What Makes a Good Japanese Translator? feat. Alexander O. Smith by Tofugu published on 2017-02-17T20:40:42Z Michael and Kristen talk with veteran video game translator Alexander O. Smith about the essential elements of good translation, especially when it comes to video games. Alex has worked on such hit games as Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. From these experiences, he's gained a lot of insight into what makes a good translation (and what makes a bad translation). If you're thinking of pursuing a career in video game localization, pay attention to what Alex has to say. You'll need more than just amazing Japanese ability. There are many more elements that go into an excellent translation. iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay Genre Learning Comment by Jashin Slayer I loved this interview, thank you so much. 2017-08-28T15:03:29Z Comment by Jashin Slayer @klop5: As a translator myself, I feel this is a kind of "purist" attitude that far too many people in the anime/manga/game subculture have. It comes from a misunderstanding of what goes into translation and localization and a misunderstanding of the Japanese language. Japanese is an INCREDIBLY different language from English that relies deeply on context and a kind of subconscious shared cultural understanding. It's often impossible to translate most lines "Faithfully" because those ideas and concepts don't exist in English or western culture. Translators have to approximate what they feel is being said, the "feeling" of the dialog. Like Mr. Smith himself said, many translations come out as boring, uninteresting because the translators don't have the agency or ability to make the changes they need to make it interesting in English. Translators HAVE a voice and that's the voice you're hearing when you read or listen to something that's been translated. 2017-08-28T14:46:03Z
