Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
Dafuq with calling Yang Guo (杨过) "Penance". I don't care if that is what his name means whatever but you dont have to translate Chinese names like that. I can't take this translation of Jin Yong's book seriously omg 💀
Like, there's this character in Mysterious Lotus Casebook called "Duo Bing", can you imagine if you call him "Always Sick"?? Chinese names don't have to be direct translations omg
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@atomicpoet to be fair neither do I hahahaha
Christopher Trottier
@liztai@hachyderm.io This is the pain I feel when I’m reading manhua.
Also, I still don’t know what they mean by “cultivation”.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@rakyat we kinda know what it means also but it's so hard to explain in English 😂 @atomicpoet
Just another rakyat 🇲🇾
@atomicpoet @liztai Ugh “cultivation” is such a weird translation
Just another rakyat 🇲🇾
@liztai “practice” will do nicely lol.
@atomicpoet
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@geraineon @rakyat I always wondered about that ... but I guess because it's both practicing and sort of gaining more energy/skills? I almost picture the whole deal as a battery charging.
Neon (fandom)
@rakyat@hachyderm.io @liztai@hachyderm.io I wonder if it's because calling it Cultivation makes it sound extra fancy/ "different culture"
Just another rakyat 🇲🇾
@geraineon Yeah I remember there was a better word but don’t quite remember what. “Practice” sounds like a decent alternative. @liztai
Neon (fandom)
@rakyat@hachyderm.io @liztai@hachyderm.io is it time to shit on "cultivation"? I'm here for it!
Alas I don't actually remember what word I used to use because it's been erased by "cultivation" (probably practice too? Idk. Cultivation = what, gardening ah?)
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@geraineon I mean we haven't even arrived at the topic of "dual cultivation" yet 😂 @rakyat
Neon (fandom)
@liztai@hachyderm.io @rakyat@hachyderm.io but then it's like "cultivating what?"
If you accept the premise that everyone can practice until they "fly", then it's basically like okay you are practicing your stamina. It's like sports. You can learn from manuals how to do it more efficiently or run more efficiently! Stuff like that la. Then sometimes, ppl use technique that official competitions don't accept la (so this is the equivalent of Evil Sect thing I guess, and Evil Cultivation Methods)
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@geraineon I shall wait patiently until you find a better word 😂 @rakyat
Neon (fandom)
@liztai@hachyderm.io @rakyat@hachyderm.io I wish I have the foresight to save my twitter DMs. I actually did go on a very long rant with a friend when cnovel tl became more mainstream because of the word "cultivation" and I'm pretty sure I did mention the words I think are more appropriate/better but now they are all gone from my brain -_-
Neon (fandom)
@liztai@hachyderm.io @rakyat@hachyderm.io okay so practice partner. And it involves energy so passing energy. Also it sometimes involves sex
I guess my issue is, why do we need to use the word "cultivation"?
(This has been a long time rant in me)
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@ubi @rakyat @atomicpoet this is a manhua i wanba read
ubi
@rakyat @atomicpoet @liztai After many years of study, her disciples ask her, "Ok, but when do we learn all the flying fighting stuff?"
Just another rakyat 🇲🇾
@ubi I’d love to read about an old master cultivating some exotic strains of lichen in her tiny lab hidden in the misty mountains @atomicpoet @liztai
ubi
@rakyat @atomicpoet @liztai Im always so disappointed when I see a synopsis about a master of cultivation and it isn't about farming.
Matt
@liztai my partner @jenxi does awesome translations at https://wuxiasociety.com/
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@chungliwen @jenxi wah didn't know this! How cool 😄
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi i don't think I will be able to relate to that reasoning as I am not from the US but I suppose if it appeals to them....
I mean, it is just weird to me. I will kill anyone that goes around "describing" my name.
It feels patronizing. Not sure if all Chinese people feel this way, but sometimes i feel the names are translated this way to make them sound more Oriental and exotic 🙄
Like, we don't call people named Peter "the rock", for eg. so why do it to Chinese names? I don't get it
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai I spoke to Gigi at length about this. I was against the name translations, but have come around to accepting such an approach is necessary for readers who are new to both the wuxia genre and Chinese settings.
It also puts the reader in the perspective of a native speaker. Native speakers know what his name means each time we hear the name.
Really hope these novels help get new readers interested in the genre and then move on to translations that retain more pinyin terms.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@chungliwen @jenxi haha yes i know who she is.
Matt
@jenxi @liztai not sure if you need to explain who Gigi is 😂
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@chungliwen @jenxi Personally, at least for me, i don't really think of the meaning of a Chinese person's name. Now i am wondering if other Chinese people think like this 🤔
I think for us to do that we would have to ask for the characters of their name and that would be odd.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@chungliwen forgot to ask u! Can u ask ur partner - i cant download the epubs cos the email delivery system seems to be broken 😭 @jenxi
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai @chungliwen Thanks for the heads up! Problem solved.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi i can download the epubs now? @chungliwen
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi lol Chinese names are confusing. Oh well I suppose I can understand but still!
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai The official translations are from a British publisher, probably targets all English-speaking readers who are new to the genre. And from what I’ve observed, many readers have English as a second language.
It helps that the names aren’t too confusing and easier for them to remember/track.
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai @chungliwen From my experience, it’s very common for Chinese people to ask for the characters of the names when introduced. And from there decipher the meaning of the names, or ask what it means if it’s an unusual name.
Even in situations where only surnames are exchanged, they would still ask for the character, though in this case the meaning isn’t important.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi Hmm maybe cos I banana I don't bother to do that lol. @chungliwen
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai @chungliwen You should’ve received an email with the link.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi @chungliwen Will try that again then
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi Ok feedback - the log in process to get the epubs are so convulated. I'm trying to find that download link and I can't lol. If you can direct me to a page with the links that'll be great, but it's like a maze, being led to one page after another but not the epub download...
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi O finally found it! Man it's weird how the website just gave me the runaround
@chungliwen
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi Not sure if you're aware but every link on this download page is the same link https://wuxiasociety.com/wuxia-translation-downloads/
Sorry for the numerous messages but thought you should be aware ;D
Dang it, just wanted to read Laughing Proud Wanderer
@chungliwen
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi let me know when the links are fixed 😆 Cant wait to read the novels. @chungliwen
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@liztai @chungliwen Thanks for the heads up. Not sure how that happened.
I’m actually itching to start my version of the The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Long discussion over the translation of the XAJH title. I’ll be sharing that in an article soon.
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
@jenxi Smiling Proud Wanderer is like, my favorite Jin Yong work ever so you don't know how excited i am to finally dig into it. Thank you for your hard work! @chungliwen
Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@chungliwen @liztai Thanks!
Matt
@liztai I don’t know why I keep missing the replies. Somehow the notifications/flow feels different (even if it’s not).
@jenxi I’ve sent Liz the link already. (Same link, cleared cache). Thanks for fixing the other stuff.
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