Confused?
I'm used to translating twice when the need arises or it's better for them. For example, the
bullshitesque ending of Minecraft. There is NO way I'll let that kind of crap go near my kids. If I want to make them think about something, it may as well make some sense. So I heavily adapted it, while leaving the crap in for the "
basic"
translation.
Just like I'll usually expand/modify the tutorials a little/heavy bit one way or another if the normal one isn't friendly enough, so it needs as little clarification as possible, while remaining true to the original.
Why? Say you're going to explain roach pathfinding and VP.
For an adult, the tutorials - on these forums, for example - are very, very accurate, you know exactly what you're getting yourself into, and how to take advantage of VP.
But is it good enough
for kids? The basic explanation, in a kid-friendly version, would probably be something like "
the roaches try to take the shortest path to reach you. First diagonally, and if that isn't possible or needed, on a vertical line. They will only move on a horizontal line if none of those are possible or useful."
That's very, very rough, doesn't take the brain into account, and needs more thought. Some dialogues may require editing too, especially if it's convoluted. I mean, your kid will read Harry Potter, no problem. But can you picture him reading Zola or Tolstoļ?
The list goes on and on.
Then there's the second factor: one of them devours books like I've never seen before, while the other is slower, so I'll have to keep it quite short so the captions don't disappear before she's done reading. It happens all too often in official translations, and nobody thinks of the children. Hence the clock, for example, and my request for a way to translate it, for them first - Damien is intent on doing it for the public, so I won't have to make a second version.
But should he "
butcher"
the public translation for this purpose? And should I, for that matter? Not in the least.
So I'm used to translating
twice when the need arises.
Makes more sense now?
PS - note that yes, the roach is the worst example. Take the brained roach, or the unbrained serpent. Now go explain that as accurately as possible to a kid.
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Fanatics make unreliable friends.
[Last edited by Hyeron at 06-09-2012 01:52 PM]
