A civilized discussion on the merits and demerits of the new Dote translation

A small bit of news from the VNDB: people on /jp/ have created another partial translation patch for "Dote Up a Cat." The previous group which tried to translate this game, Tengu, is not involved. See http://vndb.org/r13162 for more info.

Originally Posted by dorkatlarge

A small bit of news from the VNDB: people on /jp/ have created another partial translation patch for "Dote Up a Cat." The previous group which tried to translate this game, Tengu, is not involved. See http://vndb.org/r13162 for more info.

Yet another "translation" project by people who don't know a lick of Japanese. The real question is are they using Google Translate or Babelfish on Yahoo?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yet another "translation" project by people who don't know a lick of Japanese. The real question is are they using Google Translate or Babelfish on Yahoo?

Have you played it?

[VDZ]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Have you played it?

I don't know enough Japanese to judge myself, but I can get the translated text and the corresponding original text. The patch seems to have ~400 new translated lines, the first 49 of which are

<0301> \{Faye}"Did you guys not prepare more after this!!"
<0302> \{Dr.crane}"We have no choice...... I don't really like to use this but......"
<0303> \{Dr.crane}"Jack, with all your might"
<0304> \{Jack}"Yes mam"
<0305> I sprung at Umi and Nami, holding them at their armpits and send the bundle of papers flying.
<0306> The both of them struggled when they tried to escape.
<0307> \{Jack}"Hey, be obedient"
<0308> \{Dr.crane}"Jack, hold them down like that"
<0309> \{Jack}"eh? You can't give them an injection in this posture right?"
<0310> I face the bed and carried them in an almost horizontal position.
<0311> I think it's not possible if i don't put them down at once.
<0312> \{Dr.crane}"I'm going to inject your butt"
<0313> \{Umi・Nami}" Pii!?"
<0314> \{Faye}"That's nasty......"
<0315> While holding the needle close to them, Dr.crane fold over the skirt's hem and pulled down their underpants without mercy.
<0316> Rubbing a cotton with alocohol on their small butts, taking aim at a specific spot and thrusting the needle in.
<0317> \{Umi}"migya~~~~~!?"
<0318> \{Nami}"nigya~~~~~!?"
<0319> The scream from the clinic echoed and to the forest surrounding――
<0320> The signal from the microwave oven echoed from the kitchen.
<0321> I took out the japanese squash from the microwave oven and unwrapped it.
<0322> It's almost done, i knew the microwave oven is useful.
<0323> I sifted the warm japanese squash when i put it into a bowl.
<0324> The afternoon in the clinic made the morning's hustle and bustle look like a lie.
<0325> Even so, i can't say it's completely peaceful.
<0326> Ever since the forced injection, Umi and Nami has been in a bad temper.
<0327> They didn't want to see Dr.crane or my face so they went out to the garden.
<0328> This is the reason why i'm secluding myself in the kitchen
<0329> The point is, i wonder if they mood can be fixed if there's delicious snack, was what i'm expecting.
<0330> I strain the texture of the flour and the japanese squash together, kneading it over and over again.
<0331> Next, i beat the meringue and mixed it altogether too.
<0332> I poured the liquidfied form onto the baking tray and sorted it.
<0333> Everything is ready. All i have to do now is to bake it.
<0334> I set it on the baking tray and set the timer for the oven.
<0335> Until it bakes, i washed up the utensils and cleaned up everything.
<0336> \{Norma}"ah~, something smells nice"
<0337> Around the the time when the sweet smile drifts from the kitchen, Norma appeared all of a sudden.
<0338> Her face looks glossy, probably from sleeping half the day off.
<0339> She didn't even wake from the screams of the twins and she woke up at this timing so quickly and effectively.
<0340> \{Norma}"What are you making?"
<0341> \{Jack}"Japanese squash souffle"
<0342> \{Norma}"Of course, there should be a portion for me?"
<0343> \{Jack}"There's enough for everyone"
<0344> \{Norma}"How much for one person?"
<0345> \{Jack}"Two for one"
<0346> \{Norma}"Only two huh......hey, Jack~"
<0347> \{Jack}"What? Suddenly making this evil sound"
<0348> \{Norma}"This is just what a cat does. Two isn't enough for me......"
<0349> \{Norma}"I want more......"

Original:

<0302> \{Faye}「これだけしか用意してなかったんかい！！」
<0303> \{Dr.crane}「仕方ないわ……この手だけは使いたくなかったけど……」
<0304> \{Dr.crane}「Jack、力ずくで」
<0305> \{Jack}「ほい」
<0306> 俺は飛び掛ってくる紙の束を跳ね飛ばし、UmiとNamiを小脇に抱え込んだ。
<0307> ふたりはなんとか脱出しようと、両手足をじたばたさせる。
<0308> \{Jack}「こら。大人しくしろ」
<0309> \{Dr.crane}「Jack、そのまま押さえておいて」
<0310> \{Jack}「え？　この体勢じゃ、注射打てないだろ？」
<0311> 顔を床に向けて、ほぼ水平に抱え上げられているんだ。
<0312> 一回降ろさないと、ダメなんじゃないか？
<0313> \{Dr.crane}「お尻に打つわ」
<0314> \{Umi・Nami}「ぴっ！？」
<0315> \{Faye}「えげつないわね……」
<0316> 注射を持って近づいてきたDr.craneは、服の裾をめくり、容赦なくUmiとNamiのパンツをずり下げる。
<0317> 小さなお尻にアルコールを含んだ綿を擦り付けると、狙い違わず同一地点に注射針を突き立てた。
<0318> \{Umi}「みぎゃ～～～～～っっっ！？」
<0319> \{Nami}「にぎゃ～～～～～っっっ！？」
<0320> 診療室から響き渡った絶叫が、周囲の森に木霊していった――
<0321> 電子レンジから終了の合図が、キッチンに響く。
<0322> 俺はレンジを開けると中からかぼちゃを取り出し、ラップを剥がす。
<0323> もうすっかり柔らかくなってる、やっぱ電子レンジは便利だな。
<0324> ボールにふるいを重ねると、温かいかぼちゃを裏ごししていく。
<0325> 午後の診療所は、朝の喧騒が嘘のように静か。
<0326> とはいえ平和的な静けさかといえば、そうでもない。
<0327> 無理やり注射をしたことで、UmiとNamiはすっかりご機嫌斜めになっている。
<0328> 今も俺やDr.craneの顔なんか見たくもないと、ふたりで庭に出ている。
<0329> 午後から俺がキッチンにこもっているのも、それが原因だ。
<0330> 要は、おいしいおやつを持っていけば、機嫌を直してくれないかなー、と期待してる訳で。
<0331> 薄力粉の生地に裏ごししたかぼちゃを混ぜ、更に練る。
<0332> 次いでメレンゲを泡立てると、それも生地に混ぜ合わせた。
<0333> 出来上がったタネを型に詰め、お湯を注いだ天板に並べていく。
<0334> 準備完了。後は焼くだけだ。
<0335> 俺は天板をセットすると、オーブンのタイマーを回す。
<0336> 焼きあがるまでの間に、道具を洗って、片付けてしまおう。
<0337> \{Norma}「あ～、なんかおいしそうな匂い」
<0338> キッチンに甘い匂いが漂い始めた頃、Normaがひょっこり顔を出した。
<0339> ほとんど半日食っちゃ寝していたせいか、顔がつやつやしている。
<0340> あのふたりの悲鳴でも目を覚まさなかったのに、こういう時には目端が利く。
<0341> \{Norma}「なに作ってるの？」
<0342> \{Jack}「かぼちゃのスフレ」
<0343> \{Norma}「もちろん、わたしの分もあるのよね？」
<0344> \{Jack}「ちゃんと人数分あるよ」
<0345> \{Norma}「ひとり幾つ？」
<0346> \{Jack}「２個」
<0347> \{Norma}「２個かぁ……ねぇ、Jack～」
<0348> \{Jack}「なんだよ？　いきなり気持ち悪い声出して」
<0349> \{Norma}「猫なで声っていうのよ。わたし、二つじゃ足りないなぁ……」
<0350> \{Norma}「もっと沢山欲しいなぁ……」

(The line numbers are slightly off. This probably causes massive problems in the game, but that's how it is in the script files.)

Well then, Japanese_Experts among us: Is this machine translation or can you confirm it's done by a human?

I don't think it even matters considering how bad the English grammar is.

Thanks, VDZ

The grammar isn't good, the flow is bad, the language isn't natural. ***Sigh***I don't think whether it was done using machine is irrelevant.

[VDZ]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks, VDZ

The grammar isn't good, the flow is bad, the language isn't natural. ***Sigh***I don't think whether it was done using machine is irrelevant.

It's very relevant. Awkward English that's still a correct translation can be fixed through editing, and it's a lot easier to find editor than translators. If the translation itself is wrong, on the other hand...

<0341> \{Norma}「なに作ってるの？」
<0342> \{Jack}「かぼちゃのスフレ」
<0343> \{Norma}「もちろん、わたしの分もあるのよね？」
<0344> \{Jack}「ちゃんと人数分あるよ」
<0345> \{Norma}「ひとり幾つ？」
<0346> \{Jack}「２個」
<0347> \{Norma}「２個かぁ……ねぇ、Jack～」
<0348> \{Jack}「なんだよ？　いきなり気持ち悪い声出して」
<0349> \{Norma}「猫なで声っていうのよ。わたし、二つじゃ足りないなぁ……」
<0350> \{Norma}「もっと沢山欲しいなぁ……」

Oh my god, how is it even possible to write such shit without your brain shutting down.
Poor fucker probably dreamed of being a novelist or something, but if he would degrade himself so far as to write such dreck I have no sympathy for him.

[zalas]

Originally Posted by VDZ

Well then, Japanese_Experts among us: Is this machine translation or can you confirm it's done by a human?

It's done by a human; it looks like someone picked out words they understood and then tried to cobble something together.

Originally Posted by zalas

It's done by a human; it looks like someone picked out words they understood and then tried to cobble something together.

Outstanding. So basically some clown on /jp learned how to say "onii-chan" and now thinks he can translate something. I'm quaking with excitement, really!

[Moogy]

I face the bed and carried them in an almost horizontal position.
顔を床に向けて、ほぼ水平に抱え上げられているんだ。

neat translation, really shows an understanding of japanese grammar, also blindly translating 床 as bed is pretty cool

also also i read the thread title as dota

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Outstanding. So basically some clown on /jp learned how to say "onii-chan" and now thinks he can translate something. I'm quaking with excitement, really!

The original script was hardly fine literature...
The /jp/ translator is is better than you'd get from AGTH/ATLAS or some other machine translator, and this game isn't worth wasting a more talented translators time.

[Hopeful Death]

They hid behind left and right popping out their faces, striking their fist in the face and raising their voice.
//左右に分かれて顔を覗かせたふたりは、拳を突き上げて、声を張り上げる。

Ouch

[Toranth]

Just for laughs, I tried out a couple of different automatic translation websites on this sample, and this (from Google translate) is by far the best:

<0302> \ {Faye} "I did not offer you only this!"
<0303> \ {Dr.crane} "... I just helped 使Itakunakatta hands but ..."
<0304> \ {Dr.crane} "Jack, by force"
<0305> \ {Jack} "If most"
<0306> I get to skip jump by springing onto the stack of paper, Umi Nami and 抱E込Nda under her arm.
<0307> two are trying to escape something, to make struggle limbs.
<0308> \ {Jack} "Hey. Shiro quiet"
<0309> \ {Dr.crane} "Jack, just keep pressing"
<0310> \ {Jack} "Huh? Then this position, injection right to hit?"
<0311> face toward the floor, I'm having raised almost horizontally.
<0312> and 降Rosanai once, is not it good?
<0313> \ {Dr.crane} "I beat your ass"
<0314> \ {Umi · Nami} "Pitsu?"
<0315> \ {Faye} "I'm dirty ..."
<0316> Dr.crane came up with a shot, the turn the hem of dress, and Umi Nami inexorably lower shear pants.
<0317>, including cotton and rub a little alcohol in the ass, 突Ki立Teta the aim being different needle in the same location.
<0318> \ {Umi} "Tsu Tsu Tsu GYA ~~~~~ Try!"
<0319> \ {Nami} "Tsu Tsu Tsu ~~~~~ GYA on!"
<0320> are screaming echoed through the clinic, began to echo around in the woods -
<0321> will signal the end of the microwave echo in the kitchen.
<0322> I'm open to remove the pumpkin from the microwave, peel the wrap.
<0323> I'm already completely softened, it is a microwave handy after all.
<0324> and layering on the ball screen, continue to warm pumpkin puree.
<0325> clinics in the afternoon, lie as quiet as the noise of the morning.
<0326> and the peaceful serenity, if anything, however, not really.
<0327> that was forcibly injected, Umi Nami and has become quite a bad mood.
<0328> and I still watch something or else face Dr.crane, and two out in the yard.
<0329> are also in the afternoon alone at my kitchen, but because of it.
<0330> Basically, I bring you a delicious snack, I guess me mood, I hope the translation.
<0331> pureed pumpkin mixed flour dough, kneading more.
<0332> and whip the meringue is then blended fabrics as well.
<0333> in a mold and filling the resulting seeds, we poured water lined baking sheet.
<0334> ready. Just after baking.
<0335> and I set the baking sheet, turn the oven timer.
<0336> and before baked, wash the tools, I'll put away.
<0337> \ {Norma} "Oh, mouth-watering smell something"
<0338> I started to drift the sweet smell in the kitchen, Norma has dropped his face.
<0339> because I was half asleep most of Eat, to look shiny.
<0340> 覚Masanakatta I scream at those two eyes, when this kind of quick-witted.
<0341> \ {Norma} "What are you making?"
<0342> \ {Jack} "pumpkin souffle"
<0343> \ {Norma} "Of course, you'll have some for me?"
<0344> \ {Jack} "I have a few people properly"
<0345> \ {Norma} "number one?"
<0346> \ {Jack} "2"
<0347> \ {Norma} "two huh ... Hey, Jack ~"
<0348> \ {Jack} "What is it? Disgusting voice out suddenly"
<0349> \ {Norma} "called it a silky voice. I, I the two is not enough ..."
<0350> \ {Norma} "I want a lot more ..."

So, however bad the patch's translation may be, it IS significantly better than most machine translations.