Discussion The Addition of "ba" in Translations

Some translators include "ba" in their English translations. "Ba" (I'm assuming) is 吧, which is equivalent to "right?" or "OK?"

I personally think it's funny or "acting cute", but I really don't understand why they add it to the text. For some things to not get lost in translation? Some people might not understand it, and they could use the English equivalent instead if it is contextually appropriate.

 

Can you provide examples? I have yet to see this happen / dont remember any instance of this.

 

You are okay, right?

 

wut?

 

haven't seen one too. . .
which title is this one?

ps: well i remember the translation, that the character has a lot of "hmmmmm" moments. . .

 

Ba ba Black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir yes sir, three bags full.

 

Hmmmm, I actually appreciate it being added since I understand the meaning in Chinese. It delivers more of the original sentence and character than without it. However I can understand why for other people it looks weird. Personally I don't think there is an English equivalent for every situation, so I rather have ba.

 

Can't really remember 'ba', think I've seen it a few times but not sure. The word I find weird is 'La'. Always you get a sentence like "its a great day, la". Like wtf does La mean?

 

Perhaps about your avi...

Otherwise... Are you trying to say it's only used in certain translation groups of certain types of novels?

 

那就这样做吧。 it sounds okay
我们去买衣服吧。sounds okay
but an addition of ", okay?" is a pain in the ass

as well as the fact that the sentence becomes a question.

 

It's a malay/singapore thing, it could mean various things but in that instance, it's the same thing as "It's a good day eh"

 

I admit guilty to being one of the translators who does it unless i can find an appropriate alternative for it (bless my editors)
The word 'ba' doesnt have one specific meaning, it doesn't always mean 'right' or 'okay'. It's really more context based.

Example (i hope you can read chinese bc you're the one who brought this topic up lmao): 我们去那里吧 -> Let's go there (said in a suggestive way that isn't a question but also depends on the context whether it's a statement or a suggestion or a question which all in all doesn't really go through in english sometimes)

You can replace it with 'okay?' But then again it's veeeeeery context based.

 

吧 is admittedly one of the things i really dont want to see when i translate bc people do bring it up, so do my editors, and im just???? Im sorry but there really isnt an equivalent meaning for it??? If i did i would have done it already??? :')

This. This a malaysian/singaporean thing. This one can be removed, and its usually used in declarations? Then again it's a slang so it's also hard to define it, but on the other hand I dont really see this honestly. Can you give examples?

 

I like it because I feel like you get a stronger feel of the characters and how they are expressing themselves despite the language gap. Plus “ba” sounds like it could be said with a questioning tone (ba?) or with finality (ba.) or even excitement (ba!). In comparison I almost always visualize “okay” being said harshly or with sarcasm. So I guess for me I prefer the added tone, but I totally get that it can break immersion. I’ve heard a lot of English speakers insert their own random sounds so it doesn’t bother me as much.

So, I think it’s partially personal preference but largely a need to find an appropriate way to express the same tone in English. A good example is Naruto actually (even though he’s JP). Many characters in Naruto had a kind of “phrase” that was essentially just a speaking habit that made even less sense in English than “Ba”. Naruto himself does this as well with his “Dattebayo”. The way the dub handled it was to find a phrase with a similar number of syllables and mouth shape, thus “Believe it!” was born.

 

hmm if you persisted long enuf and the series popular enuf
it will be ok
desu~ne?~

aye yay dood~

 

A verbal tic

 

Two examples within the novel "Wipe clean after eating".

Example 1 - [Like magic, the expression in my mum’s eyes instantly turns friendly and laughs affectionately: “If you mess it up, then you mess it up la. No big deal as I will find other opportunity for you.”]

Example 2 - [Actually it is like that so no wonder mum came back so early and panting with rage! I shake my head firmly: “Of course, I am not willing la!]

 

I would go canadian and translate it as "eh"

That's a joke, eh.

 

Nani!?

Joke aside, for me it is super annoying to read untranslated words in a translation, just because the translator "feels there is no appropriate word in the desired language"... Really? I can understand it in a fan translation of a high school kid, but the moment somebody earns money from it ("donations", patreon, ads, paywall, etc) stuff like this has to go.

The only people who enjoy those words are people who have a certain knowledge of the original language or people who are so deep into the novel hole, that they are fine with MTLs anyway.

Lets face it, while most languages have good words for unique moods and situations, those moods and situations also exist in other languages. It makes no sense to just let untranslated words in it. I don't "feel" anything by some character saying "ba?" or "nani?" except maybe disgust and an urge to cringe hard enough to empty my bowels.

A translation shouldn't be word-for-word, but scene-by-scene. There may be exceptions, where you need to find the perfect words for a repeating catchphrase, but those words should still be in the translated language.

There are enough synonyms in most languages to tell most stories 5 times while making it sound like a new story.