Talk:Umineko Volume 1: Chapter 0.2

Prayer

On this line:

こりゃあ、ぽっくり逝っちまったかなぁ、ナムナムナム。」

Heeey, maybe he dropped dead, namunamunamu [buddhist prayer for the dead]."

Wouldn't be better to switch to something like. 'Amen'. '*starts praying*' or something akin?

Except for the part where the the Japanese are for the most part not christian and it's not a christian prayer? By the same token, why wouldn't it be better to switch to a Jewish or Islamic prayer, since we're having fun changing things in the script? What's wrong with a translator's note? --Tobiast88 16:14, 13 April 2008 (PDT)

Given how cosmopolitan Japanese religion practices are in the end I don't think it wouldn't be out of place. (at least I don't see another place in the world where the bride can actually choose between having two types of weddings so nonchalantly , when the types refer to different religions. Moreover *amen* is something understandable by almost everyone in the world thanks to our dear massive media. Heck, I'm an atheist so for all I care I'd change it to some of my native sects mantra's, but I think this way would be more understandable, specially in the western world.

Regarding using translators notes, *I* think that Translator's notes should only be used as a last resort technique, since they are normally disrupt the flow of the story and require the reader to refer to an append in order to understand what is happening. From my very personal POV they should only be used as a substitute for something that would be irremediably lost in translation, or that is crucial to the story. Neither is the case in the line I cited, so unless the team is taking a literal translation approach, localization would be better for this case. --Proto

I reallly have no problem with localization, when it is applied well. In this case, it's so trivial and understandable on its own that I really don't think putting *amen* in its place would be a good way to do anything. And yes, Japan is cosmopolitan - and vaguely agnostic as well, which is why religion there is so malleable. Translator notes are invasive, true, but in this case (I don't mean to be rude) I'd like to keep this intact, since I feel fans don't WANT stuff to be localized. --Tobiast88 19:33, 13 April 2008 (PDT)

Well indeed it's your call, I don't have qualms with that :p. If people don't complain about this particular matter I'd guess it'd be ok. Personally it helped me learn a new thing (I had no idea what that referred to >_<) --Proto

Personally, I feel like it is kinda rare to see "Amen" in funerals and such. If it would be necessary for an adaptation, I would say "my (sincere) condolences" or "Rest in peace". But "Amen" is way too vague and misleading with religion and such so... well that's my 2 cents Klashikari 11:34, 14 April 2008 (PDT)

I'm not really adamant on the amen part though, I only used it as an example. My main point was that we should use something more recognizable than "namunamunamu". Though, maybe it's just me. --Proto

How about "Heeey, maybe he dropped dead, bless his soul"? --Sonozaki Futagotachi 20:33, 16 April 2008 (PDT)

I don't think that's cynical enough... and I don't think the readers are stupid either (at least, most of them). It wouldn't be reasonnable to over-translate and therefore destroy all nuance inside the Japanese text. We made the Grimoire so that we don't have to americanize things. I think we can keep it this way. --Niemand 00:30, 17 April 2008 (PDT)

Being rude

まぁた、母さんと俺の悪口を言ってたろぉ。 "Once again, I heard you being rude to me and your mother. [... heard you talking filthy about me with your mother. The と refers to the subject, not the object.] Not necessarily. The Japanese is ambiguous. The subject can be 俺, Rudolf, with Battler talking filthy with Kyrie (母さんと), or 母さんと俺, since Battler was being rude to both. That's the interpretation I chose, since Rudolf seems a bit conceited about what's due to one's parents. --Tobiast88 19:42, 13 April 2008 (PDT)

It didn't gave me the impression he was being rude to his mother other than using impolite language and being a little direct (which, technically speaking should be expected since they are stepmother and stepson) which made me choose the former interpretation, but it doesn't really matter either way I guess... --Proto

It's not exactly that he's rude to his "mom", it's just that he shows a complete lack of respect to both, which Kyrie flows with of course, but that Rudolf doesn't like. But in fact, he should be more polite to his step-mom - politeness demands that he make her feel comfortable as a new mother, which means carrying out her whims with exquisite politeness in a standard traditional japanese family. He doesn't = he's rude.--Tobiast88 20:01, 13 April 2008 (PDT)