[Discussion] Viz translations

[chopstickchakra]

Just curious how people feel about Viz translations. I know they're typically regarded as the "official" but I've noticed sometimes they seem to be more literal than working with the context sometimes or should I say some other translations feel more like natural dialogue where Viz can sometimes read like a translation app.

Also there's been cases where they've used loose definitions like with My Hero the word was literally trasnslated to individuality but someone used quirk instead and it stuck. So there is a case where the "official" translation isn't the actual translation. Do instances like this make you reconsider Viz;s validity as the definitive translation site or do you still feel they chould be the recognized translators?

 

[Chikombo]

Haven't thought about that, good points. Maybe it's impossible to do a perfect translation you would need to be an expert at both languages, but also maybe it's more professional to be more literal when translating. I guess the best way to experience it is to learn japanese then read it in the original language.

 

[HowDidIGetPrem]

Imo, the most respected translation should be whatever most people agree on, even if it's the worst.
Viz is as valid as everyone else believes it is as far I'm concerned. Being official validates it enough for many people, so I'd roll with it.

The fluidity of translations don't really take away from them either imo. Like people used to bash on ********(censured, but you know who) for constantly making characters curse, and their response to it was that, despite the characters not literally cursing, it's the closest equivalent to what the characters did in regards to their societal environment. People found it jarring, but there was still a reason behind it. You can always just slap this mood alongside more literal translations and have the two supplement each other, because the two don't have to contradict each other.

We can see that the "individuality" translation is actually a more suitable word from a recent chapter where Boss Rat mentions quirks being called quirks in the true sense of the word. The literal definition of quirk doesn't actually include characteristics like having a tail, but individuality does. Quirk was probably chosen just because of it sounding better or for the fact(? idk) that it captures this obscured sense of individuality that the characters have apparently been using it to mean.

 

[kc5181]

Literate is good. It shows that they are doing there jobs.

 

[Punk Hazard]

Imo, the most respected translation should be whatever most people agree on, even if it's the worst.
Viz is as valid as everyone else believes it is as far I'm concerned. Being official validates it enough for many people, so I'd roll with it.

The fluidity of translations don't really take away from them either imo. Like people used to bash on ********(censured, but you know who) for constantly making characters curse, and their response to it was that, despite the characters not literally cursing, it's the closest equivalent to what the characters did in regards to their societal environment. People found it jarring, but there was still a reason behind it. You can always just slap this mood alongside more literal translations and have the two supplement each other, because the two don't have to contradict each other.

We can see that the "individuality" translation is actually a more suitable word from a recent chapter where Boss Rat mentions quirks being called quirks in the true sense of the word. The literal definition of quirk doesn't actually include characteristics like having a tail, but individuality does. Quirk was probably chosen just because of it sounding better or for the fact(? idk) that it captures this obscured sense of individuality that the characters have apparently been using it to mean.

This pretty much describes how I view Viz.

Translating languages isn’t an issue that boils down to just taking what a word means and using the English equivalent. It’s basically “How do I take the idea being communicated here, and communicate that in English,” and the solution is to do just that: communicate the idea how it would be communicated in English.

That’s why the word “temei” coming from Jotaro in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure can be translated as “bastard” or “asshole,” but from a character that speaks in generally polite terms, it could just be translated as an angry “You fiend” when the word literally translates to neither of these things, but “you” instead.

In Japanese particular you’re gonna find things like these because their language has different connotations than English(things like honorifics and a general lack of usage of gendered pronouns when referring to others being examples). The Japanese equivalent to calling someone a “motherfucker” in English is essentially just their word for “You” with the tone or characters used to write it adding the context that profanity adds in English.
So I don’t mind Viz as long as the idea is being communicated.