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You May Be Wondering...
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Why are you translating songs if you don't speak Japanese?
Well, it's all part of my plan for world domination, but since you've found out,
I'm going to have to kill you now. Mwah ha ha ha ha!
No, really.
Sigh. Okay. The simplest explanation is this: I'm a fourth generation Japanese
American (I guess that would be yonsei, for those of you who keep track). I never learned Japanese as a kid because only one of my parents speaks Japanese fluently. I'm trying to learn on my own now, but since there isn't really anyone in my area to converse with, I'm learning from books and anime. This is *not* the most effective way to learn a language, let me tell you! (It's good for making my Mom laugh, though. "'Teme! Nani wo suru ka'? -- you sound like a stevedore!")
I decided to translate songs because:
1) I liked Marmalade Boy sooo much that I had to buy the vocal album. . . and
once I bought it, I *had* to know what they were singing!
2) I can play songs over and over again without getting bored. Try *that* with a
language tape! "Lesson ten: Mr. Hayashi is going to the drug store. . ." After the third or fourth time, I'm about ready to burn the drug store to the ground! On the other hand, I can hear "Kaze ga Fuku Hi" thirty times a day and still love it.
3) I'm sure there must be some other reason, but I've forgotten it.
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Can I learn Japanese from your translations?
What, are you crazy? I mean, I *do* try to keep the translations as literal as I
can (which is why they're somewhat stilted), so it *is* possible to learn some vocabulary words from them, but it's not a good idea to learn from a beginner! It would be more useful for you to translate songs yourself.
Go to my Blind-Leading-the-Blind Page if you want to try it!
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Will you translate a song for me?
I'm very sorry, but I can't do that. It takes me about a week to translate a song if I
have a recording *and* the liner notes. I have to listen to the song many, many times, which means that I have to have a burning desire to know what it's about before I can work up the enthusiasm to tackle it. Also, if it's an anime song, I have to know the plot and characters so I can fill in the blanks when subjects, verbs, particles, etc. are left out. There are a few people on the web who *do* translate songs by request, and I'm sure they're much more experienced than I am. Try looking for them at AniPike. |
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Are you ever going to finish "Kanjite Itai" and "Story"?
Umm. Possibly not. I'm not really very fond of them, so it's difficult to to listen
to them over and over... Also, I've just gotten hooked on Tenkuu no Escaflowne, so my Marmalade Boy stuff is going to be on hold for a while -- at least until I get more Vocal CDs...
What's with that crack about "I'm told my English is pretty good?"
It's pure sarcasm. ^_^; Being a fourth generation Asian American, English is
pretty much the only language I speak (apart from some lousy high school French and whatever Japanese I manage to pick up). One of the things that bugs me is when well-meaning, but clueless, people try to compliment me by telling me that my English is "really good". (Wow, there's hardly any accent at all!)
Well-meaning clueless person: "Wow, your English is really good!"
Me: "Thanks. It's the only language I speak."
WMCP: ". . ."
I *know* they're just nice folk who are trying to be polite, but puh-leeze! On
my pet peeve list it's right up there with: "No, where are you from really?" when I tell people I'm from California. Look, if you want to know what kind of Asian I am, just ask! I'll be glad to tell you. Don't try to be subtle.
Well-meaning clueless person: "Where are you from?"
Me: "California."
WMCP: "No, I mean, where were you born?"
Me: *Sigh.* (It's gonna be one of those conversations.) "Massachusetts."
WMCP (becoming flustered): "Uh, where are your parents from?"
Me: "Well, my Mom lives in New York and my Dad's in Africa. . ."
Frustrated WMCP: "No, where were they born?"
Frustrated Me: "California."
What the heck is an "Imo-girl" anyway?
"Imo" means "potato". I originally wanted a more exciting web name, like, um,
"Jet-girl" or something (she was the best part of Tank Girl, doncha think?), but since I'm a "mouse potato" (the computer version of a "couch potato"), it seemed apropos. Also, in Tokyo, "imo" is slang for "hick" (read "newbie"). In Rurouni Kenshin, Megumi says: "Ken-san, do you see how Kaoru-san is enjoying her potato? That's why they call her imo-musume (potato-girl/country girl)."
So, are you busy Friday night?
I'm older than you. Plus, I'm married. ^_^; (It's amazing how many of my email
conversations have come to a screeching halt when I mentioned this.) Please don't bother emailing me if this is a problem for you. It'll only make us both cranky. On the other hand, if you're genuinely interested in anime music or translation, I'd be happy to talk to you! Ja, ne! |