Fan translation

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Fan translation (or user-generated translation[1]) refers to the unofficial translation of various forms of written or multimedia products made by fans (fan labor),[1] often into a language in which an official translated version is not yet available.[1] Generally, fans do not have formal training as translators[1] but they volunteer to participate in translation projects based on interest in a specific audiovisual genre, TV series, movie, etc.[2]

Media[]

Notable areas of fan translation include:

  • Fansubbing – The subtitling of movies, television programs, video games and other audiovisual media by a network of fans.[1][2] For many languages, the most popular fan subtitling is of Hollywood movies and American TV dramas, while fansubs into English are largely of East Asian entertainment, particularly anime and tokusatsu.
  • Fan translation (video gaming)[3][4]) – this practice grew with the rise of video game console emulation in the late 1990s and still mainly focuses on older classic games. These translations are typically distributed as unofficial patches that modify the binary files of the original game into new binaries. Vazquez-Calvo (2018)[3] provides an example of how the complex process of fan translating, negotiating the translated product and the subsequent distribution online sets the basis for rich language learning environments. However, there are communities who decide to make use of crowd translation for their fan translation tasks, including fan translation of video games. These fan translation projects are taken up by fans and outsourced by game developers, on the promise that any fan translated version of games will be published as a playable version of the game. While professional translation and localization would be much needed here, it is also true that companies and developers may not always have the budget to allow large-scale multilingual localizations. Additionally, some fans do want to play games in their vernacular language, even though they can understand other languages. An example of these fans are a group of Catalan gamers who decide to translate games from English into Catalan on their own and with the permission of developers. They are plurilingual and can understand, at least, English, Spanish, Aranese (a variant of the Occitan language, with official status in Catalonia), and Catalan. With their linguistic activism, not only do they serve their linguistic community, but also portray interesting linguistic ideologies and configure a complex site for metalinguistic discussion and subsequent language learning prompted by the intercultural and interlinguistic process of fan translating.[4]
  • Scanlation – The translation of comics, especially manga, by a fan network.[1] Fans scan the comics, turning them into computer images and translate the text in the images.[1] The resulting translations are then generally distributed only in electronic format.[5] An alternative method of distributing fan-translated sequential art is to distribute only the translated text, requiring readers to purchase a copy of the work in the original language.
  • Fandubbing – The dubbing of movies, television programs, video games and other audiovisual products by a network of fans.[2] The translated audio could offer a translation of the original soundtrack or be completely replaced by a new version, normally with humorous purposes, such as a parody or abridged series.
  • Fan translation of written fiction, particularly short stories but sometimes including full novels.[6]

History[]

Fan translation of audiovisual material, particularly fansubbing of anime, dates back to the 1980s.[1] O'Hagan (2009) argues that fansubbing emerged as a form of protest over "the official often over-edited versions of anime typically aired in dubbed form on television networks outside Japan"[1] and that fans sought more authentic translated versions[1][3] in a shorter time frame.[3]

Early fansubbing and fandubbing efforts involved manipulation of VHS tapes, which was time-consuming and expensive.[5] The first reported fansub produced in the United States was of Lupin III, produced in the mid-1980s, requiring an average of 100 hours per episode to subtitle.[3]

Influence[]

The development of cultural industry, technological advances and the expansion of online platforms have led to a dynamic rise in fan translation[citation needed]. Followed by is the increase in voluntary translation communities as well as the variety of the content.[7] There is no doubt that the largest beneficiaries are audience, readers and game players who are also fellow fans of various popular culture products,[4] since they are given the chance to receive first-hand information from foreign cultures. The entertainment industry and other cultural industries also benefit because their products are given global exposure, with a consequence of cultural immersion and cultural assimilation. However, people also consider fan translation as a potential threat to professional translation.[8] In fact, fan translation communities are built on the spirit of sharing, volunteering, a do-it-yourself attitude[4] and most importantly, passion and enthusiasm for the same goal. Like a lot of specialization-based and art-based professions, rich experience and related knowledge are highly demanded in translation industry.[8] Therefore, fan translation cannot be regarded as a threat. Instead, to some extent, it includes two significant senses: for fan translators, it means a period of valuable experience and a pack of adequate preparation no matter if they are willing to take their fun hobby into another level; for professional translators, it serves as a type of sources to be referred and consulted once they encounter similar situations. In addition, from the perspective of development of fan translation, the content is no longer limited within movies, video games and fan fictions. Various forms including educational courses, political speeches and critical news reports appear in recent years, which injects brand-new meaning to fan translation by extending its value from entertaining nature towards social significance.[4] Just as Henry Jenkins states: "popular culture may be preparing the way for a more meaning public culture."[9] As a newly emerging phenomena dependent on the progress of Internet-supported infrastructure, it surpasses its original focus on personal interest and makes itself visible in front of the entire society. As a result, it has to be admitted that fan translation is somehow an inevitable trend.[4]

Problems concerning copyright and censorship[]

Fan translation often borders on copyright infringement, as fans translate films, video games, comics, etc. Often without seeking proper permission from the copyright holders.[10][1] Studies of fan translators have shown that these fans do so because they are enthusiastic about the works they translate and want to help other fans access the material.[10][11] Copyright holders often condone fan translation because it can help expose their products to a wider audience.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Hagan, Minako (2009). "Evolution of User-Generated Translation: Fansubs, Translation Hacking and Crowdsourcing". The Journal of Internationalization and Localization. 1: 94–121. doi:10.1075/jial.1.04hag.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Pérez-González, Luis (2014). Audiovisual Translation: Theories Methods and Issues. London: Routledge. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-415-53027-9.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Vazquez-Calvo, Boris (2018). "The Online Ecology of Literacy and Language Practices of a Gamer". Educational Technology & Society. 21 (3): 199–212.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Vazquez-Calvo, Boris (2020). "Guerrilla fan translation, language learning, and metalinguistic discussion in a Catalan-speaking community of gamers". ReCALL: 1–18. doi:10.1017/S095834402000021X.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b O'Hagan, Minako (2008). "Fan Translation Networks: An Accidental Translator Training Environment?". In Kearns, John (ed.). Translator and Interpreter Training: Issues, Methods and Debates. Continuum International. pp. 158–183.
  6. ^ "Self-Organized Citizen Translations of Harry Potter 7", 26 July 2007 (English translation of original Chinese article from yWeekend)
  7. ^ Zhang, Weiyu; Mao, Chengting (March 2013). "Fan activism sustained and challenged: participatory culture in Chinese online translation communities". Chinese Journal of Communication. 6 (1): 45–61. doi:10.1080/17544750.2013.753499.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Mandelin, Clyde. "Legends of Localization: Fan Translation: Does it Help or Hurt Getting Professional Work?". Legends of Localization. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Jenkins, Henry (2008). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide ([New]. ed.). New York: New York University Press. ISBN 9780814742952.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Lee, Hye-Kyung (2011). "Cultural consumer and copyright: A case study of anime fansubbing". Creative Industries Journal. 3 (3): 237–252. doi:10.1386/cij.3.3.237_1.
  11. ^ Spencer, Richard (2 August 2007). "China's Censors Move in on Translators of Harry Potter". Pacific Newspaper Group. The Vancouver Sun.
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