and I have to say it's a really nice translation so far. BUT, I'm extremely disappointed with a lot of the dialogue translations. For example, in a section where Kirito responds "Please treat me well" after just meeting someone. This is obviously originally どうぞよろしく or one of it's variations, and I understand that that is technically a good literal representation of the phrase, but it simply just makes no sense when spoken or written in English. I agree that you should try to make the project as close to the original project as possible, but to be totally honest I'd much rather prefer some creative license when it comes to these kinds of things. There are bucket loads of phrases and words that just don't exist in English, yet they do in Japanese. And then how any of the sound effects and onomatopoeia are actually written out??? That's just incredibly awkward reading people speak in English and utter distinctly Japanese sound effects. It's just too weird of a clash. Reading those kinds of things in Hiragana and Katakana feels so much more natural and "right" I suppose you could say, but I understand the point of a translation is so you don't have to speak Japanese to enjoy them. Still, including them I think was a bad idea, and just clashes way too much. The differences in the way Japanese sentences are conveyed and English ones are just massive, and there are tons of things that could easily be re-worded to make sense in English.

I'm not trying to flame anyone here, it's a really solid project overall, but is anyone else even the slightest but miffed at these translation choices? Just wondering.

[KuroiHikari]

which volume are you referring to? If I'm not mistaken, v01 is secondhand translation from Korean, and some chapter of the rest are from Chinese.
Actually, there's no fixed rules here, other than term standardizations.

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index ... ation_Page
The work has been done by different translators, and the translators translated them their way.

Japanese has way more sound effects that it's just too hard to find an English equivalent. Actually, since we're on this topic, is there one for *Nurunuru*? And the sound for cream piping for cake decoration? Thanks.

PS: actually, you should paragraph/segment that wall of text of yours.

[larethian]

Hi, I wasn't really sure of where to ask this, since it didn't seem like there was any easy way to officially submit a question about the translations projects, but I started reading through SAO, and I have to say it's a really nice translation so far. BUT, I'm extremely disappointed with a lot of the dialogue translations. For example, in a section where Kirito responds "Please treat me well" after just meeting someone. This is obviously originally どうぞよろしく or one of it's variations, and I understand that that is technically a good literal representation of the phrase, but it simply just makes no sense when spoken or written in English. I agree that you should try to make the project as close to the original project as possible, but to be totally honest I'd much rather prefer some creative license when it comes to these kinds of things. There are bucket loads of phrases and words that just don't exist in English, yet they do in Japanese. And then how any of the sound effects and onomatopoeia are actually written out??? That's just incredibly awkward reading people speak in English and utter distinctly Japanese sound effects. It's just too weird of a clash. Reading those kinds of things in Hiragana and Katakana feels so much more natural and "right" I suppose you could say, but I understand the point of a translation is so you don't have to speak Japanese to enjoy them. Still, including them I think was a bad idea, and just clashes way too much. The differences in the way Japanese sentences are conveyed and English ones are just massive, and there are tons of things that could easily be re-worded to make sense in English.

I'm not trying to flame anyone here, it's a really solid project overall, but is anyone else even the slightest but miffed at these translation choices? Just wondering.

I normally liberalize these things. For this, I'll use "nice to meet you". However, sometimes we don't think too much, especially when we are trying to do it fast. It's a tradeoff, a few of us solo-ers try to do things at rapid rates sacrificing some amount of quality because we figured that no one will remember all the nitty gritty details, otherwise it may take many years for a project to be completed. Really, it's the job of editors and supervisors (for arbitration) to take care of these things, in my opinion. While there are tons of things that could easily be re-worded to make sense in English, there are also tons of things that could not be easily done. I hate to spend minutes on just one sentence to make it nice. The only exception is Mahouka.

[Tap]

If you're able to do better, go ahead and do it, it's a wiki.
Going overboard and changing the tone of character is bad, but if it works well, no one will actually object to it.
For example, changing something like "ohayo" to "top o' the morning" would be ridiculous.

There are bucket loads of phrases and words that just don't exist in English, yet they do in Japanese.

This line is the main reason for those awkward sound effects and onomatopoeia.
Like how a waterwheel goes "goton-goton".
I honestly couldn't think of an adequate equivalent and just went with "thudding" instead, despite its failings.

[BlueKojiro]

Hm, I guess I could understand that a little. It sort of almost feels like a lose-lose situation. Don't translate them and it sounds awkward, do and it won't work most of the time. And the example of "good morning" works because both languages have that expression. But "please treat me well" makes no sense in English. I dunno. Just some thoughts.

[Mystes]

Then if you can't say that because the expression does not exist in English, then editors should rephrase that.

Some translators are simply more literal than others, it is a common issue. There are also editors who restrain themselves who edit too much in fear, just like the translator, that the original meaning will be lost.

[Pryun]

Not all translators want naturalization... I feel that so long as a meaning can get across, there should be no need for naturalization, as naturalisation might cause some losses in meaning. As for SFX, it really isn't necessary to use English ones, unless the approximate English ones exist. I find Doki Doki far more meaningful than thump thump, for instance.

[BeginnerXP]

Translators, just like readers, have different preferences on how they translate (especially here where there's no one paying them to do it). It's not appropriate to say one's approach is right or wrong base on the reader's preferences. If you don't like this translator's style of work and there's no alternative translation, I think it's best to learn the language and read the original, yes it's not easy, but it's the only way to enjoy the work to the fullest.

Encouragement is good, constructive criticism is good, but nitpicking, I don't think so.

[BlueKojiro]

Oh, I'm not nitpicking. I really don't mean to offend anyone here, I truly don't, but reading through Aria of the Starless Night, there are tons of sections that are simply horrendous. Like, even just grammatically speaking. It's as if the translator retained the original Japanese grammar. I saved all of the chapters into a Word document in chronological order and have been reading through it such, and I've actually been correcting things along the way. Like, randomly one contraction will be written out, and others are kept (like can't, don't, won't, etc) and tenses randomly shift in the middle of sentences. I definitely think naturalization is better, obviously as long as the original meaning isn't lost. But the thing is there are plenty of sentences and phrases you could naturalize without changing the meaning. And another thing to consider is that sometimes keeping the original meaning doesn't actually help, since it may not even mean anything in English.

I think I'm really just curious as to whether these things have actually been edited or not. Have they? Because if not, I would truly like to join this project. Currently I have bucketloads of freetime, so I'd be able to carefully pore over each passage.

[BeginnerXP]

To be honest, SAO project, imo, really lacking editor. So it'd be great if you could lend your talent to help polishing the script, as long as the meaning is retain, no one will complain. I personally once asked for help from editor when my editor wasn't available to look at my script, and no one offer to help, ppl kept asking for when the next chapter will be worked on though...

[Tap]

Oh, I'm not nitpicking. I really don't mean to offend anyone here, I truly don't, but reading through Aria of the Starless Night, there are tons of sections that are simply horrendous. Like, even just grammatically speaking. It's as if the translator retained the original Japanese grammar. I saved all of the chapters into a Word document in chronological order and have been reading through it such, and I've actually been correcting things along the way. Like, randomly one contraction will be written out, and others are kept (like can't, don't, won't, etc) and tenses randomly shift in the middle of sentences. I definitely think naturalization is better, obviously as long as the original meaning isn't lost. But the thing is there are plenty of sentences and phrases you could naturalize without changing the meaning. And another thing to consider is that sometimes keeping the original meaning doesn't actually help, since it may not even mean anything in English.

I think I'm really just curious as to whether these things have actually been edited or not. Have they? Because if not, I would truly like to join this project. Currently I have bucketloads of freetime, so I'd be able to carefully pore over each passage.

Just wondering, but is the final part of that any better than the rest?
And yea, go for it if you can. More editors' almost always a good thing.

[Pryun]

yea, speaking of it, is the last part of Aria any better than the rest? I always like feedback about my work, see.

Also: Edit edit edit! we are in need of more people doing than talking about doing but not actually doing! so please edit. we can undo your changes if it isn't appropriate...

[htrajan]

There are a lot of cases where present tense is used when it should be past tense. Once my final exams are over, I could try my hand at editing some of that. Wouldn't mind translating at some point in the future as well. Great way to learn kanji which is kind of important if I want to pass JLPT N1.