Question [English help] Need help with this title

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by readerz, May 8, 2018.

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Which is correct?

  1. to

    4.8%
  2. into

    95.2%
  1. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    I have a new project tentatively titled "When a Fanfic Protagonist Transmigrated into the Original Novel." Before I list it on NU, can I get your advice on the title? Which one is correct?

    Transmigrated to the Original Novel

    or

    Transmigrated into the Original Novel

    Edit: changed the rest of the title based on feedback though the "in vs into" debate is still raging
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2018
  2. Suijin

    Suijin Blood God [Medic]

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    into

    as in into the world
     
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  3. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    Thanks, I think you're right but I'll wait for at least one more person to confirm.
     
  4. Arcadial

    Arcadial Well-Known Member

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    well, into implies that the original novel is a subspace of the actual setting, for example transmigrating into a VRMMO or something. Just "to" means that the place they are transmigrating to is outside of the novels setting, for example going from a normal world to a world with magic. So, if the original novel in the title refers to a world different from the one the main character is originally from, using to makes more sense.
     
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  5. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    Dang, now a different opinion surfaces! I've no idea which is correct lol.

    Yes, you are correct it is transmigration from one world to another. Like, if you were in a Harry Potter fanfiction then transmigrated into the actual Harry Potter books.
     
  6. Suijin

    Suijin Blood God [Medic]

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    but considering this is defined as worlds within fiction. it counts as into
    from one world into another. as in jumping space. it does not define another world as sub space
     
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  7. Darkanlan

    Darkanlan Well-Known Member

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    It's into.
    If you're going to enter something then you're going into it. So it's definitely into for this type of novel.
     
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  8. dritch124c

    dritch124c Well-Known Member

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    I agree with "to",
    "into" somehow feels wrong considering
    fanfic>RW>original novel
    Whereas
    RW>novel
    would make "into" work.
    Edit: actually i think it also depends on whose perspective it is.
    MC: to
    Reader: into
    ... So i guess into would work better
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2018
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  9. Ars

    Ars Simple-Minded Trash

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    I'd say that overall, it would sound nice if worded like this: "When a Fanfic Protagonist Transmigrated into the Original Novel"

    The main thing that sounds a little clunky to me is 'a fanfiction'. It's technically correct, but usually people would shorten it to 'fanfic' when talking about a specific story and not the genre, I think...
     
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  10. Grandia

    Grandia Well-Known Member

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    Yup. Maybe it’s just a weird native English thing, but I think “into” sounds right here. The protagonist is going from one fictional world *into* another fictional world. He’s not being picked up and moved to somewhere. That’s how I took it, at any rate.

    And +1 for Ars. I think that title sounds way better.
     
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  11. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    A third option appears! Idk what to do now, lol. I'm so indecisive.

    Yeah, I have a horrible naming sense...
     
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  12. Ars

    Ars Simple-Minded Trash

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    *pats*
    Poll the people in the danmei server? X'D those are the people who need to come up with the acronym for it anyway
     
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  13. Kerbouchard

    Kerbouchard Well-Known Member

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    Either one actually works. He's going into a unique space, the original novel, so that works. However, from the title, it seems like he's transferring from the fanfiction novel to the original. One is not contained within the other, as they are separate spaces, so to works just as well as into. I think into sounds better aesthetically, but they're both accurate.
     
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  14. Nic

    Nic Well-Known Member

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    First, remove WAS from the title because "was transmigrated" sounds redundant.. or you may change it to "got transmigrated" ... just a suggestion.. :D

    Second, I think "in to" is more appropriate.. right.. IN <space> TO.. from how I understood it, "transmigrated in" is a verb phrase and "to" is a preposition with "the novel" as the object of the preposition..

    "Transmigrated in" means the protagonist "integrated or got mixed in" to the novel.

    Up to you to analyze.. :D
     
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  15. unclebebby

    unclebebby Well-Known Member

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    "into" makes more sense at a glance for me.

    Just pick one or the other. The more you think about this the harder it'll get.
     
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  16. sparantan

    sparantan Active Member

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    Grammatically, either "to" or "into" is alright. In my opinion...

    1. You should choose "to" if you are interested in the direction or destination of the movement. (It goes there.)
    2. You should choose "into" if you are interested in the result that the subject has gone to. (It is now inside of the place.)
    Speaking of the title "When a Fanfic Protagonist Transmigrated into the Original Novel.", I prefer to choose "into" rather than "to" because the story would focus on what Protagonist would do as a result of the transmigration.

    But, being honest, I guess readers don't care if you choose "to" or "into" in the first place. They can be interchangeable in this case.
     
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  17. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    "Into" also works better when the destination isn't really a place that you can travel to (Into the Fire, Into the Shadows, Into a Nightmare, and so on).
     
  18. Kari_translations

    Kari_translations Well-Known Member

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    I think this question would be better answered by editors, especially a copy editor-type of editor, since they know the how-to of word usage inside out.
    My two cents, into, why? just because it sounds cooler.

    Disclaimer: I didnt read any of the previous comments.