REVEALING HOW JAPANESE TRANSLATORS VIEW THEIR OWN SOCIAL ROLES

1. REVEALING HOW JAPANESE TRANSLATORS VIEW THEIR OWN SOCIAL ROLES Kikuko Tanabe Feb. 23, 2010 International Symposium: Translation and Cultural Mediation

2. My Key Points • Japanese translators’ role as cultural mediators has gone through several transitions. • Professional translators today enjoy more visibility than western translators do and play the role of cultural mediators. • Younger translators are still being caught up in the age-old debate over style.

3. The Translation Market • Books and audiovisual: 3% • Technical: 95% IT 29.2% Sci-tech 22.3% Patent 21.2% Business 10.4% Medical 10.4% Source: Japan Translation Federation, 2005 • Books: \2 billion ($20 million) • Audiovisual: \1 billion ($10 million) • Technical: \100-200 billion ($1-2 billion)

4. Language Pairs and Direction Most frequently translated languages: • English 74% • Korean 4.5% • Chinese 6.6% • French 3.8% • German 5.5% • Spanish 1.8% Direction: • J-to-E: 48.7% E-to-J: 51.3% • J-to-G: 25% G-to-J: 75% • J-to-C: 60.8 C-to-J: 29.2 • J-to-K: 57.4 K-to-J: 42.6 Source: Japan Translation Federation, 2005

5. Historical Background • From Chinese, Latin, Portuguese, Dutch, English • Meiji Era: wakon yosai: Japanese spirit and Western techniques • Translation on the battlefield. Shogun army: French Rebel army: Dutch

6. Japanese Language and Translation • New words: society, philosophy, science… • New expressions: use of pronouns, relative clauses… • Birth of vernacular • Wavering between styles Progressive intellectuals vs. conservative writers Translationese vs. traditional styles

7. Respect or Disrespect? • Until 1970s: Job for intellectuals • After 1970s: Lack of originality • Translator as kuroko

8. Research 1) Qualitative Interviews(March-August 2009): Nine Japanese professional translators (Technical 2, Book 6, Both 1) 2) Text analysis: 10 books on translation by professional translators

9. Patterns of Attitude • Adequacy vs. acceptability • Voluntary subservience • Cross-cultural commitment

10. Adequacy vs. Acceptability • I am always troubled over whether to translate in my own style or to use a neutral style. (book, fiction/non-fiction) • I prioritize equivalence in atmosphere over that of literal meaning. (book, non-fiction) • If you translate faithfully, you are constrained by the original, but grasping the style and intention of the author is also important. (book, fiction/non-fiction)

11. Subservience/Invisibility • “Clients are “gods” and I must be compliant with their requirements.” (technical) • “My job is not creative and I think myself a code-switcher.” (book and technical) • “Translators are kuroko.” (book, fiction) • “I become almost a servant or slave and listen to the master’s voice, so that I can convert it to another language.” (book, fiction)

12. Cross-cultural Commitment • Translation brings about different values and perspectives [to the target culture]. (book, fiction/non-fiction) • Translators mediate foreign cultures into Japan. They should think seriously about their role as cultural mediators. If they mistranslate, everyone misunderstands. (book, non-fiction) • Translators are shamans, they are mediumistic. (book, fiction)

13. Translation Pyramid cross-cultural action more experienced stylistic concern subservienceless experienced

14. Summary • Translator community with two orientations: • Cross-culturally active, select-few cultural mediators. • Socially subservient young translators who support the translator community’s reputation and income.

15. My Recommendations • Should we deny the translation pyramid and close the door to amateurs?—Or should we transform them? • Making non-professional translators and translation learners aware of their role as cultural mediators will be the key.

16. References • Bilodeau, Isabelle (2010). Literary Translators in Japan and France: Different Invisibilities. Presented at “Translation Studies in the Japanese Context.” Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan • Hung, Eva and David Pollard (1998, 2009). “Chinese Trandition.” In Mona Baker and Gabriela Saldanha (eds.). Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. 2nd ed. London: Routledge. • Inoue, Ken (2005). “’Daisan no Bungaku’ toshiteno Hon’yaku Bungaku: Kindai Nippon to Hon’yaku.[Translated Literature as the Third Literature: Modern Japan and Translation].” In Hon’yaku wo Manabu Hito no Tameni [Anthology for Learners of Translation]. Kyoto: Sekaishisôsha. • Japan Book Publishers Association (ed.). An introduction to publishing in Japan, 2008-2009. Japan Book Publishers Association. • Japan Translation Federation (ed.). “2005-nen Gyôkai Chôsa Hôkokusho [Translation Industry Report 2005].” Japan Translation Journal. No.222. • Kondo, Masaomi and Judy Wakabayashi (1998, 2009). “Japanese Tradition.” In Mona Baker and Gabriela Saldanha (eds.). Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. 2nd ed. London: Routledge. • Mizuno, Akira (2007). “Kindai Nippon no bungakuteki tagen sisutemu to hon’yaku no isô—chokuyaku no keifu [The literary polysystem and translation in modern Japan—the literalist tradition].” Invitation to Translation Studies in Japan. The Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies. • Murakami, Haruki and Motoyuki Shibata (2000). Hon’yaku Yawa [A Casual Talk on Translation]. Tokyo: Bungeishunjû. • Naganuma, Minako (2008). “Ankêto ni Miru Nippon no Daigaku Hon’yaku Kyôiku no Genjô [Present State of Translation Education in Japanese Universities from a Questionnaire Survey].” Interpreting and Translation Studies. No.8. Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies. • Naito, Tetsuo (1997). PAC Bunseki Jisshihô Nyûmon [How to Use PAC Analysis: An invitation to New Scientific Method for Single Cases]. 2d ed. Kyoto: Nakanishiya. • Simeoni, Daniel (1998). “The Pivotal Status of the Translator’s Habitus.” Target 10:1. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: J. Benjamins Pub. • Tanabe, Kikuko. (2009). “Japanese Translators’ Roles as Cultural Mediators—A “Personal Attitude Construct” Analysis.” 3rd Conference of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies (IATIS). Monash University, Melbourne. July 9, 2009 • Tanabe, Kikuko (2009). “A ‘Personal Attitude Construct’ Analysis from the Experiences of Japanese Translators.” Kobe College Studies. Vol.56. No.2. • Toury, Gideon (1995). Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: J. Benjamins Pub. • Yamaoka, Yoichi (2001). Hon’yaku towa Nanika: Shokugyô toshiteno Hon’yaku [Translation as a Calling]. Tokyo: Nichigai Associates.

17. Thank you for your attention!