Introduction to the translation review section
Posted Jan 24, 02:03 PM by zalas
Before I begin reviewing Japanese to English translations, I would like to first explain my grading system so that my grading scheme can be easily comprehended.
I will be going by a letter grade system; it is by no means an unbiased and objective system since translation is an art and people can have very different opinions about how to translate. Thus, the grades I’ll be assigning will be my own opinion and you are welcome to post refutals as long as you can back up your opinion. And without further ado, the grading rubric is as follows:
A: Excellent translation!
In order for a translation to achieve this grade, it has to be above and beyond the typical translation. Things like very clever handling of difficult to translate passages and very lively writing will push translations into this category.
B: Good translation
The translation is mostly problem free, except for perhaps a minor error or typo here and there. When I pay for a translation, this is the minimum I would expect.
C: Passable translation
The translation has a few serious issues here and there, but overall the translation is good enough not to mislead the audience.
D: Problematic translation
The translation has a lot of serious issues and can at times confuse and/or mislead the audience.
F: Useless translation
The meaning given by the translation deviates so much from the original meaning that the translation is no longer a fair representation of the original work. In other words, the translation is an insult to the original work.
Apart from assigning a letter grade to a translation and highlighting issues with the translation, I will also comment on choices the translator chose to take that may be preferred by some people and abhorred by others. Hopefully, with these reviews, you will have a better grasp of what kind of translation you are watching/reading.