Discussion MTL vs Edited MTL vs Bad Grammar

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by JokeProgrammer, Nov 19, 2019.

?

Which

Poll closed Nov 26, 2019.
  1. MTL

    8.0%
  2. edited MTL

    56.0%
  3. Bad Grammar

    16.0%
  4. Dictionary

    24.0%
  5. paying native translator

    52.0%
  6. Literal Translation

    8.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. JokeProgrammer

    JokeProgrammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    100
    Reading List:
    Link
    So, like the title said...
    Which is the better choice for novel translation or publication ?
     
  2. Dat_Karma

    Dat_Karma Still Here

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Messages:
    1,103
    Likes Received:
    541
    Reading List:
    Link
    Bad grammar is the worst of them all
     
  3. Sabruness

    Sabruness Cultured Yuri Connoisseur

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2016
    Messages:
    3,984
    Likes Received:
    4,589
    Reading List:
    Link
    anything's better than straight MTL.
     
    mm38910, Geor and JokeProgrammer like this.
  4. jersanxx1

    jersanxx1 『Lost Toy』『Mostly Lurking』

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2016
    Messages:
    545
    Likes Received:
    544
    Reading List:
    Link
    For me, at least, translations with bad grammar can be fixed with an edit from other contributors, since they are either: misspelled words, no punctuations, or bad sequence(can be fixed with dictionary too, if they took time).... MTL or edited MTL, on the other hand, are the same sides of a coin. Yes, edited MTL may look better, but you still don't know what it truly means since the "translator" doesn't know jackshit about the language in the first place, only magic edits(They should pass as a fanfic writer, to be honest).

    Still, native language translators with high English proficiency are still the best ones out there.
     
  5. Amaruna Myu

    Amaruna Myu ugly squid dokja (●´∀`●)

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2016
    Messages:
    4,417
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Reading List:
    Link
    personally, I use the dictionary a lot.
    when I get lazy, i straight up mtl, then compare mtl with original text and dictionary and edit.
    sure, I know that language, but that doesn't mean I want to face a wall of Chinese text 24/7
    I think I have decent grammar, so that helps with phrasing and sentence structure.
     
  6. JokeProgrammer

    JokeProgrammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    100
    Reading List:
    Link
    :blob_plusone:
    What about MTL+Bad Grammar ? a nightmare maybe:blobrofl:

    :blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone:
    Yup, the main problem of MTL is about it's readability.

    :blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone:
    Right, if we want accuracy, the native translator is the best choice because MTL accuracy level is not that good for a long sentence / a pun phrase after all,

    :blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone:
    Well dictionary based translation is time consuming after all, at least more accurate than MTL version
     
    Wujigege likes this.
  7. Maid Chan

    Maid Chan [Professional]

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    1,291
    Likes Received:
    7,148
    Reading List:
    Link
    The worst for me is when the translator themselves isn't even sure whether the character is a he or a she.
     
    Ancient_Devil and JokeProgrammer like this.
  8. JokeProgrammer

    JokeProgrammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    100
    Reading List:
    Link
    :blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone::blob_plusone:
    :blobscream: maybe it was a mysterious character
     
    Wujigege and Ancient_Devil like this.
  9. IceLight303

    IceLight303 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2018
    Messages:
    1,803
    Likes Received:
    1,874
    Reading List:
    Link
    I think translating is hard in general more so for novels. Languages don't tend to translate very well. I've read very bad translation broke by a native speaker, a literal translation doesn't always convey the meaning. Best example the word like and love or puns. Then the choice becomes be literal put in a TL or try to find a similar pun that makes sense?
     
    JokeProgrammer likes this.
  10. JokeProgrammer

    JokeProgrammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    100
    Reading List:
    Link
    Ah, I forgot to add Literal Translation to the list:blobnobully:
     
    Wujigege and IceLight303 like this.
  11. Dat_Karma

    Dat_Karma Still Here

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Messages:
    1,103
    Likes Received:
    541
    Reading List:
    Link
    The worst form of suicide to ever exist.
     
  12. baka8roukanako

    baka8roukanako Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    Messages:
    690
    Likes Received:
    633
    Reading List:
    Link
    I think MTL is as bad as edited MTL and both have Bad Grammar, so it shouldn't even be a separate category.
     
  13. Wujigege

    Wujigege *Christian*SIMP*Comedian

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2016
    Messages:
    16,265
    Likes Received:
    15,755
    Reading List:
    Link
    Straight up MTL might be hard to read but you get the gist of the story
    Bad grammar is confusing but you still get the story for the most part
    Edited MTL is fanfiction. Stay away. Think 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight.
    That's how different it is.
    Except that Twilight was a cultivation story
     
  14. Defiring

    Defiring Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2016
    Messages:
    264
    Likes Received:
    291
    Reading List:
    Link
    It's sad that people often don't realize how awful edited MTLs can be.
     
    Wujigege likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.