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how to read translations - a thread from a professional translator 
first of all: you got duped! somebody weaponised your lack of knowledge in another language to lead you astray. i'm sorry that happened.
second of all: it's partially your fault.
second of all: it's partially your fault.
as a translator, i always advocate mindfulness to my colleagues. what does it mean? it means that translators are aware of the nuances in every single word. that every single translation is made with full awareness of what it explicitly and implicitly conveys.
of course, this cannot be fully applicable to fandom translators. i am paid to translate. it's my literal job. i sign a contract to every single project. there's a responsibility (beyond ethical) that i shoulder when i work on a translation project.
on the other hand, fandom translators are not paid. they do this in their free time. they may not even know of the industry standard practices of translating, they simply possess enough knowledge in two (or more) languages to be able to translate to an audience of fans.
so what do we do, then, as consumers? the solution is simple. the burden of mindfulness is then transferred to you, as readers.
mindfulness in language: a practice
- understand that no translator has the same style or diction. if you follow several translators long enough, you'd notice their favourite words or certain phrases they love to use.
- understand that no translator has the same style or diction. if you follow several translators long enough, you'd notice their favourite words or certain phrases they love to use.
- understand that it's almost impossible to accurately translate a language to another exactly as it is. certain translators prefer to translate literally. as in: they follow the sentence word by word and translate them as they are. this is why certain phrases sound clunky.
because different languages have different idioms & turn of phrase. they're not wholly translatable. so you often need more cultural context notes in order to complete your understanding of a translation.
sometimes, translators use the adaptation method. here's an example:
"nasi sudah menjadi bubur" → "rice has turned into porridge" (literal translation)
→ "there's no use crying over spilled milk" (adaptation)
"nasi sudah menjadi bubur" → "rice has turned into porridge" (literal translation)
→ "there's no use crying over spilled milk" (adaptation)
the reason why translators adapt is because "rice has turned into porridge" isn't a familiar phrase for english speakers whereas crying over spilled milk is a commonly known phrase. they don't translate the same, but they hold roughly the same meaning.
to use the phrase spilled milk would make more sense to english speakers because they immediately understand the sentiment that the translator is trying to convey.
THAT BEING SAID.
translating is hard and it's an extremely human job. computers have yet to fully replace us on this front and it's partially because languages evolve every single day. to use it requires mindfulness. to translate it, moreso.
translating is hard and it's an extremely human job. computers have yet to fully replace us on this front and it's partially because languages evolve every single day. to use it requires mindfulness. to translate it, moreso.
because it is an extremely human job, it is not free from: 1) human biases 2) human errors. yes, translators have biases even in the diction they use. your job as a consumer is to ensure that their biases DO NOT become your own.
as a professional translator, my advice is for you to: make a list of translators. create a whole timeline of translators. you can see, in eagle eye view, how their translations differ. if a translator chooses to translate an article, make sure you check the source.
make sure someone else is reading the article. make sure other translators are reading it. there have been multiple instances where translations were disputed because: 1) bogus source 2) intentional omission of words by translators.
as a consumer, you can only be taken for a fool so many times. equip yourself better so that no stranger use your lack of knowledge against you.
