The Pros & Cons of My Translation (Subtitling) Projects

People tends to ask me, why I can't update this blog gradually. Well, actually I always online almost everyday. What makes me not updating this blog is because I don't found something interesting to share with you. You know, this blog is about my own translation projects afterall so, if I can't found something I want to translate & done that translation, then I dont update my blog. 

I always update information about almost everything that related to Japanese entertainment, especially movies or games but, you know, I want to stick with my blog's theme. So, I'm sorry if you always visit (or not?) this blog but I dont had anything to share with you, it's just that I don't had anything interesting to share with you globally of course.

My first translation in this blog is Ketsuekigata-kun! anime that released as fast as I can (someone said that my version is faster than fansub), even my english isn't very good to understand (I barely forgot English after I've entered Japanese Literature even I always playing game lol, now I've graduated). I've translated some Japanese movies in Indonesian, I had another translation on the name of some Indonesian fansub that translates from JP-INA. My english release is for short series or trailer maybe.

I think my translation isn't good and slow, it's because I had a lot work to do to revise my own translation. There's a lot of consequences because of that, that is there's pros and cons in my own translation (subtitling) projects.

PROS

1. I made my translation that makes the reader doesn't think that this is a translation result (Only for Indonesian cuz it's my mother language).

2. My Indonesian translation is more accurate than English BluRay subtitle provided cuz I directly hear it from Japanese. You can see the differences below (Translated to english in my version too, click to enlarge)

CONS

1. My translation release is slow, it takes 1 month or maybe 1 year (it depends on my mood) slower than BD English sub that translated to Indonesian by another people in internet. I think maybe I'm perfectionist, because I feel I cant release it like that if I see small errors. 

2. I dont do timing in a lot of movie translation (except Ketsuekigata-kun! I do my own timing only on that project) so, I just "stole" it from BD english subtitle timing (most of my subtitles in movie translation's timing is based on english sub timing and I never delete that english language before it's translated). This makes me do a lot of mistakes, well, some of BD timing is a little messed up so, I must re-sync that.

3. Because of point number 2, I often do mistakes that I mustn't do. I forgot 1 or 2 lines un-translated, un-checked, or still in english (means I missed that part). I always realized this after I've released my translation then I watch the movie with my own translation later.

4. I work on my own correcting some timing, translating, timing (only for ketsuekigata-kun!), and translation checking, so dont expect that I'll do fast translate. I'm very happy if you want to help me with timing or translation check (English / Indonesian) though lol

5. What I want to translate is my choice, you cant change it. Unless you want to help me and stick with my strict rules lol

Honestly, I need someone to do the timing & translation check who can keep up on my pace for something I want to translate (I dont had any for movies until this post got published). I'm suck at timing, and I hate it but, I dont always found something interesting so, if I found short and interesting thing to translate, want it or not I must do the timing for myself. And also I need translation checker (editor who knows both language & culture), I'm too lazy to check my translation after I spend my whole concentration & energy to translate.

I don't take request for free translation, if you requesting me you must pay $0.05 (around 500 rupiahs) per words for translation (I accept only subtitling except I work on company), and $0.03 (around 300 rupiahs) per words for subtitle transcript (I'm not calculate it if I cant translate / transcribe 1 dialog). 

Some people might take a light of translation, I see it on some forums. Let me tell you, translation (Subtitling) is hard as hell if you don't fully concentrate & don't had the manuscript for subtitling, translator (for subtitling project of course) isn't God who knows & master everything, they still need dictionary with some kanji on it to guess what's he/she's saying. That's why I charge for translation (Subtitling). 

You don't believe my words? Read Peter Newmark's book about translation and another theory of translation by Nida & Taber, Catford, or other. You must decide whether do Foreignization or Domestication, you must know both culture of your target language and source language, etc. Direct / Interpreter will not fully use this theory on his / her work, it's enough as long as the audience understand.

Whoops! Seems I'm out off topic here, well, that's how my translation works. Let me know if you want to join me or just want to say your own opinion with my translation on comments below. Oh, I'm sorry if my english is bad.