TRANSLATORS CHALLENGE<\/p>\n
(Summer 2008 Issue)<\/p>\n
For this first challenge, we entered the world of wreckless, anthropomorphisized legumes and requested a translation of the following ditty:<\/p>\n
A peanut sat on a railroad track
\nIts heart was all a-flutter
\nAlong came the 6:15
\nToot!\u00a0 Toot!
\nPeanut butter<\/p>\n
THE WINNERS<\/p>\n
1st Place (Tie) –
\nMost Creative Translation<\/p>\n
Sharon Tatro (Fukuoka)
\n\u7dda\u8def\u306e\u4e0a\u3001\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u30de\u30f3\u304c\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3057\u305f
\nSenrou no ue, pi-natsu-man ga suwatteimashita
\n\u30b3\u30e9\u30be\u30f3\u304c\u30c9\u30ad\u30c9\u30ad\u3001\u308f\u304f\u308f\u304f\u3057\u3066\u3066\u3001
\nKorazon (Corazon= heart in Spanish) ga dokidoki, wakuwaku shitete
\n\u7a81\u7136\uff01\u3000\u30c1\u30e3\u30ac\u3000\u30c1\u30e3\u30ac\u3001\u30c1\u30e3\u30ac\u3000\u30c1\u30e3\u30ac\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u30c1\u30e5\u30fc\u30c1\u30e5\u30fc
\nTotsuzen! Chaga chaga, chaga chaga chu- chu- (choo choo)
\n\u4e88\u5b9a\u3069\u304a\u308a\u306e\u96fb\u8eca\u304c\u6765\u3066\u3002\u3002
\nYoteidourino densha ga kite\u2026
\n\u3055\u3088\u306a\u3089\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u30de\u30f3
\nSayonara pi-nattsu-man
\n\u30cf\u30ed\u30fc\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc
\nhello- pi-natsu bata-<\/p>\n
1st Place (Tie) –
\nWorks Best as a Song<\/p>\n
Mia Simring (Aichi, 2004-06)
\n\u843d\u82b1\u751f
\n\u304c\u7dda\u8def\u306b\u304b\u3051\u3066\u3001
\n\u305d\u306e\u5fc3\u306f\u3069\u304d\u3069\u304d
\n\u3042\u3089\u307e\uff01
\n\u6c7d\u8eca\u304c\u6765\u305f\uff01
\n\u30dd\u30c3\u30dd!
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u306e\u4e0b\u6577\u304d!<\/p>\n
Rakkasei
\nGa senro nikakete
\nSono kokoro wa doki doki
\nArama!
\nKisha ga kita!
\nPoppo!
\nPi-natsu no shitajiki!
\nNote from Mia:\u00a0 Alternatively, the last line could be \u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u7815\u304d\uff01(Pi-nattsu kudaki!)\u00a0 The last line fits the tune better, but I like the image of the peanut shitajiki as a new product at the stationery store!)<\/p>\n
**********<\/p>\n
OTHER GREAT TRANSLATIONS<\/p>\n
**********<\/p>\n
Ariel Shearman
\n(Ichikawa, 1994-97)
\n\u7dda\u8def\u306b\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4
\n\u3069\u304d\u3069\u304d\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3088
\n\u30dd\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc
\n\u96fb\u8eca\u304c\u901a\u3063\u305f
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\uff01
\nsenro ni suwatte iru pi-nattsu
\ndoki doki shite iru yo
\npo- po-
\ndensha ga tootta
\npi-nattsu bata-!<\/p>\n
Noriko Sakamoto (wife of Sean Sakamoto, new JET in Gifu)
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u541b\u304c\u7dda\u8def\u306b\u307d\u3064\u308a
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u541b\u306e\u5fc3\u81d3\u306f\u30c9\u30ad\u30c9\u30ad\u3082\u306e
\n\uff16\u6642\uff11\uff15\u5206\u306e\u6642\u304c\u6765\u305f
\n\u30dd\u30fc\u3001\u30dd\u30fc
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u306e\u3067\u304d\u3042\u304c\u308a<\/p>\n
Nancy Ikehara
\n(Yokohama, 1994-97)
\n\u3072\u3068\u308a\u307c\u3063\u3061\u306e\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u304c\u8eca\u7dda\u306b\u5ea7\u308a\u8fbc\u307f
\n\u30c9\u30ad\u30c9\u30ad\u3068\u304d\u3081\u304d
\n6:15\u6642\u306e\u8eca\u4e21\u304c\u3084\u3063\u3066\u304d\u3066
\n\u30dd\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc\u30c3\u30dd\uff01
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u5857\u308a\u5857\u308a<\/p>\n
Anthony Tranchina (Saitama, 1999-2001)
\n\u3069\u304d\u3069\u304d\u3059\u308b\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u304c
\n\u9244\u9053\u30c8\u30e9\u30c3\u30af\u3067\u5ea7\u308a\u3001
\n\uff11\uff18\uff11\uff15\u306e\u96fb\u8eca\u304c\u6765\u3066
\n\u30d7\u30c3\u30d7\u30fc\uff01
\n\u3046\u307e\u3044\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u306b\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3057\u307e\u3063\u305f<\/p>\n
Doki Doki Suru Piinattsu ga
\nTetsudou Torakku De Suwari
\n1815 no Densha ga kite
\nPuppu-!
\nUmai Piinattsu bataa ni natte shimatta!<\/p>\n
Nao (Friend of JET)
\n\u7dda\u8def\u306e\u4e0a\u306b\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3044\u305f\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u3002
\nSenro no ue ni suwatteita pi-nattsu.
\n\u7dca\u5f35\u3057\u3064\u3064\u3082\u3001\u30ef\u30af\u30ef\u30af\u3057\u3066\u3044\u305f\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u3002
\nKinchoushitsutsumo, wakuwaku shiteita pi-nattsu.
\n\u6642\u8a08\u306e\u91dd\u304c6\uff1a15\u5206\u3092\u6307\u3057\u305f\u3068\u304d\u3001
\nTokei nohari ga 6:15 fun wosashitatoki,
\n\u30dd\u30c3\u30dd\u30fc\uff01\u3068\u6c7d\u7b1b\u306e\u97f3\u3068\u3068\u3082\u306b\u3084\u3063\u3066\u304d\u305f\u3002
\nPoppo-! Tokitekino ototomoniyattekita.
\n\u3042\u3063\u3068\u3044\u3046\u9593\u306b\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u306b\u5909\u8eab\uff01
\nAttoiumani pii-nattsubata-ni henshin!<\/p>\n
Nao\u2019s Husband (Friend of JET)
\n\u7dda\u8def\u306e\u4e0a\u306b\u4e00\u7c92\u306e\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u541b\u304c\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3001
\nSenro no ue ni hitotsubuno pi-nattsukun ga suwatteita,
\n\u30d0\u30af\u30d0\u30af\u3059\u308b\u5fc3\u81d3\u3092\u304a\u3055\u3048\u306a\u304c\u3089
\nBakubakusuru shinzou wo osaenagara
\n\u3064\u3044\u306b\u516d\u6642\u5341\u4e94\u5206\u767a\u306e\u6c7d\u8eca\u304c\u3084\u3063\u3066\u304d\u305f
\nTsuini rokujijyugofunhatsuno kisha ga yattekita
\n\u30dd\u30fc\u30c3\u3000\u30dd\u30fc\u30c3
\nPo-ppo-
\n\u305d\u3057\u3066\u751f\u307e\u308c\u5909\u308f\u3063\u305f\u3001\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u541b\u8a95\u751f\uff01
\nSoshite umarekawatta, pi-nattsu bataa-kun tanjyou!<\/p>\n
Marie (Friend of JET)
\n\u5fc3\u81d3\u3092\u30c9\u30ad\u30c9\u30ad\u3057\u306a\u304c\u3089\u3001
\nshinzo wo doki doki shinagara
\n\u3042\u308b\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u541b\u304c\u7dda\u8def\u306e\u4e0a\u306b\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3002
\naru piinattsu-kun ga senro no ue ni suwatte ita
\n\u305d\u3057\u305f\u3089\u30006\uff1a15 \u306b\u3000\u30b7\u30e5\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc\u3000\u30b7\u30e5\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc\u30dd\u30fc
\nsoshitara 6:15 ni shupopo shupopo
\n\u30d4\u30fc\u30ca\u30c3\u30c4\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u51fa\u6765\u4e0a\u304c\u308a\u3002
\npiinattsu bataa dekiagari<\/p>\n
******************<\/p>\n
THE JUDGING<\/p>\n
******************<\/p>\n
All of the submissions were excellent and are worth reading.\u00a0 Many thanks to each participant for adding your own flavor to this challenge.\u00a0 The basis for choosing the winner(s) was\u00a0 ultimately how well they captured the spirit of the original text, maintained the sing-ability and interpreted the elements that don\u2019t lend themselves to direct translation.<\/p>\n
To assist, we brought in professional translator Kia Cheleen (CIR Aichi, 1996-99) to judge the submissions and provide some perspective.\u00a0 Our collective comments follow below:<\/p>\n
Sharon Tatro\u2019s interpretation of the song was the most creative.\u00a0 In particular, we appreciated (1) the use of Spanish, (2) the use of her onomatopoeia for chaga-chaga-choo-choo, and (3) \u201cGood-bye Peanut-man.\u00a0 Hello Peanut Butter.\u201d\u00a0 If we were Japanese 8-year-olds (likely the intended audience for the song), we would have giggled excessively.<\/p>\n
Mia Simring\u2019s submission was also chuckle-inducing and was the translation that worked the best in song form, both rhythmically and in the creative way she constructed rhymes.\u00a0 Go ahead and sing it to yourself and you\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
Additional comments:<\/p>\n
Train whistle:\u00a0 Most submissions used \u201cpo-po-!\u201d or a similar variation.\u00a0 It\u2019s worth noting that while \u201cfua-n!\u00a0 fua-n!\u201d is the proper onomatopoeia these days, if we assume the song itself comes from back in the day, then \u201cpo-po-\u201d is the more appropriate translation for capturing the spirit of the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cA-flutter\u201d:\u00a0 Some submissions used waku-waku, which implies a positive form of excitement, while others went with doki-doki, which is associated more with a fear-based form of excitement.\u00a0 In this case, either could be appropriate, as it is unclear if the peanut\u2019s heart was a-flutter with the excitement of converting itself to peanut butter or a-flutter with fear of the potential for danger.\u00a0 Was he being wreckless, or was he just a nut? ;-)<\/p>\n
6:15:\u00a0 To paraphrase the Beastie Boys, it\u2019s tricky to translate a time, to translate a time that fits the rhyme.\u00a0 Special props to Anthony Tranchina for Japan-izing the time to \u201c18:15.\u201d\u00a0 But the solution for some was to circumvent the problem by simply avoiding the mention of the exact time, which was not itself crucial to the story, and referring to the yoteidouri (on-time) train, or simply stating that the train came.<\/p>\n
Peanut butter:\u00a0 The submissions also provided some thought provoking characterizations for how a peanut is converted into peanut butter.\u00a0 Most interestingly, Nao\u2019s Husband karmically delved into a birthing metaphor suggesting death and rebirth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TRANSLATORS CHALLENGE (Summer 2008 Issue) For this first challenge, we entered the world of wreckless, anthropomorphisized legumes and requested a translation of the following ditty: A peanut sat on a railroad track Its heart was all a-flutter Along came the 6:15 Toot!\u00a0 Toot! Peanut butter THE WINNERS 1st Place (Tie) – Most Creative Translation Sharon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":47,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-425","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PkZ7m-6R","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=425"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":520,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/425\/revisions\/520"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}