Sounds like a skill issue. Bad translations are bad because they don’t find good ways to translate these kinds of things. As you say, translation isn’t just about the words, it’s about cultural context. But, bad translations aren’t inevitable just because good translations are difficult.
Have you done Japanese -> English translations yourself? For example, if a character is named “79”, how would you subtly show that the character’s name is literally “Earth”, in English? (地球 = ちきゅう = ち＊きゅう = 7＊9)
Interpretive art nullifies the claims of skill issue. I could write some fanfiction and claim it’s an accurate translation of the original because “art”.
Since translations can’t be done 1:1, some of the value of the original will necessarily be lost in translation. Attempts to reintroduce nuance in the translation is fanfiction, whose faithfulness to the original is quite subjective.
Sounds like a skill issue. Bad translations are bad because they don’t find good ways to translate these kinds of things. As you say, translation isn’t just about the words, it’s about cultural context. But, bad translations aren’t inevitable just because good translations are difficult.
Have you done Japanese -> English translations yourself? For example, if a character is named “79”, how would you subtly show that the character’s name is literally “Earth”, in English? (地球 = ちきゅう = ち＊きゅう = 7＊9)
Sounds like a skill issue. Good translation is hard and is rarely a literal one to one mapping of syntax and diction. It’s an interpretive art.
Interpretive art nullifies the claims of skill issue. I could write some fanfiction and claim it’s an accurate translation of the original because “art”.
Since translations can’t be done 1:1, some of the value of the original will necessarily be lost in translation. Attempts to reintroduce nuance in the translation is fanfiction, whose faithfulness to the original is quite subjective.
I disagree on ever single point you’ve said here.
Kay.