Strangeattractor
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
In your review of Heaven's Official Blessing Vol 1, you had wondered which word was translated as "Jeeze!". The word was likely もう mou, which literally means an acknowledgment of a change of state, with a connotation of surprise. The translator of Ascendance of a Bookworm, Quof, defended "Geez" on J-Novel Club Forums. My questions are: Have you interacted with any translators of your work? If so, what was it like?
Lois McMaster Bujold
With respect specifically to "Jeeze!", one has to know it was a politer contraction of "Jesus", like darn to damn, from a time when such expressions were considered blasphemous. (We have moved on to different forbidden/violated vocabularies now.) Very anachronistic in fantasy ancient China. One might have gotten away with "Buddha!", I suppose... It's possible the young translator had never heard the word used as anything but a noise of surprise, and did not know its history. But yes, you confirm my suspicion that the original word in Chinese had none of the above historical baggage.
I have interacted with a few of my translators, mostly since email; it was not feasible before. Though my Japanese translator did get to visit me briefly back in my early days in Marion, OH, when she was in the States to visit her brother at Cornell. I remember specifically trying to explain the idiom "he pursed his lips" by fetching out a little string bag I happened to have, and demonstrating its closure. But again, one has to know that's what archaic purses looked like.
It's generally an exercise in mutual frustration, especially when only the one side speaks both languages. There is apparently no word in French that conveys exactly what the term "wooden" does for a person's expression, ferex. A few times, I was able to catch errors of understanding, but the ratio of work to result on both sides was uneconomically high.
So, a very interesting exercise, but one I should likely stay out of, unless asked some very specific question by a translator. And even then, I can only expand on what I meant in English, and can never know what the term chosen in the target language may be doing viz connotation, etc.
Ta, L.
With respect specifically to "Jeeze!", one has to know it was a politer contraction of "Jesus", like darn to damn, from a time when such expressions were considered blasphemous. (We have moved on to different forbidden/violated vocabularies now.) Very anachronistic in fantasy ancient China. One might have gotten away with "Buddha!", I suppose... It's possible the young translator had never heard the word used as anything but a noise of surprise, and did not know its history. But yes, you confirm my suspicion that the original word in Chinese had none of the above historical baggage.
I have interacted with a few of my translators, mostly since email; it was not feasible before. Though my Japanese translator did get to visit me briefly back in my early days in Marion, OH, when she was in the States to visit her brother at Cornell. I remember specifically trying to explain the idiom "he pursed his lips" by fetching out a little string bag I happened to have, and demonstrating its closure. But again, one has to know that's what archaic purses looked like.
It's generally an exercise in mutual frustration, especially when only the one side speaks both languages. There is apparently no word in French that conveys exactly what the term "wooden" does for a person's expression, ferex. A few times, I was able to catch errors of understanding, but the ratio of work to result on both sides was uneconomically high.
So, a very interesting exercise, but one I should likely stay out of, unless asked some very specific question by a translator. And even then, I can only expand on what I meant in English, and can never know what the term chosen in the target language may be doing viz connotation, etc.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Steve
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Have you noticed? If you have read some of the "Rivers of London" series by Aaronovitch, you are aware that there really are multiple hidden rivers under London. They were once open rivers which have been built over or assigned to underground culverts. *Discover Magazine*, November/December 2021 issue, has an article by Natasha Khullar Relph, which explains how the city is bringing them back above ground again.
Talli Ruksas
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Lois McMaster Bujold:
Think you have a fan at CBS? Scorpion had an exploding lake, a la Lake Lethal, Pure Genius had a lab working on an artificial womb, and Elementary had an episode about vat meat. I'm confused about the name Mia Maz - is Mia her first name or a title, like miss? Miles calls her milady Maz and she says "just Maz" Is it easier/harder to write from multiple POVs? I find I like the extra takes, tho Memory is a masterpiece
Andie
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! A question about contraceptive implants on Barrayar - could women make these medical decisions for themselves, or was a husband or father's permission required? (To either get, or remove, the implant?) This might influence decisions for certain of my favourite couples who are betrothed but not yet married. There are references such as "observing the traditions, at least, as far as Mama and Da know ..." TY!
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