Is it just me or the translator fault
- Thread starter RoyMustang
- Start date
- #11
Actually it depends on the currency to be translated to. If it is a real world currency, it is best not to translate it into dollars because there is already a pre-existing understanding of purchasing power that can be messed up if you do but if the currency is imaginary like Planet Gloppygook's Yuan, then it is probably OK to call it dollars since there really isn't any existing scale to make us misunderstand the purchasing power.
Ironically, even US "dollars" can have different purchasing power. For example, the US "silver" dollar used to have a value about 1000x that of the common "continental" dollar before it dropped out of circulation.
So in the end, the answer to translate the currency or not is like that of most other translating situations. "It Depends".
Ironically, even US "dollars" can have different purchasing power. For example, the US "silver" dollar used to have a value about 1000x that of the common "continental" dollar before it dropped out of circulation.
So in the end, the answer to translate the currency or not is like that of most other translating situations. "It Depends".
- #13
I don't see it as an issue. Depending on the translator's background, some may simply not notice it at all. As an American, perhaps it's clear to you that the dollar automatically refers to the American dollar but I stay in a country where our currency is also called the "dollar", and it obviously doesn't refer to USD.
From Wiki: "Dollar (symbol: $) is the name of more than 20 currencies, including those of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Liberia, Namibia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States."
When I started, I translated "yuan" as "dollar" because that's how I refer to money in day-to-day life. I've changed it since then but my reasoning was that given the context of the story, readers will understand this "dollar" obviously doesn't refer to USD. I'll be more concerned if the translator specifically translated it as the US dollar.
From Wiki: "Dollar (symbol: $) is the name of more than 20 currencies, including those of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Liberia, Namibia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States."
When I started, I translated "yuan" as "dollar" because that's how I refer to money in day-to-day life. I've changed it since then but my reasoning was that given the context of the story, readers will understand this "dollar" obviously doesn't refer to USD. I'll be more concerned if the translator specifically translated it as the US dollar.
- #14
Yeah i usually cant remember all the conversions from one measurement system to another either. I got the imperial to metric and whatnot down, but all the asian measurements...yeah. Haha. No. It's been explained several dozens of times in TL notes, im sure. Still doesnt stick for very long tho. All i know is chinese stories has a rep for being big as fuck so im just picturing everything as enormous.
- #15
And the biggest irony of all.
Yuan wasn't originally a Chinese currency. It was the Chinese name for the Spanish Pieces of Eight. The Mei Yuan (or American Yuan) was the Chinese name for US Silver Dollar coins. For all practical purposes, "Yuan" IS the English equivalent of "Dollar" without the country link. For example, where did you think the word Yen came from? Or the Korean Won?
It was only after exposure to European currency that they started to call coins "Yuan".
Yuan wasn't originally a Chinese currency. It was the Chinese name for the Spanish Pieces of Eight. The Mei Yuan (or American Yuan) was the Chinese name for US Silver Dollar coins. For all practical purposes, "Yuan" IS the English equivalent of "Dollar" without the country link. For example, where did you think the word Yen came from? Or the Korean Won?
It was only after exposure to European currency that they started to call coins "Yuan".
- #16
If the story doesnt use other countries' currencies then tl it to dollar would be ok. Given the raws is in chinese, its clear that the currency in the novel should be based on China's. Honestly, using dollars without conversion would be more smooth for english readers. Maybe just add a little note at the end in the first few chapters?
I'm pretty sure the rates across countries changes too, do you want the translator to check the currency rate everyday?
There are many readers from different countries reading the novel so if they're going to convert the currencies, should the translator use USD, pounds or their local currency?
I'm pretty sure the rates across countries changes too, do you want the translator to check the currency rate everyday?
There are many readers from different countries reading the novel so if they're going to convert the currencies, should the translator use USD, pounds or their local currency?
- #17
Hell if i care about how expensive an expensive car is, my dude. I know its supposed to be expensive, the actual amount doesnt really matter to me personally.
Also, its kinda weird. Cuz when you think about it all these rules are arbitrary. LIke a dollar or yuan can have any value the author wants it to have. So sometimes if these mistakes happen, or if the author himself makes a mistake, the readers either go "Wait wut?" or go. "Well maybe it means something different in the story?" LIke have to think up excuses to cover the mistakes for them. To rationalize to make it fit the story.
Which is why i kinda stopped pointing out these kind of details. For example one story i read started throwing all the nuclear bombs in the world at a bunch of scorpion monsters to save the world...which of course will mean no one will be able to survive the fall out....but they DO survive. See? It's like that. Logic and things like currency, i've learned, gotta be taken with a grain of salt.
Although, like toastedRossi said, its so insignificant and easy to fix that it should be a no-brainer. Why NOT be faithful to what the author wrote? I dont give a single fuck about the currency myself, sure, but its so easy to change a dollar sign to a yuan sign.
Also, its kinda weird. Cuz when you think about it all these rules are arbitrary. LIke a dollar or yuan can have any value the author wants it to have. So sometimes if these mistakes happen, or if the author himself makes a mistake, the readers either go "Wait wut?" or go. "Well maybe it means something different in the story?" LIke have to think up excuses to cover the mistakes for them. To rationalize to make it fit the story.
Which is why i kinda stopped pointing out these kind of details. For example one story i read started throwing all the nuclear bombs in the world at a bunch of scorpion monsters to save the world...which of course will mean no one will be able to survive the fall out....but they DO survive. See? It's like that. Logic and things like currency, i've learned, gotta be taken with a grain of salt.
Although, like toastedRossi said, its so insignificant and easy to fix that it should be a no-brainer. Why NOT be faithful to what the author wrote? I dont give a single fuck about the currency myself, sure, but its so easy to change a dollar sign to a yuan sign.