Wish all German books were translated to English (was: Jagdgeschwader 5 - Volume 3)

[Ruy Horta]

Jukka,

You seem to have some big issues.

1. You demand translations
2. Available translations must pass your approval

Perhaps you should change hobbies?

[Jukka Juutinen]

Issues? Sure! Or do you think it is the duty of the translator to comment on an author´s views by constantly interjecting his own comments (a little bit like "author: the sun was shining beatifully" to which the translator adds "this shows how extreme the author is". These kind of comments are virtually everywhere in Hannu V´s translations. So, I do have issues. If I want to read Rudel´s memoirs, I read Rudel´s memoirs, not any Schröderian pamphlet.

[Six Nifty .50s]

I sense a stalemate here. I would say that both Ruy and Jukka have a case.

In a free market system any potential customer, like Jukka, has a right to make demands for specific products. If a potential supplier wants his money, they will try to provide what is demanded at a fair price. But the supplier does not have an obligation to do that, and may not have the funds or time necessary to translate research into foreign languages.

Obviously you cannot always trust the accuracy of translation, and the most practical way to avoid that problem is to learn the language used in the original texts and documents.

[Ruy Horta]

Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s

I sense a stalemate here. I would say that both Ruy and Jukka have a case.

But the supplier does not have an obligation to do that, and may not have the funds or time necessary to translate research into foreign languages.

As Eric explained, many books that appear in our sphere of interest are basically a labor of love and as such we cannot fault an author for choosing a language that we have not personally mastered.

I keep using the same example(s).

Besides others I have a strong interest in French, Russian and Japanese subjects. The first I have to work at (70-90% comprehension), but the latter two are beyond my ability. I am at the mercy of translations (in German for instance, from the former DDR), or simply watching pictures etc.

Do I blame Japanese or Russian writers and publishers, no, I just lament little and hope for better times...

BTW, even with the Japanese books it is a challenge to "crack" captions. If I manage to understand the basics - unit, etc - I am already in the seventh heaven!

Lets face it, if the market were so strong US and UK publishers would be standing in line with foreign authors to sign up a contract, or am I mistaken with the way the market works?

[anderbe]

My two - kaksi cent.. Every transelation loos a bit of the original.. Just look at the conversion from metric to imperial measures in most of the 'mainstream' books.. Bottom line - interested in german equipment / you got to understand german.. (Fininsh I have not tried yet - as you can see.. )