I do support and agree with the “Make America Go Away” (MAGA) movement. In fact, I started to refuse to work as a translator for American companies for the last ten years. I believe, by now the reasons do not require any explanation or justification. Occasionally working for American companies over a period of over 30 years has NEVER been pleasant or gratifying after all.
And yes, I refuse to buy American products whenever possible.
以前も日本に頻繁に見かける「妙な」英語を指摘した事ある。例えば、良く見かける店の前の甲板や窓にある "Close" サイン。（→別の投稿）
今回はこの町にある横幅3-4ｍ、縦2ｍ近くの大きな看板に見られる言葉を少々指摘したい。娘に言わせると、誰も見ていないからいいじゃないか。それでも間違いですから、私個人的気になって仕方ない。
看板の上の部分は全部日本語ですが、下の三分の一ほどの領域には：
Foods – Herbs – Drinks と複数の写真が飾られている。
"Herbs – Drinks" に異存はないが、"Foods" は可笑しい。英語には「数えられる名詞」と「数えられない名詞」があるからです。Food は数えられない。One food, two foods は言えない。同じく one bread, two breads も言えない。
結局どうでも良いでしょうが、あの大きさの看板は恐らく20万やそれ以上のお金が掛かると思うから、攻めて一つか三つの単独の言葉に誤りがあるかないかを家に恐らくある辞書で引いてもういいのではないでしょうか。
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/nouns-countable-uncountable
About 15 years ago a Japanese publisher (Idononippon) specialized in Oriental medicine asked be to write a book about some of my personal views regarding the practice of acupuncture. Apparently the director of that publisher who used to come for treatments did like my approach.
The published (printed on old-fashioned paper) was made available to all bookstores in Japan as well as Amazon (where it may possibly still available ).
The title of the book written in Japanese is "トーマス先生の話を聞いてみませんか" (Thomas sensei no hanashi wo kiite mimasen ka).
However, when you switch the site language to English, you get a "title" that makes absolute no sense (regardless of whether you can read the Japanese or not):
"Gentleman Acupuncturist Thomas Teacher You Have To Listen To Me. A Good Night Sleep – Good Forever Birthday For The Health Of Law"
Well done, Amazon!
If that is the level of computer aided translation, maybe there is after all still some work to be done as a translator.
My books in the order of their publishing
Preparing my sixth book, is something I think I can be a little proud of.
1) Printed (published) book pertaining to acupuncture written in Japanese by me
トーマス先生の話を聞いてみませんか
2) My autobiography, written on patient request 10 years ago; Japanese = original
鍼灸界の異端者 ebook
ISBN: 9781311666192
3) My autobiography, written on patient request 10 years ago; Japanese = original
Sonderling in Ost und West ebook
ISBN: 9781310040382
4) Some personal views regarding acupuncture
Acupuncture: The Easy Way - Or the Hard Way ebook
ISBN: 9781311525796
5) Translation of the autobiography of a Japanese priest involved in kyudo
"Startanew - Look again" ebook
ISBN: 9798224117635
6) coming soon: my autobiography in English, rewritten
Finally!
After 10 years of effort, the translation of the autobiography of pries Suhara Koun is finally finished – a little earlier than expected. Admittedly, I did not have the time to work on the project for a few years, but it nevertheless stayed on my mind.
Written by a Buddhist priest who took up kyudo late in life, something which became a defining element for him, it contains a lot of ‘old-fashioned’ / unusual Japanese even Japanese people have difficulties understanding. Apart from that Buddhist, zen, kyudo terminology, Chinese poems etc. I really had to struggle with this material.
Yesterday I published the book on Amazon and through another site worldwide. Although I submitted the required file format to those sites, they somehow “converted” the material, which resulted in a rather unappealing appearance. Even though I tried hard to look nice.
On the said sites, it is listed with a price tag of $9. One of the Japanese pronounciations for “9” is KYU. Put together the Dollar, you get “kyudo”. In the hope, you allow me to indulge in this little word play.
If interested
https://books2read.com/u/mlM2aq
or contact me, if you are looking for a little better looking files:
#book #Suhara Koun #zen #kyudo #autobiography #Japanese #archery
I have been a freelance translator for about 35 years now.
Over that time I have registered on multiple translator sites like Proz.com, Aquarius, Translators Directory. Go Translators, translatorscafe and more that I do not even remember.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine and continues to kill everyone in their path (just like the orcs in ‘Lord of the Rings’) I did raise my voice on facebook (which is most likely totally irrelevant) and pledged never to work for any Russian agency again.
And since the devil Adolf Putin is systematically blocking news and all forms of information about his atrocities to reach the Russian people, I believe it would be appropriate to urge all those translator sites to block all Russian agencies from posting job offers. This may not have any “real” effect on the war, but as an indirect message it could result in a few more people in Russia wondering what is going on in the world.
So, personally I urge those translator platforms to do something.
And if any other freelance translator might be willing to add his or her voice, that would be wonderful.
The current situation is NOT something one should “let slide” - like the Chinese are doing!
I am currently trying to modernize my webpage.
I created that with a piece of software that came with "Microsoft office 2000" = FrontPage 2000 - which is now 20 years old.
As such my present website is not able to keep up with smartphones and all that kind of modern hi-tech stuff.
Maybe the new version
* http://einklang.com/wordpress/
can help there.
With an instruction manual in one hand I am still trying to figure out, how this Wordpress thing works.
Probably I am making a lot of mistakes all over the place.
Please let me know, if you do have any suggestions.
Thank you.
