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The translators for Death Note think literal translations mean ignoring context and not translating names into "you" and "I" when they should be.
Do I have to explain this? In Japanese, if you already know a person's name, it's not polite to call them "you," unless you're friendly. Misa, Raito, L, Matsuda, the bunch of them, or at least most of them, don't know each other well enough, or are pretending not to know each other well enough haha to call each other by anything but their names (or title, if they're talking to Mr. Yagami). This spreads over a little bit into how Misa talks about herself in third person. It's not crazy-girl talk, it's baby talk, and if they're going to translate the third person part, she should also not being using other words, like, I dunno, "it" and "the."
I'm willing to let just the translations go with maybe one rant. I have to get mad all over again because now this...way of talking has infected the fanfics. These are people who don't know any better and shouldn't have to, and their dialogue sounds like unnatural junk. Look, no offense, I was very happy to read these stories, but they are marred, and I don't want to hear anything about how this or that author meant to because they were trying to make it like the original. I know! Learn Japanese, and then you can make it sound like the original, and it won't be crappy, either.
These translators, they don't translate names into the appropriate pronouns when I can SO tell they should---have I ever mentioned that there is nothing I hate more than reading a translation that is so awkward I read it better if I translate it back into Japanese in my head? I think that it made the series that much harder for me to read. Now it's making the characters talk like fools in fanfic. I think they know a lot better.
Translators.
Look what you have done.
...that felt so good it could have been wank. HAHAHAHAHA. In summary, there are fic recs up in the Death Note community so today I read some and it wasn't so bad. I even found something to complain about! Whee!
I'm going to Porter Square tomorrow but I don't have a shopping list, except for milk tea. I think I'll buy a lot of instant junk. Just like every time!!! >:D And some croquettes to use in our new deep-fryer. Mm, croquettes.
EDIT: And I think I've been quiet lately because I've been playing RO again. My monk is at level 95 at this very moment, so she's sososo close to being a Champion, but there's still a grind. It's so much harder than with my Priestess and it's DRIVING ME NUTS. That's all.
EDIT: Yeah, Misa? If they're going to keep the first-person thing, she should talk like Jar-Jar Binks. I don't mean the same voice, but that grammar is about right. And instead of meesa, it's Misa.
*is led out to face a firing squad*
EDIT: A delicious kernel of knowledge from Olive!
Robin: ...I should sleep
Olive: Yeah. Did I tell you the winning statistic about right-to-die cases?
Robin: Oh?
Robin: I don't think so
Olive: Casual statements made by men about their desire to have the plug pulled tend to be considered deep and rational; when women ay the same things, they are considered emotional and unsure statements. Cases with men tend to use word like "dignity" and such; women's cases tend to discussion protecting the woman.
Robin: ...whoa
Olive: In other words, a man in a coma deserves to have his rational and manly wishes acted out. A woman in a coma is as a tiny child and must be preserved.
SEXISM!!!!!! *chews on the monitor in rage*
Do I have to explain this? In Japanese, if you already know a person's name, it's not polite to call them "you," unless you're friendly. Misa, Raito, L, Matsuda, the bunch of them, or at least most of them, don't know each other well enough, or are pretending not to know each other well enough haha to call each other by anything but their names (or title, if they're talking to Mr. Yagami). This spreads over a little bit into how Misa talks about herself in third person. It's not crazy-girl talk, it's baby talk, and if they're going to translate the third person part, she should also not being using other words, like, I dunno, "it" and "the."
I'm willing to let just the translations go with maybe one rant. I have to get mad all over again because now this...way of talking has infected the fanfics. These are people who don't know any better and shouldn't have to, and their dialogue sounds like unnatural junk. Look, no offense, I was very happy to read these stories, but they are marred, and I don't want to hear anything about how this or that author meant to because they were trying to make it like the original. I know! Learn Japanese, and then you can make it sound like the original, and it won't be crappy, either.
These translators, they don't translate names into the appropriate pronouns when I can SO tell they should---have I ever mentioned that there is nothing I hate more than reading a translation that is so awkward I read it better if I translate it back into Japanese in my head? I think that it made the series that much harder for me to read. Now it's making the characters talk like fools in fanfic. I think they know a lot better.
Translators.
Look what you have done.
...that felt so good it could have been wank. HAHAHAHAHA. In summary, there are fic recs up in the Death Note community so today I read some and it wasn't so bad. I even found something to complain about! Whee!
I'm going to Porter Square tomorrow but I don't have a shopping list, except for milk tea. I think I'll buy a lot of instant junk. Just like every time!!! >:D And some croquettes to use in our new deep-fryer. Mm, croquettes.
EDIT: And I think I've been quiet lately because I've been playing RO again. My monk is at level 95 at this very moment, so she's sososo close to being a Champion, but there's still a grind. It's so much harder than with my Priestess and it's DRIVING ME NUTS. That's all.
EDIT: Yeah, Misa? If they're going to keep the first-person thing, she should talk like Jar-Jar Binks. I don't mean the same voice, but that grammar is about right. And instead of meesa, it's Misa.
*is led out to face a firing squad*
EDIT: A delicious kernel of knowledge from Olive!
Robin: ...I should sleep
Olive: Yeah. Did I tell you the winning statistic about right-to-die cases?
Robin: Oh?
Robin: I don't think so
Olive: Casual statements made by men about their desire to have the plug pulled tend to be considered deep and rational; when women ay the same things, they are considered emotional and unsure statements. Cases with men tend to use word like "dignity" and such; women's cases tend to discussion protecting the woman.
Robin: ...whoa
Olive: In other words, a man in a coma deserves to have his rational and manly wishes acted out. A woman in a coma is as a tiny child and must be preserved.
SEXISM!!!!!! *chews on the monitor in rage*
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-Olive, who had imitation Chinese reastaurant tea with wilk this morning, which is close.
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Oh, yeah, and the author stuff, I am really leery about that. I mean, I wouldn't put it past them to have heard from the author(s) via the internet or some new-fangled business, but this thing about making the translation literal because of the author's wishes---that's crap. That reeks of someone who already doesn't know a lot of Japanese misreading some statement, IN JAPANESE.
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http://wethefans.sukych.com/DN/DNNames.jpg
but still, they could have just let it be Raito
and that the japanese themselves are chaotic and horrible romanizers is a fact that ought to be corrected ;)
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Your icon is wonderful.
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