Here’s a paradox - by my own standards then, I shouldn’t be posting, since I would by my own measures potentially ‘inadvertently mislead or misinform’. That is valid. Of course, when personal pride and emotions come into play, one can’t be totally objective - and I won’t claim to be. I’ll continue what I’ve been doing, because I believe (or like to) that with each successive translation I make, I’m making progress. With each and every translation, I’m doing my best. And I try to listen, and learn as much as I can. Last but not least, (in a cruel, subjective and perhaps invalid statement) whatever the case is, my version’s probably one of if not the very best on the Net. In this way I can sort of answer to my own impossibly high standards, and my conscience is at ease knowing that I have done my level best at being faithful to the text (and the lyricist), and keeping my faith with my readers (few as they are).

I’m sure your own convictions share many similarities with mine (hopefully a slightly less conceited version of mine. XD). Do correct me if I’m wrong. What I have to say to you, Azu, is perhaps summarized in the following sentence:

“I have something against some of your WORK, not your PERSON.”

I hope you won’t doubt my sincerity (though I’d grudgingly admit that if you do so you might have a point that I cannot see clearly myself, given the limits of self-introspection), and I’d like to offer you a few words, from one amateur translator to another.

“Your Japanese (or English) standard isn’t quite enough, as far as I can see, and with my own personal judgment. You still have much to learn, but so do I. Do your level best at all times, and remember your duty to the reader, the text and the lyricist. Do not give up - and may we both have the courage and will to continue, learning as best from our mistakes as we can, and making improvement constantly.”

As a final word, the reason why I didn’t name names in my post is not out of cowardice, but because it isn’t a personal attack on you. Or rather, it may be perceived as an attack on many people (including myself). But if I may be allowed to explain myself, what this post is isn’t a structured, cohesive, solid and supported attack on translators and their work.

It’s just a rant by a kid in a bad mood, above everything else. I hope you won’t take it too personally or reprimand the kid too severely. ^^;

I hope we understand each other a little more now. I look forward to your reply.

Thanks for reading my (even-) long(er) reply.

- Peardruid/KonoeKonoka

I admit that I was somewhat irked by some of your work, but then again, I don’t really believe I have a right to criticize for that - since I have on record several atrocious examples on this site. Allow me to explain a little as to why I wrote this post.

Coming down to it, I was just in a bad mood (no excuse - but the truth is the truth). What started it is now forgotten, but I happened to be surfing through Animelyrics at that time, followed by some random websurfing. I came across some websites that featured lyrics translations, and I took some time to read through them.

What I discovered was a little shocking. The fact is that some people are posting (in my perception, and with the dictionary as proof) pretty atrocious translations on the net, be it on Animelyrics or on their own websites. Do note that I do the same thing, though I have reason to believe that I do make more effort in making sure that whatever I post is as good as I can make it, with some exceptions. The fact does remain that when I wrote the original post I wasn’t terribly self-introspective, and that is a fault on my part.

Now, it is perfectly true that whatever people post on their own blogs is pretty much their own business (and it’s not like people who post translations are endangering the World Order or National Security anyway). But viewing the situation through my own set of colored lenses, something didn’t quite click.

Let’s admit it - many of us who do translations and post them in public (blogs constitute as such, I believe) want, hope, and expect them to be read. That in itself, in my own book, constitutes a certain obligation on the translator’s part, which is to do his best. It is not exactly a universal value per se, and I don’t intend to force it on anybody (as if I can). But it is a view you stated you agree with, no?

Here lies the core of my ‘argument’, if it can be called such - people who do not understand Japanese to a reasonable degree SHOULD NOT make their translations public in a way that would inadvertently mislead or misinform the reader. Note the vague wording of my statement. What constitutes ‘a reasonable degree [of Japanese proficiency]’? What constitutes ‘a way that would inadvertently mislead or misinform’? I have no precise answers to that. However, I would stress that qualifications mean little - and here’s my substantiation. DarkMirage and I both hold JLPT1s, but the ACTUAL DISPARITY between our abilities is wide, if not positively VAST. I lost to him by 11 points out of 400 on the exam - but our difference is a lot MORE than just 2.75%. I hope you see my point.

What would I use as a guide for the ‘reasonable standard’. There isn’t a universal standard for that, but I believe that in general, a consensus among the indisputably Japanese-literate (a category that I hope I’m in, but without proof to back up any claim whatsoever other than my JLPT1, hence it’s up to say Japanese natives fluent in English or anybody who spends his or her life studying Japanese and English as an academic) can be reached as to who actually ‘knows what he’s talking about’.

If that is so, then I am extremely sorry. I am no expert, my kanji knowledge count is low, I’m not even JLPT-4 certified and how the hell can I be compared to people like you and DM who is JLPT1-cert.

But I do take great heart in my translations. I, as well as you, read through them meticulously before submitting, and even then days later I would be reading it again and fix whatever mistakes I did. (Although I do have to fix my old ones, one of these days…)

Looking at your sola OP trans, I noticed one striking thing, which is the complexity of the English words you use - and this is one of those problems I come across in the land of song translation (I’m trying to gather them and put a huge discussion of it), which is the English you use in translation. Probably a normal or even a hugely-metaphorical song can be paired with a high level of linguistic, but what about those hyper songs like Lucky Star OP, and the loads of denpa you’ve heard along the way? Surely using less-formal English could be better suited to send the “feeling” across the song along with its literal meaning.

If I am correct in my fears that I am getting talked behind my back because of my work, then this is what little defense I have. I do not purposefully make them insensitively, everybody has different views of what they hear and understand. And like DM said, all fan translations suck.

Thank you for taking time to read this,
- Azu