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

[Gary Kleppe]

Quoting Brian Randall <durandall at gmail.com>:

> On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 12:27 PM, Mythril Moth
> <mythrilmoth at mythrilmoth.net> wrote:

>> 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.

Which I pretty much agree with.

MM, I think you and I just have a somewhat difference in philosophy  
about this whole business. What I try to reproduce is not so much the  
spirit of an original Japanese conversation or other scene, but the  
effect that that would have for the reader. I've had this argument a  
number of times with Ken Arromdee. In the original series, Principal  
Kuno's verbal schtick is that he throws English lines into his speech.  
When all the dialog is in English, this wouldn't mean anything to the  
reader. So I follow Viz's lead and have him speaking in a hyper-cheesy  
Hawaiian accent. Similarly, if I ever have the occasion to write a  
scene with Japanese country hicks, I'll have them talk like American  
country hicks, because that would convey the right flavor to the  
reader, even though a more direct translation of the way the former  
talk would no doubt produce something very different.