This is a topic for people whose native language is Not English, either by being born in a country where it isn't the official language, or by not having learned English as a first language. I did a few hours ago a topic suggesting that the NU also index the translation of Asian novels into other languages, not just in english, since translations of novels in several languages exist. I know that some translations here are retranslated to other languages, and that they are even somewhat popular (or at last have translations in large quantity) in certain languages. So, do you know how the novels translation scenario is in your native language? If you have translators, if they are good translators, if the novels you follow are being translated? If it have many readers, if people are interested in novels? Would you read a novel in English (your second language) and also in your native language afterwards? And what kind of novels are usually translated into your language? *And I know everyone who will read this topic knows English, but it's more about the reach of novel readers. Not everyone can speak English...
Just get to the local bookshop. Lot's of translated stuff, 5-ish usual languages available in my case.
Very good question actually, but I never bothered to look for german translations so I can't really tell...
I've been reading english translations since chinese novels translations started. English is my third language and still I wouldn't really read novels in my main language.. I just got used to english translations reading them would be weird for me, still would try one, are there any german/russian translations? I think it the same with anime who among us watches eng(or other) dubs instead of original japanese voices?
Well, Japanese is really similar to Korean so there are more Korean translations than English translations...Rather, the machine translation from Japanese to Korean is quite accurate so there's a plethora of translations just floating around
I certainly prefer subs to dubs when it comes to anime. The problem was originally bad voice-acting but as demand has increased, quality has improved. Now it's a problem of material. Shounen stories have a lot of cringe-inducing dialogue, especially during battles, and I can tolerate reading it but not listening to it.
I think there are a lot of novels that are retranslated into German. And I think Russian also has enough, I've seen many links to the VK.
Well seeing the popularity of manga in France, they ought to be an already good number of light novel and perhaps Chinese novel translated in French, but it would just feel too strange for me to read them in everything else but English. And knowing how the world of translation work in France for the mangas, there is no point in even trying. Save for the most popular ones, French translation is generally always a step behind, so why even bother ?
I prefer to read in English, however one time I was too impatient for an update of a certain novel and googled the novel in my mother tongue. Turned out it does exist, and even quite a few other Asian novels were translated as well, but there were more chapters in English for the novel I was interested in so I did not bother with that site anymore. Another thing with translation in different languages is the names. Errr ok Chinese/Japanese etc into English is already straineous , but when you take those badly translated names and re-translate them into yet another language.... Basically I’d read another language only if the updates to the novels I’m interested in are faster, otherwise I’d stick with English.
i never read any indonesian translated webnovel as i am pretty fluent in english, but yeah i know there are some website that do the translation into bahasa indonesia such as dbnovel and idqidian
You're so right with this. Your message just made me think of the idea of reading the names of the characters and even worse the techniques in French ultimate cringe
I think I would like to read English translated rather than my native language for those neutral pronouns, cause there are way too many pronouns in my language and I would rather just translated it to my own liking from the English translation. And then there are other issues that only fan translation would truly understand, rather than a publisher that did it.
I read in English (though some stuff in Russian because it is translated sometimes further) mainly because there are more titles. I used to read manga only in Russian in the past, but then switched to English simply because it has more translated titles.
Well I speak some French as well, and when someone talks about a movie or a book or even a song they liked - I just stand there looking clueless due to differences in naming sometimes. When actually I’ve read/seen/heard that a long time ago in English. The names are an issue even in books like Harry Potter, which is an official translation. On the other hand, let’s say I finish writing a book in English and then my parents are very unlikely to read it, hehe
I've never bothered to look for any spanish/Portuguese translations so i dont know how the scene looking over there. (English is my second language)
I only read stuff I paid for in my native language, I prefer reading in English whenever possible. So... I didn't even bother with searching, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a decent amount of translations though, anime community over here isn't that weak.