Risou no Himo Seikatsu - Vol. 18 Ch. 73 - Fun work!

[Equilibrium]

Controlled use of fire at a large scale gave birth to the industrial revolution.

 

[Kurro]

Unfortunately, translating from Japanese to any Western language without losing something is impossible. There's always that debate among translators. Some prefer to strip away any trace of Japanese culture from translations so new readers don’t feel weird about it, while others prefer to "Japanify" the translation to keep all the story’s details intact. Since I’m old and have read tons of manga, I lean toward the second option—like a "Japanified English." I already know what honorifics mean, what "onii-chan" is, the name order, etc. But honestly, if I were just starting out in the manga world, this "Japanified English" might’ve pushed me away from it. Back in the golden age of fansubs and scans, it was common to cram translations with explanations everywhere—which would totally annoy me now. Imagine having to read the same explanations about Japanese terms in every manga. But yeah, for new readers, those explanations might actually be ideal.

I don't have a problem with some context being lost, but I do find localizing a translation to be a problem. I understand why they do it, I just don't like it. Then again I'm the kind of person that looks things up if I don't understand it.

 

[Kurro]

One of the old Western manga publishers, I can't remember which (was it TokyoPop?) use to provide a glossary of terms at the 'back' of the volume, which if reading left-to-right in Western fashion would be the front. So, if you're unfamiliar with manga, that's where you'd naturally open the book, and see the explanations. If you know how things work and thus likely have some understanding of honourifics, colloquialisms etc, then you just start from the beginning reading right-to-left and skip them, but knowing they're there if you encounter a term you don't understand. I found it a decent way of doing things.

Yeah tokyopop was one of them. I have a whole 2 pages of it for banners of the stars.... though that has more to do with the extra dictionary that is included because of the alien language used 😁

 

[maxman14]

Thanks for the translation as always.

 

[piratesgoyarrrr]

An other thing is the whole san, kun and other honorifics (and I know it's not used in this translation, but that's ok 😝) though this can be pretty important to understand the interpersonal dynamics of characters.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. There's a massive difference between something like "Onii-chan", "Onii-sama", "Aniki", and "Aniue" for example that "Brother" or "Older Brother" just doesn't convey.

 

[varezenem]

A scrap rate of 5% for a normal machine shop is consider absolutely terrible, let alone 40%. Although there cases where a double digit scrap rate is 'acceptable'. Like wartime emergency, in WWII the STG44 had a scrap rate around that rate around 40%, I think the russians also had a similar scrap rate for the ppsh (I could be thinking of something else they made, so don't quote me on that).

It would be terrible in a machine shop, but it doesn't really matter if the product covers the costs. For advanced computer chips for example it has been common to have a large amount of lower quality chips. These chips are then are reused in lower end hardware.

 

[CountryMage]

Thanks for the translation!

So, Lucretia will be part of the expedition to the northern continent (she's on the cover page). I don't particularly like her, so I was hoping she wouldn't be there. I really want to know the reason why she's joining them (maybe I forgot something from the previous chapters), because from my point of view, she has no reason to be there.

The royal family might want to send her as a spy on the North, her country is very wary of an invasion by the Church up there.

 

[WhimsiCat]

I agree with this wholeheartedly. There's a massive difference between something like "Onii-chan", "Onii-sama", "Aniki", and "Aniue" for example that "Brother" or "Older Brother" just doesn't convey.

There's also the irony that by dropping suffix, Eng TL can't really convey in-story dropping of suffix moment.

Usually start with one side asking the other to drop the formality in not so subtle way, and non-0 chance of one or both exploding in 'omg I can't do this right now' embarrassment (even outside of rom-com)
But always a key moment in romance.

 

[TidMiste]

There's also the irony that by dropping suffix, Eng TL can't really convey in-story dropping of suffix moment.

Usually start with one side asking the other to drop the formality in not so subtle way, and non-0 chance of one or both exploding in 'omg I can't do this right now' embarrassment (even outside of rom-com)
But always a key moment in romance.

And don't forget that a lot of those family-esque suffixes can also be used for non-family people, making translation even worse, like using "onii-chan" for a nameless older teenage stranger, "aniki" for the leader of a gang, or the standard "oji/obasan" for middle-aged strangers (which also have that same conversation issue you mentioned, except about age instead of embarrassment).

Anime translations are entering into the same problems, I've noticed.

 

[Gu7]

Thank you for your diligent work on the translations

 

[MangaRockRefugee]

Princeling inspects them marbles and declares few of them are up to standard required for mass production of magitools
Inside Zenkichi's brain: can_you_hear_the_music.mp4

 

[vergotear]

Unfortunately, translating from Japanese to any Western language without losing something is impossible. There's always that debate among translators. Some prefer to strip away any trace of Japanese culture from translations so new readers don’t feel weird about it, while others prefer to "Japanify" the translation to keep all the story’s details intact. Since I’m old and have read tons of manga, I lean toward the second option—like a "Japanified English." I already know what honorifics mean, what "onii-chan" is, the name order, etc. But honestly, if I were just starting out in the manga world, this "Japanified English" might’ve pushed me away from it. Back in the golden age of fansubs and scans, it was common to cram translations with explanations everywhere—which would totally annoy me now. Imagine having to read the same explanations about Japanese terms in every manga. But yeah, for new readers, those explanations might actually be ideal.

Most readers, myself included, have no issue with localization that we can get away with, e.g no honorific and try to find alternate words that just, works. What we draw the line is when translators / editors either alter the original lines to fit whatever view they deem "appropriate", or outright remove / replace them for the same reason. Unless readers know the original material or fan translation, they'll miss out a chunk of contents or have the wrong idea of the story altogether.

Look at Tokyopoo's americanifcation of Initial D. Takumi = Tak, Itsuki = Iggy, Natsuki = Natalie and on and one, they replaced every name and all the lines were altered to feel like the American Ricer scene back in that period. In the anime department they totally shitted on the property when they replaced the Eurobeat for some Hip Hop crap, more so when the anime race scenes are choreographed and cut to match the beat and lyrics of the music.

 

[AnotherDuck]

An other thing is the whole san, kun and other honorifics (and I know it's not used in this translation, but that's ok 😝) though this can be pretty important to understand the interpersonal dynamics of characters.

That's where I draw the line. Words should be translated, and there shouldn't be Japanese in an English translation. Now, in unofficial translations like this, an incomplete translation like that is fine, but if you're looking at an official one, just no. However, the culture should not be changed, or any other changes of that nature. Puns are also tricky, so I'd give some leeway there, as long as the general meaning is preserved.

A scrap rate of 5% for a normal machine shop is consider absolutely terrible, let alone 40%.

Yeah, but then you're dealing with modern industrialised production, narrow margins, and efficiency. This is still just prototyping, and their production potential is both relatively cheap and way above needed output.

In the anime department they totally shitted on the property when they replaced the Eurobeat for some Hip Hop crap, more so when the anime race scenes are choreographed and cut to match the beat and lyrics of the music.

Dude, you can't remove Eurobeat from Initial D. You just can't. Then it'll become some place we haven't been to before, and that's just wrong.

 

[w3searcher]

One time use? I wonder if the jewel can be re-enchanted after that or if that's it. Seems like a waste if it can only be enchanted once despite the dangers of having a magic teleporter available

 

[BKNY_STEVE]

A scrap rate of 5% for a normal machine shop is consider absolutely terrible, let alone 40%. Although there cases where a double digit scrap rate is 'acceptable'. Like wartime emergency, in WWII the STG44 had a scrap rate around that rate around 40%, I think the russians also had a similar scrap rate for the ppsh (I could be thinking of something else they made, so don't quote me on that).

This is in the proof-of-concept stage. Now that they know what's acceptable, they'll work on reducing the scrap rate. And because those are made of glass, they can be easily reused if they fail--I suspect they'll be better for it the second time around.

 

[silencers]

oh this mf about to create a whole industrial revolution

 

[Pyras]

One time use? I wonder if the jewel can be re-enchanted after that or if that's it. Seems like a waste if it can only be enchanted once despite the dangers of having a magic teleporter available

If he uses the 1-time teleportation out of emergency, they can just make more of it later. It only takes a day. The prince would be cool with it too. It is far more important about why he has to use it tho, when situation arise.

 

[Tsukikira]

Sry for the end chapter rant folks, I just can't help it but get mad that official publication messed up so bad and got away with it for so long while scanlators kept getting hate for being slow :v

The irony is that the LN for all of this has already been translated; They chose SHUN as their command word. It worked perfectly well, I suppose.

Anyways, Seven Seas' translation is hideously bad, speaking from someone who read the Light Novel. It's clear the fansubs are vastly superior.

 

[w3searcher]

If he uses the 1-time teleportation out of emergency, they can just make more of it later. It only takes a day. The prince would be cool with it too. It is far more important about why he has to use it tho, when situation arise.

I was referring to the marble that they're using that he originally brought with him. He only has a limited amount and they're not close to replicating it yet, so making it a one time use item, if it can't be re-used, seems like a waste of a limited resource.

 

[sdarkpaladin]

Sevensea and bad translation... name a better duo.