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New Poll - Translating Jokes/Puns
This week's poll about translations was suggested by Shonaiula. When you read a scanlation, do you prefer the dynamic or formal equivalence for jokes and puns, as well as what's your view on translation notes for said jokes/puns?
You can submit poll ideas here (and try to keep them manga/anime-related)
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903
Question: You are the demon king/queen. The humans send heroes to fight you. You...
Choices:
Wait in your lair and send out all your minions first - votes: 376 (4.8%)
Personally do battle right away. The heroes' first battle should be the final boss - votes: 970 (12.5%)
Talk your way out and convince them to leave you alone - votes: 495 (6.4%)
Leave a decoy in your place make them think they defeated you - votes: 1309 (16.8%)
Try to form an alliance with the humans and end the war - votes: 1383 (17.8%)
Attack all the other humans while the heroes are away - votes: 882 (11.3%)
Infiltrate the party of heroes and turn them against each other - votes: 2038 (26.2%)
Run away from the heroes every time - votes: 328 (4.2%)
There were 7781 total votes.
The poll ended: July 8th 2016
Infiltration and peace were the top choices. Now if you were an alien, the best way to dismantle humanity would be to infiltrate the upper echelons... Unless you were facing Key and Peele.
You can submit poll ideas here (and try to keep them manga/anime-related)
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903
Question: You are the demon king/queen. The humans send heroes to fight you. You...
Choices:
Wait in your lair and send out all your minions first - votes: 376 (4.8%)
Personally do battle right away. The heroes' first battle should be the final boss - votes: 970 (12.5%)
Talk your way out and convince them to leave you alone - votes: 495 (6.4%)
Leave a decoy in your place make them think they defeated you - votes: 1309 (16.8%)
Try to form an alliance with the humans and end the war - votes: 1383 (17.8%)
Attack all the other humans while the heroes are away - votes: 882 (11.3%)
Infiltrate the party of heroes and turn them against each other - votes: 2038 (26.2%)
Run away from the heroes every time - votes: 328 (4.2%)
There were 7781 total votes.
The poll ended: July 8th 2016
Infiltration and peace were the top choices. Now if you were an alien, the best way to dismantle humanity would be to infiltrate the upper echelons... Unless you were facing Key and Peele.
Comments (limited to first 100 replies)
» calstine on July 9th, 2016, 2:15am
Wavering between 2 and 3, I went with 3 in the end, though I don't think most non-professional translators (or even some professional ones) have the skills to pick appropriate replacement jokes/puns. I was actually influenced more by thinking about Tintin's amazing transition from its native language to English, with the majority of the humour intact. In other words, with excellent translation, replacement is the best... Or so I assume.
But since the cultures are so diverse (unlike in the case of Tintin), I also think a translation note is essential.
I'm someone who isn't too fond of localisation, so this was a bit of an atypical option for me to choose, now that I think about.
But since the cultures are so diverse (unlike in the case of Tintin), I also think a translation note is essential.
I'm someone who isn't too fond of localisation, so this was a bit of an atypical option for me to choose, now that I think about.
» residentgrigo on July 9th, 2016, 4:07am
Literal translations with a translation note on the side. The closer you get to the original meaning, the better, unless there is a (near) identical English equivalent. This applies to EU translations too. Japanese puns are a mess btw.
» KaoriNite on July 9th, 2016, 4:45am
So I'm guessing this is when a joke doesn't translate well. I'm good with choices 2, 3, and 4 actually. The only reason I'm not okay with option 1 is that I'd be wondering if it was a bad translation (if you don't know the Japanese joke, then it could come off as nonsensical and a mistake on the part of the translator).
» mattai on July 9th, 2016, 10:33am
I think 3 is the "best", since that (and 4) are the only ones involving an actual complete translation. If you literally convert an idiom or pun from another language word for word, you aren't "translating" the meaning.
That said, it can be interesting to learn little tidbits about the native language and what was the original joke, so a note is good.
But, since finding a replacement joke is not always easy - or possible - 2 is "fine".
1 is the only one that is a "fail" in my opinion, since the joke/pun's meaning is not conveyed to the reader at all.
That said, it can be interesting to learn little tidbits about the native language and what was the original joke, so a note is good.
But, since finding a replacement joke is not always easy - or possible - 2 is "fine".
1 is the only one that is a "fail" in my opinion, since the joke/pun's meaning is not conveyed to the reader at all.
» Sogno on July 9th, 2016, 7:01pm
i went with replacing with English equivalent with translation, mainly bc of the way i read manga -- i just zoom right through it; i dont like to stop and think. if it is a pun/joke that means that it is supposed to be funny, but if i don't get the joke then it has lost its funny. i like the TL note there because it lets me know that it is not a direct translation but the same tone has gotten across, which i believe is important when it comes to comedy.
there are cases where there really isn't any good English equivalent. in that case, direct translation is best; however, then i have to read the explanation and it just isn't funny by that point. even if i get the joke, because i mean how can a joke that has to be explained be funny?
there are cases where there really isn't any good English equivalent. in that case, direct translation is best; however, then i have to read the explanation and it just isn't funny by that point. even if i get the joke, because i mean how can a joke that has to be explained be funny?
» Koru-tan on July 10th, 2016, 1:07am
I'd have to go with door number 3. I'm all for saving things that are part of the culture, but I consider jokes something that should be translated. For me translation is conveying what the author meant, so if the pun was meant to get a laugh or a groan, it should be replaced with something that would get a laugh or a groan.
Also translation notes are important, since it teaches a little about the humor of Japanese people, and if the translator screws up in English, then there's still something of value in the form of an explanation.
Also translation notes are important, since it teaches a little about the humor of Japanese people, and if the translator screws up in English, then there's still something of value in the form of an explanation.
» Nekore on July 10th, 2016, 12:55pm
I went for 2 mostly thinking of word puns that are usual, and with that even from occidental culture many times one can't translate many jokes, mosty thinking on my head about chemical jokes but all of those that depends on the similarities of sounds can't be directly translated.
» train93 on July 11th, 2016, 11:34am
I'd normally say 4, but since it's about scanalations I went with 3. Not translating a joke is basically removing content from the work. Not only should the reader be able to benefit from a joke, but it should also be well put in the flow of the dialogue so that the reader won't even think about the original version. But this is what I want from professionals, I can't require the same application, skill or just time spent on traslating a joke from people who do it as a hobby and have other priorities (actually I can't require anything at all). In this case, a simple pun in English would be the best, with a note that briefly explains what it was supposed to be. But regardless, if there was a joke the reader should find a joke, and not simply that there was supposed to be one.
» MinatoAce on July 13th, 2016, 6:39am
Literal translation with a translation note on the side.
You gotta learn something new regularly.
You gotta learn something new regularly.
» SinsI on July 14th, 2016, 4:10pm
Alwayson a case by case basis. Ideally, if the "equivalent joke" is very close, it is number 4 - but far too often 3 or 2 are the only ways. 1st should never be an option.
» cheria on July 14th, 2016, 8:11pm
Literal translation with a note on the side.
I'm always down for learning about Japanese jokes and culture, especially slang and I'd want it as exact as possible.
I'm always down for learning about Japanese jokes and culture, especially slang and I'd want it as exact as possible.
» animalia on July 15th, 2016, 9:59am
Quote from cheria
Literal translation with a note on the side.
I'm always down for learning about Japanese jokes and culture, especially slang and I'd want it as exact as possible.
I'm always down for learning about Japanese jokes and culture, especially slang and I'd want it as exact as possible.
At the cost of losing the humor in the scene?
