[FFML] [C&C] Hearts and Minds, 8-9

[Brian Randall]

On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 12:27 PM, Mythril Moth
<mythrilmoth at mythrilmoth.net> wrote:
> Thing is that doesn't work unless what she's been studying are AMERICAN
> movies, comics, etc. translated (badly and literally) into Japanese, because
> Japanese *isn't structured like that*. You're pulling a Trishism here. A BAD
> ONE. If you want to illustrate that the way she's learned to talk comes from
> JAPANESE pop culture, she needs to talk like JAPANESE POP CULTURE.
>
> [...]
>
> First off, lose this crap. The Japanese don't do this. Ever. If she's truly
> learning Japanese from pop culture, this would NEVER happen.
>
> Here's how that SHOULD read:
>
> [...]
>
> I'm not saying you need to know how to speak Japanese.

No, but you are very strongly implying it.

> Always, ALWAYS remember when you're writing this sort of thing that the
> characters are NOT speaking English except when they actually are. They're
> speaking their own language, and your interpretation of their language needs
> to make sense in English without removing the spirit of how they actually
> talk. If you're conveying that a Chinese character has learned to speak
> Japanese from pop culture, her speech patterns need to reflect that
> accurately. It isn't easy, I admit, but it cuts down on the number of weird,
> awkward dialogue choices in the long run.

I realize it's a matter of opinion, and you've just shared yours, but
as a counterpoint, here's my own:

We are writing English-language fic for English-reading audiences.
What is gained if the broad majority of potential readers are
alienated by something that doesn't read naturally in English?  The
appeal is meant to be to 'any reader' not 'only readers with _my_
knowledge level, specifically'.  It's great if you can include that
latter concept as a bonus.

However, I don't personally see a benefit to writing something that
someone who has a more advanced level of skill in Japanese can look at
and say, "Oh, I know what that must have been in Japanese," if it's at
the cost of someone lacking that skill saying, "What is wrong with
this person and why are they speaking so awkwardly?"

Just my own two cents on the subject.

--
Brian Randall
--
Who finds speaking superior to shouting in most circumstances
concerning communication.
--
I write fanfiction. Too much of it. You can read it here, on my
terrible webpage:
http://www.soulriders.net/brian/