|
Post by The Occasional Freighnos on Jun 18, 2015 11:20:08 GMT 9
Hi all Apparently my 課 is in charge of PRing my city's 45th anniversary event coming up and wants a certain phrase translated into YEIGO. How should 「もっともっと○○市」be translated? hue. It's so silly-sounding that idk how to go about it without it sounding unnatural ;__; 浦添 what you is doing -.-
|
|
|
Post by ザ・penguin54 on Jun 25, 2015 10:53:55 GMT 9
Question: is the phrase "sanctity of life" too strongly associated with the abortion debate in the U.S. to be a suitable translation for 命の尊さ?
Context: a letter to be sent to someone in the American Midwest, with an anti-war message (the other value it talks about is 平和の大切さ)
|
|
|
Post by hinats on Jun 26, 2015 8:25:08 GMT 9
I agree that the "sanctity of life" is rhetoric that rings strongly of the abortion debate. Would something like "the value of human life" work?
I feel like I've heard that phrasing used in the context of war before.
|
|
|
Post by ザ・penguin54 on Jun 26, 2015 10:40:22 GMT 9
I agree that the "sanctity of life" is rhetoric that rings strongly of the abortion debate. Would something like "the value of human life" work? I feel like I've heard that phrasing used in the context of war before. Yeah, I think I ended up going with "the value of life" or something similar to what you said. ありがとう〜
|
|
|
Post by jitenshaa on Jun 29, 2015 13:55:30 GMT 9
when there are translations and the titles are things like 「○○が始まります。」or「○○が行います。」, i translate only the ○○ part. anyone else do this?
|
|
|
Post by Shimanchu 2024 on Jun 29, 2015 15:21:36 GMT 9
Yes, because ________ starts!, _________ will be held! or _________ will begin! is super dumb
|
|
yevi
Tried natto; not a fan
Posts: 81
|
Post by yevi on Jul 2, 2015 13:10:58 GMT 9
not sure if there's a different thread for this but...
Does anyone have recommendations of books / online resources for Interpretation?? I'm supposed to be interpreting for a Governor at a conference in September and my CO said I should try to study up on interpreting.
|
|
G-Rex
Dead Stargod
killed SAKAMOTO LYOMA with crappa sushi
hi
Posts: 7,198
CIR Experience: Former CIR
|
Post by G-Rex on Jul 2, 2015 15:32:27 GMT 9
not sure if there's a different thread for this but... Does anyone have recommendations of books / online resources for Interpretation?? I'm supposed to be interpreting for a Governor at a conference in September and my CO said I should try to study up on interpreting. honestly the best way to learn and improve is just by doing it. i don't think i've had any practice that i felt actually helped because it's really hard to replicate the scenario (pressure, content, timing etc) to give yourself an accurate feel for it furthermore, everyone has their own way of doing it. for example, i barely ever take notes because if i write then i'm not listening, and my retention is rather good. however some people religiously take notes and manage to get down every detail i'm not sure of resources for interpreting, but more than anything the most helpful thing is finding out: 1) what conference is the governor going to be at? (aims of the conference, format, schedule, what kind of guests, "importance" level, etc) 2) why is he there? (representing the prefecture/speaking as a keynote speaker/actively taking part in the conference otherwise) 3) what kind of interpreting? (is it a stand-up-in-front-of-everyone-and-deliver-a-speech kind of deal, or conversation at a table?) 4) what is he likely to say? (if it's a speech, then it might be something related directly to the conference, or it might be something introducing the prefecture if there are many foreign guests or participants. does the governor tend to stick to the script or ad-lib?) 5) history of the conference (how many times, whether the governor has participated beforehand) 6) are there any names he's likely to drop? (names of individuals, large organisations, sponsors, etc) this kind of information is vital to have a quick read over just so you can feel prepared, if nothing else. they will absolutely have this information as well, so ask them in advance for some 参考資料 about the conference and why the governor is going to be there in the first place. also if it's an あいさつ deal, then ask for a copy of the speech draft/script if there is one (see point 4). translating the speech in advance is a great way of becoming familiar with some of the names, themes, and topics of what he might say, even if he ends up going completely off-topic and ad-libbing a new speech. lastly, if you want to practice, i would suggest trying to find some japanese news videos on youtube/a new site. this way you can listen to short snippets, pause, and practice interpreting them into english. however for actual interpreting advice, my biggest point would be: don't translate what he's saying. you want to listen to what he says, and just spit out the same overall meaning in english. once you start trying to directly translate each sentence, that's when you start falling behind, taking time, feeling nervous, and that's when it gets worse. my first ever interpreting thing was awful (remember that @mikan? ughhhhh i wanted to kill myself) but now i feel like i've become rather proficient in anything but the most complex situations, because half the battle is knowing your speaker, what he is likely to say, and why.
|
|
|
Post by telly on Jul 2, 2015 16:33:11 GMT 9
Also, not to discourage you from reading up on it, but professional interpreting can be studied at university, which is usually a course of at least two years, so actually studying might be a bit hard. But you could read up on how taking notes if you're interested in that, as a technique. But, there are as many schools out there as there are interpreters working in this day and age. Maybe take a look here: interpreters.free.fr/index.htm
|
|
yevi
Tried natto; not a fan
Posts: 81
|
Post by yevi on Jul 3, 2015 1:28:29 GMT 9
G-Rex & telly - thank you guys so much. That's actually very helpful. It will be my first interpreting job (heck I'm not even in Japan yet), so hopefully they aren't expecting toooo much from me.... hopefully.... anyway, it seems he's not giving any speeches at the conference, so I'm guessing it will be table conversation and あいさつ type things. Also that advice to spit out the same overall meaning, not the exact words is gold. Thank you!
|
|
G-Rex
Dead Stargod
killed SAKAMOTO LYOMA with crappa sushi
hi
Posts: 7,198
CIR Experience: Former CIR
|
Post by G-Rex on Jul 3, 2015 9:49:29 GMT 9
and remember, getting です・ます right is way better than trying to get the proper 敬語 down. if you feel comfortable with the set phrase then go for it, but don't ruin your "groove" by making an easily-avoidable mistake
that would be another tip: get the basic meaning across, and then embellish with appropriate honorifics after.
interpreting is hard - there's no two ways about it - so it's about taking it in stages and "levelling up".
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 6, 2015 14:08:13 GMT 9
A little late to the party, but I second everything G-Rex said. Preparation is 90% of the battle and if you have done enough research in advance, it will both help you in the actual interpreting because you'll know what to expect/what people are talking about, but also just the fact that you are doing something active and productive to help yourself should help you feel a little less nervous about it (if that makes sense). Also in my interpreting classes the teachers also emphasize the importance of getting the meaning, not the words, and I also agree that there's no need to worry about 敬語 if you think it would distract/worry you.
Also, if you mess up, don't beat yourself up about it and just move on and focus on the next part. Unlike translation, interpreting doesn't come with a record of what you've said (unless you're being recorded for some reason but that seems pretty unlikely), so it doesn't have to be perfect.
One thing that might also be good to practice is converting Japanese numbers to Western (?) ones and the other way around (100万 = 1 million, 10億 = 1 billion, etc.) I don't know if it will come up but numbers are usually pretty important and it's so easy to accidentally be off by a multiple of 10 or something. I write a little chart in the back of every interpreting notebook I have so I can review it whenever and maybe even reference it if I'm in a pinch/fast enough.
|
|
yevi
Tried natto; not a fan
Posts: 81
|
Post by yevi on Jul 7, 2015 2:50:09 GMT 9
One thing that might also be good to practice is converting Japanese numbers to Western (?) ones and the other way around (100万 = 1 million, 10億 = 1 billion, etc.) I don't know if it will come up but numbers are usually pretty important and it's so easy to accidentally be off by a multiple of 10 or something. I write a little chart in the back of every interpreting notebook I have so I can review it whenever and maybe even reference it if I'm in a pinch/fast enough. All solid advice, this especially ^^^ Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jul 9, 2015 11:06:59 GMT 9
I don't konw if it's just me but a ramen place is "shop" more than "store" right?
Somehow I keep having this nagging feeling that shop refers more to a place taht sells things as opposed to a place to eat. but i cant call this place a retaurant because its too small? what would you use?
|
|
|
Post by Sparkles on Jul 9, 2015 11:11:19 GMT 9
Uhhh, if a place serves food, I usually call it a "restaurant" even if it's small. i.e., "a small ramen restaurant." Not "cafe," ramen isn't served in cafes.... Hmmm.
Though I suppose "shop" would be okay? I do think it usually refers to a place that sells things that are not primarily ready-to-eat food, but if "ramen" prefaces it it should be self-explanatory?
If I heard "ramen store" I would think of it as a place to buy the noodles to take home and make yourself.
|
|
|
Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jul 9, 2015 11:14:49 GMT 9
Yeah I thought if Ramen prefaced it it'd be okay, but then I realized that some parts you would want to call it the __ right? so the store is definitely not it. the shop was also :/
hmm is it okay to assume that restaurant isn't limited to fancy places then. (ugh ramen places why you no fall easily into a category)
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 9, 2015 11:15:26 GMT 9
A small ramen establishment?
|
|
sana
So jozu at chopsticks
Posts: 171
CIR Experience: Former CIR
|
Post by sana on Jul 9, 2015 11:29:48 GMT 9
I'd be okay with 'shop' or 'restaurant'. I might also say 'small ramen place' or something equally non-descriptive. I always assumed shop vs store was a UK vs US English thing...that's how it plays out in AU English, anyway.
|
|
|
Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jul 9, 2015 11:35:11 GMT 9
I'd be okay with 'shop' or 'restaurant'. I might also say 'small ramen place' or something equally non-descriptive. I always assumed shop vs store was a UK vs US English thing...that's how it plays out in AU English, anyway. that might be what is confusing me! interesting. thanks!
|
|
keio chris
Dead Stargod
ever looked a star dragon in the eyes?
Posts: 3,043
CIR Experience: Former CIR
Location: Tokyo
|
Post by keio chris on Jul 9, 2015 12:35:30 GMT 9
(Breaking my one post/week rule to prevent horrible mistakes being made)
I think you're getting muddled up with the Japanese distinction of 店 vs レストラン, the latter being the former's fancy cousin. In English, everywhere's a restaurant, or "place" if you're being casual and it has the food name in front of it.
Put it this way - would you say "Burger shop/store"?
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 9, 2015 14:30:58 GMT 9
What do you call the things you pay at in parking lots? For bikes or cars. Fare machines? Not parking meters (for things not on the street).
|
|
|
Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jul 9, 2015 16:25:08 GMT 9
snell_mouse I would call it a parking fare calculator? somethign like that.
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 9, 2015 16:28:16 GMT 9
Calculator just makes me think of the ones I used in math class though. :/ I think I might go with payment machine or something.
|
|
|
Post by hinats on Jul 9, 2015 16:29:21 GMT 9
What do you call the things you pay at in parking lots? For bikes or cars. Fare machines? Not parking meters (for things not on the street). pay station?
|
|
|
Post by hinats on Jul 10, 2015 8:48:41 GMT 9
Ok this is kind of どうでもいい, but I was wondering if anyone else felt any 違和感 translating things like 「お酒が大好きです」as "I love alcohol" or something akin to that.
I suspect it's just some weird imagined prejudice I have. But I feel like that a statement like that in Japanese is perfectly acceptable, whereas when I put it directly into English it comes off as either really juvenile or ringing of alcoholism?
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 10, 2015 9:11:48 GMT 9
Nah I see what you mean. Maybe something like "I like to drink" is a little bit better, but still has the juvenile/alcoholic feel to it, I think. Perhaps because it's more acceptable here to simply say that drinking is your hobby? Back in the States I don't think I ever heard anybody say that.
|
|
|
Post by songbanana on Jul 10, 2015 9:12:11 GMT 9
Ok this is kind of どうでもいい, but I was wondering if anyone else felt any 違和感 translating things like 「お酒が大好きです」as "I love alcohol" or something akin to that. I suspect it's just some weird imagined prejudice I have. But I feel like that a statement like that in Japanese is perfectly acceptable, whereas when I put it directly into English it comes off as either really juvenile or ringing of alcoholism? I've talked about this as a cultural differences thing before. Especially in the US saying you like drinking or alcohol makes you sound like an alcoholic, but saying someone "likes to party" or "likes going out" is a good neutral way to say almost the same thing. Depending on the person you could say that they're a "wine connoisseur" or similar.
|
|
|
Post by hinats on Jul 10, 2015 9:18:41 GMT 9
Yeah, thanks! I was hoping it wasn't just me. I translated it once as "I enjoy the occasional refreshing beverage". It was on a host family application for my supervisor, who will be staying with someone he knows well and has stayed with in the past. The two of them have made a habit out of drinking together, so I thought the context would be enough to get across the meaning of 趣味はお酒を飲むことです. But then when the guy in America's email response came in he was like "refreshing beverages?? Does that mean you only drink Pocari Sweat now? That might be a problem " I can't tell if he was just going along with the joke or if he was actually confused by the way I'd worded it... I just felt real 違和感 about translating it そのまま
|
|
|
Post by Sparkles on Jul 10, 2015 9:30:12 GMT 9
You could, uh, maybe say something like "I enjoy beer festivals and wine tastings"? It's not quite the same though....
|
|
|
Post by snell_mouse on Jul 10, 2015 9:33:18 GMT 9
In that context I feel like "I enjoy an occasional drink" could have worked as well, since they already knew each other/drank together. "Refreshing beverage" does make me think more of soda and the like.
I definitely think it was still better than just "I like alcohol" though, haha.
|
|