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JAT member Mark Schreiber will speak to JAT on November 16th. Mark is the author of the recently published book entitled "Shocking Crimes of Postwar Japan." He will talk about the book and various translation-related problems that occurred during its writing.
According to Mark, a significant percentage of the data used in his book (he's not saying exactly how much) was researched from Japanese secondary sources. Figuring prominently were materials from Japan's notorious weekly magazines. Mark, who pursues this topic each week on the Mainichi Daily News' "WaiWai" page, is well known to fellow JAT members, having broken up the otherwise staid IJET '94 by presenting a sample translation of a parody on S-M fetishism appearing in Spa!
While translation did figure largely in the writing of his book, Mark took extra pains to develop some unorthodox approaches to keep the material lively and stimulating (while avoiding lawsuits for plagiarism).
Even if you aren't planning to write your own book about crime in Japan, Mark promises to have some useful suggestions for approaches that will make translated material more reader friendly. He will also devote time to the chapters in the book, and gladly answer members' questions on his interest in crime writing.
The meeting will be held at the Shiba Seinen Kaikan (芝青年会館: JAT's regular meeting site) near Hamamatsucho Station (JR 浜松町駅). It will begin promptly at 14:30 and finish shortly after 16:30. All JAT members, friends, and guests are encouraged to attend. There is no charge.
The meeting will be followed by an informal gathering at a nearby restaurant. If you require a map of the meeting site, please fax Bob Oliver at 045-832-2211.
Bob Oliver
The JAT Directors met before the October 21st meeting. Present at that meeting were Michael House, Bill Lise Joe Mann, Bob Oliver, Emily Shibata-Sato, and Jeremy Whipple. Membership: It appears that we have had very few people tell us that our decision to lower the dues and make a complete switch to electronic media for the Bulletin is causing them to leave JAT. This, combined with new memberships, is holding the membership level approximately constant; in short, not much net change has occurred.
Meetings: As announced elsewhere, Mark Schreiber will speak to us on November 16th. We also decided not to have a regular JAT meeting in December. Our meet-the-candidates meeting will be held as is our custom, in January.
JAT cyberspace presence: JAT continues to look at what it should be doing to develop a presence on the World Wide Web. Bill Lise has started a JAT subpage (as part of his private home page) which is reported elsewhere, but that does not provide some of the features the directors feel would be needed by a real JAT home page. The possibilities include: (1) a private section for members only, which would require a password (to enable access to such members-only features as a Bulletin archive and Membership Directory), (2) a membership form so that people could do an on-line sign-up, (3) archiving of the honyaku mailing list (to be accessible to anyone). Michael House agreed to contact one provider about implementing these features.
JAT Bulletin: There was some discussion about the problem of mojibake (文字化け) occurring in submissions arriving cross-platform and cross-character-code. Emily is working the problem, part of which involves files containing mixtures of single- and double- byte characters. Another issue brought up was that of Japanese content. Jeremy suggested that people who have embedded Japanese might include a romaji gloss for people who don't have kanji capability. The suggestion did not necessarily extend to full romaji versions of totally Japanese articles, and the consensus was that authors should be allowed to decide whether or not they include romaji.
IJET: The last major expense from IJET-7 will be incurred shortly, this being the printing distribution costs related to the Proceedings. As of this writing, orders for 19 copies of the Proceedings were received, over and above the 200+ copies that will be distributed to IJET-7 participants.
For those JAT members who happened to blink when we announced this two months ago, the JAT Bulletin will continue in its present paper form (in parallel with electronic distribution) until the March 1997 issue. After that, it will be exclusively electronic (i.e., no more paper Bulletin).
Before you read this, JATers on JAT-LIST received (and perhaps read) their electronic version of this issue. Any further comments I have with regard to the content of this issue will be made on the JAT-LIST mailing list (described elsewhere). See you there.
Bill Lise
President
JAT has for quite some time had the JAT-LIST mailing list, provided as a forum for members' discussions. After the last paper issue of the Bulletin in March, this list will probably be your most important link to JAT. Word from John Burton, our membership secretary, is that most new members are e-mail capable and are being signed up for the list automatically. With regard to current members, however, a problem exists, in that John does not know the email address of some people. If you have an email address, please give it to John Burton (contact information elsewhere in this issue).
To join JAT-LIST, send the message "subscribe jat-list" to the email address listserv@netcom.com. After being checked out as a JAT member, you will be made a member.
Bill Lise
カタカナ語を英訳するときにはその言葉の意味を十分に検討する必要があることはよく知られています。当初は対応する原語の意味を表すために作られたカタカナ語が日本語として取り入れられてから別の意味に転じることがよくあるし、カタカナ語自体が日本人の耳に聞こえた音を表しているために対応する原語をすぐには見つけることができないことも多いからです。
漢字を使用している中国と比較すると、『中国人は音訳に抵抗し、（中略）新しく出てきた要請に応じるための単語、あるいは語根を自分の祖語のほうに向かって探し求めにゆこうとする傾向がある。他方、日本人は、中国の表意文字によって造語したり、あるいは西洋からまるごと輸入するという点で、無識別きわまりないことがわかる』と比較文化論のフランシス・シュー氏は述べています。
日経産業新聞（10月9日）を読んでいて面白い記事があったのでここに転記してみなさんに紹介したいと思います。 『東洋エンジニアリングの上床珍彦会長は「エンジニアリングは、日本語に翻訳してはいけない」と言う。確かに「エンジニアリング」のスッキリとした日本語の説明を聞いたことがない。エンジニアリング業務を構成する三要素は、エンジニアリング（設計）・プロキュアメント（調達）・コンストラクション（建設）であり、それぞれの頭文字を取ってEPCと一口で言える。この場合のエンジニアリングは確かに「設計」の意味なのだが、エンジニアリングが社会的な枠組みで捉えられる時、的確に一語で表現できる日本語が見当たらない。英和辞典でエンジニアリングを調べると「工学」とある。機械工学、化学工学、土木工学など、工学にも多くの種類があるが、これらをシステムとして組み上げる技術がエンジニアリング業の実態に最も近そうだ。』(『エンジニアリング産業』エンジニアリング・ビジネス編集長 丸田敬)時國滋夫(George Tokikuni)
P.S. 東洋エンジニアリングの「上床珍彦」会長、珍しいお名前ですが、何と読むのでしょう？ 答えは 「うわとこ・うずひこ」です。ところでHonyaku mailing list でも先月、日本の会社に「設計課」と「デザイン課」がある場合どう違うのかが話題となっていました。
Emily Shibata-Sato
Speaking of 漢字の分解読み, which appeared here a some issues ago, an elderly Japanese acquaintance once gave me some examples of how previous generations were taught to remember the more difficult older kanji forms. A couple that come to mind are 乱 and 寿.
The traditional form of 乱 is 亂, which seems to be a real challenge to remember, but isn't once you know the mnemonic. If you look at the left side and read from top to bottom, you'll see what resemble the katakana ノツマムヌ, which is the "word" to recite when you are trying to recall how to write the character (just remember where the 冂 goes).
寿 was written 壽, which is likewise a snap to remember when you recite this nifty phrase, which reads the character from top to bottom: 士 (さむらい) のフエ (笛) は一吋 (インチ).
Now you can really amaze your friends at the next party, and maybe even impress a client.
Rick Davis
HONYAKU mailing
listで最近、「情報化」は英訳できるか、すべきでないかが論議されていました。発言者の多くはinformationalize
等に訳するのは変だという意見だったようです。そこで調べてみました。辞書によると、
「...化、化...」とは
形や性質がかわること。かえること。自由化、強化、化粧
（広辞苑） "...ize" isForming verbs, meaning: 1 make
or become such (Americanize...) ; 2 treat in such a
way (monopolize...); 3a follow a special practice
(economize), b have a specified feeling (sympathize),
4 affect with, provide with, or subject to
(oxidize...). The form -ize has been in use in
English since the 16th c.; it is widely used in
American English, but is not an Americanism. The
alternative spelling -ise (reflecting a French
influence) is in common use, esp. in British
English.... (The Concise Oxford Dictionary)
「...化」は "...ize" の定義の１、２、４に相当し、「...化」の多くは「翻訳語」で、英語の "...ize" からの直訳だと思われます（アメリカ化 Americanize、独占化monopolize、国際化 internatinionalize、国有化 nationalize、 都市化 urbanize、酸化 oxidize、機械化 mechanize、合理化 rationalize、社会化 socialize、標準化 standardize、民主化 democratize、デジタル化 digitize）。そして直訳は概ねどんどん受け入れられていくようです。もしくは、そのまま...イズと言うとか。Americanizeは「アメリカナイズされた人」と言いますし、localize はソフトの世界では「現地化」でなく、「ローカライズ」とそのまま言っていると思います。Securitization も、証券化とセキュリタイゼーションの両方を見かけます。
逆に日本で作られた「...化」は「情報化、サービス化、空洞化、ソフト化、緑化、高度化、効率化、組織化」など。これらの多くは中身があいまいで (and/or) 抽象的なので、英語に訳せないと思えるのですが、いかがでしょうか。
Emily Shibata-Sato
When looking for a term using a search engine on the WWW, the number of hits is often overwhelming. Probably the quickest way to narrow down the search without including other substantial terms is to simply AND the term with the word "glossary." Searching for anti-aliasing AND glossary will likely generate hits on glossaries containing this term, since most glossaries (and there are many on the web) have the word "glossary" in their title.
Bill Lise
JAT sponsors a mailing list called honyaku. As of this writing, the list has a membership of 575 and a traffic level averaging 50+ notes per day. It is focused, and flames are almost unheard of--quite an achievement, from what I have heard, in a mailing list. In short, it works and can work for you, but you need to join.
All that is required to join the HONYAKU mailing list is an Internet e-mail address. To subscribe to the list, send e-mail to listserv@peach.ease.lsoft.com (there is no "e" after listserv), and send the following text:
subscribe honyaku your name
If your name is Taro Suzuki, that would be "subscribe honyaku Taro Suzuki." You will be then sent a confirmation notice, and once that is returned you will be subscribed. Hope to see you soon with your fellow translators on line!
Bill Lise
JATの会員の多くは個人で翻訳をなさっていらっしゃるから、この表題とは関係がないと思います。ここでは自分の仕事からちょっと離れて、もし翻訳会社の経営をやってほしいという依頼があったとして考えてみてください。
目の前に1000ページの和文があります。各ページは40字30行で書かれているため、約4000ページ弱の英文仕上がりになると思われます。しかし、納期まで2週間しかありません。レートは英文１枚当たり１万円といい仕事です。分割して多くの翻訳者にやってもらうしかありません。どうしたら、高い品質を維持できるでしょうか。
この課題については前から考えているのですが、なかなかいい答がありません。優秀な翻訳者に依頼する。用語や文体をあらかじめ指定することで統一を図る。できあがった翻訳をその分野をよく知っている翻訳者がチェックする。このような当たり前の方法しか浮かばないのですが、何かこれはという案があったら教えてください。
次に転記する記事は和訳の場合です。このような記事を読むと、この課題を自分で実際に対応することにはならないとしても、何とか解決案だけは提案しておかないとこれからもっとひどい翻訳が出てきそうで心配しています。
早くなるソフトの日本語化
残るネックはマニュアル
英語版のソフトウェアを日本語化するのに要する時間、いわゆる「日本語化の壁」が最近急速に縮小しつつある。これまで日本語化には短くても３カ月、長い時には半年以上も必要だった。これが今では、ほぼ１カ月程度まで縮小しつつある。マイクロソフトを例に取ると、Windows 95などのOSやOfficeなどのアプリケーション・ソフトを日本語化するのに、英語版発売から３カ月以内という目標を掲げていたが、最近ではその目標が「40日以内」に変わろうとしている。
現に、同社のインターネット用ブラウザー・ソフトの「Internet Explorer 3.0」は英語版発売から40日以内に日本語版を出す計画で動いている。同社によれば「最終的には英語版発売から２週間で日本語版を出すのが目標だ」という。ここまで日本語化の壁が低くなってきたのは、従来と違って、ソフトハウスがあらかじめ日本語をはじめとするダブルバイト・コードを扱うことを前提にソフト開発を進めるようになってきたからだ。（中略）
ダブルバイト対応が進んでも、まだもう１つ壁が残っている。それはマニュアルの問題だ。マニュアルはフォントを追加するのと違い、依然としてすべて英語から日本語に翻訳することが必要だ。それも単に機械的に翻訳するのではなく、日本語としてわかりやすい文章にする必要がある。 しかも、それを本の形で提供するとなると、紙の確保、印刷所の手配、梱包先の確保、などのもろもろの作業が必要になる。マイクロソフト関係者によれば、マニュアルの日本語化と、それを本として用意するのに必要な時間は「最低でも２ヶ月」かかるという。今や日本語化の最大の壁はこのマニュアルの日本語化にあるといってもいいほどだ。（中略）
それにしても日本語として分かりやすく書くといった面に関する限り、今のところこれといった特効薬がないのが実情だ。日本語を表示することでなく、日本語そのものの難しさが今後のネックとして残っていきそうだ。
マイクロソフトが英語版発売から２週間で日本語版を出荷するという最終目標をクリアできるかどうかは、今後このマニュアルの問題をいかに解決するかにかかっていると言えそうだ。
『シリコンバレーからの風』 渡辺洋之
日経パソコン 1996年8月26日号 P.396
時國滋夫(George Tokikuni)
When I started in translation in 197X, I had a Selectric typewriter, and thought that the white correction ribbon was leading-edge technology. Then I discovered computers, much as Columbus "discovered" America. I quickly graduated (?) from using a Tandy computer (no laughing, now!) to an IBM Displaywriter, and on to a JStar dedicated wordprocessor. My move to a Mac took a while, but there was no turning back. Then local BBS translation discussions, and finally (although surely not finally) an email mailing list that spans the globe and is populated by more than 550 translators.
Until April I never accessed the World Wide Web. Then a PPP account happened on me, and I was hooked. Now I can't do without it. It feels like the developments in the last six months have outstripped the developments in the last 20 years, and for good reason--they have.
JAT is partaking of the fruits of the internet, and JAT members can step up and take a bite, or select to sit back and watch others munch. Which will you do?
Bill Lise
* Eric Alsruhe's telephone and fax numbers have
changed.
(both home and office):
Tel. (+33) 4-6710-0250
Fax (+33) 4-6710-0252
* John Burton's e-mail address has changed to:
selwyn@shonan-inet.or.jp
John G. BRYAN
Home Address:
Miya Mae Bldg.
2-2-303 Enoki-cho
Kawasaki-ku
Kawasaki-shi 210
Home Tel: 044-246-7454
Home Fax: 044-246-7454
e-mail: bryjohn@smtp.kw.netlaputa.or.jp
Languages: J-E
Description: Economics, business. Environmental
problems. Regional development. Mechanical
engineering and construction. Computers and computer
software user manuals. Electronic goods user manuals.
(M.A., Japanese for Business, Sydney)
Equipment: Macintosh LC475, KanjiTalk
Davy Allen EUNICE
Home Address:
Usui 4-20-4
Habikino-shi
Osaka 583
Home Tel: 07-2953-1093 Home Fax: 07-2953-1093
E-mail: anteater@mbox.inet-osaka.or.jp
Languages: J-E
Description: Started out by copywriting around 1982. I have been translating since 1988. I still prefer copywriting translation, headcopy and slogans, but I have also written and translated technical manuals, and have translated construction tenders and field test reports. Recently, a lot work translating newspaper and magazine articles concerned with TFT-LCD and cars has been coming my way, as well as JICA teaching materials, which include JIS specifications. I proofread a lot of medical papers, especially in nutrition, immunology, bacteriology, pain and intensive care. When clients want a British accent, I also enjoy narration work.
My academic background is in social and cultural anthropology and the social sciences, but I have put on hold a PhD, to be presented at Oxford University, concerning the Osaka Junior of Commerce.Equipment: IBM PC
Kevin MORRISSEY
Home Address:
Aobadai Flower Mansion 307
Aobadai 1-26-1
Meguro-ku
Tokyo 153
Home Tel: 03-5721-3865 Home Fax: 03-5721-8357
e-mail: kmorisey@gol.com
Languages: J-E
equipment: IBM PC
Description: Computer software, computer hardware, financial.
Wayne R. ROOT
Home Address:
1356 Tree Garden Place
Concord, CA 94518
U.S.A.
Home Tel: 510-827-9684 Home Fax: 510-827-1211
e-mail: wroot@ccnet.com
Languages: J-E
equipment: Macintosh Performa 6320 CD
Description: Computers (software, hardware), electronics, economics (especially development econ). Areas covered in the last year include LSI testers, consumer electronic (particularly VCRs), investment counseling, finance, semiconductor fabrication, geothermal energy, pharmaceuticals, politics, economics, art exhibits, ballet criticism, museum management, theater scripts, history of transportation in Japan, Japanese style of management, and medicine.
Jiho SARGENT
Home Address:
7-1-30-204 Komagome
Toshima-ku
Tokyo 170
Home Tel: 03-3910-8234 Home Fax: 03-3910-8234
e-mail: jsargent@twics.com
Languages: J-E
equipment: PC Importers 486SX (IBM compatible) with
Okidata OL410e laser page printer, 28.8K modem,
operating under OS/2 Warp English and Japanese
versions.
Description: My primary area of work is copyediting and rewriting of documents translated from Japanese to English by someone else. The fields in which I work include engineering, electronics, computers (both hardware and software), and some others (e.g., automated machine tools, steelmaking), plus Buddhism. (I am a fully ordained Sotoshu priest.)
S. Lee SEAMAN
Home/Business Address:
3012 Wilson Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
U.S.A.
Home/Business Tel: 1-360-676-8343
Home/Business Fax: 1-360-671-1579
e-mail: lseaman@pacificrim.com
71341.3440@compuserve.com
Languages: J-E
equipment: PC clone, Windows 3.1, Wordperfect
Description: Translation of medical and pharmaceutical documents since 1985
Leslie M. Tkach
Home Address:
Oikoshi Shukusha 16-309
Amakubo 2-1-1
Tsukuba-shi
Ibaraki-ken 305
Home Tel: 0298-55-9085
e-mail: S001186@ipc.tsukuba.ac.jp
Languages: J-E
equipment: IBM thinkpad
Description: Political science, economics, some Internet, intercultural communication, some linguistics, education
John Burton
If you are reading this electronically and missed the map, getting the map is easy; it is as close ashttp://www.jat.org>, which contains a map to our meeting site in Shiba.
Bill Lise
January 18th - A "Meet the Candidates" meeting will be held to allow the general JAT membership to discuss JAT business with the JAT director candidates.
February and March - We are still looking for speakers for these two months. If you have any ideas, please contact me at roliver@gol.com. I'll do all the work required to set things up.
Bob Oliver
Emily Shibata-Sato is the collection point for all contributions. Please send your contributions for the November 1996 JAT Bulletin by October 25 (Fri.). All JAT members throughout the world are encouraged to contribute to the JAT bulletin. Please send unformatted text files ONLY as the bulletin will be uploaded to the jat-list.
Emily Shibata-Sato
Email:aya-sato@pp.iij4u.or.jp
JCC02456@niftyserve.or.jp
1-29-13 Zenpukuji Suginami-ku, 167
Tel/Fax:(03)3395-0286
The Japan Association of Translators (JAT) is a nonprofit association dedicated to serving the interests of individual translators. Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed in JAT Bulletin articles are solely those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Japan Association of Translators.