Other ideas about translations
There has been some talk recently about getting together as a group and translating something. Personally, I'd would prefer to translate something either which we would acquire permission to translate, or is out of copyright.
If we go to something out of copyright, there's a lot of good stuff out there. At project Gutenberg, there's over 24000 public domain works out there in English. Some are even modern. Esperanto's own Harry Harrison even has some public domain works out there which may make good candidates: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/h#a25395 Also, a search of Subject "science fiction" in Gutenberg brings up 334 works.
On a personal note, I am a game publisher and designer, though I'm pretty small-time. My company has published a card game, plus with the cooperation of a good friend of mine, a role-playing game. Recently, I asked my friend if he would mind a translation of his RPG into Esperanto, and he said, "Um, OK." The English version is available as a free download from http://storycardsrpg.com So, I had been working on it, but I have been bogged down and distracted. If I could get a translated version of it, I ever have the money in the game company account to do a small printing of it myself. I would not expect to make any money on this, and any little pittance I would make, would probably go back to Carl, the original author. (Thus, I'm not sure what I could pay you, but I might be able to give you a printed copy hot off the presses.) So, are there any enthusiastic role-playing nuts out there in Esperantujo who would want to translate this with me?
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Comments
That's a great idea. There
June 7, 2009 by samuelstanislas, 24 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 2685
That's a great idea. There are so many great works that people don't know about because they're being published only in the native language of the writer.
___________
Samuel Stanislas, part of the Traduceri Legalizate team.
Translate a movie?
April 11, 2009 by enwilson, 32 weeks 4 days ago
Comment id: 2532
Here's a thought: the community that has developed around Nina Paley's animated film Sita Sings the Blues is sending out an open call for subtitle translators. Unfortunately, we may have missed the deadline to get it on the DVD, but considering how much buzz the film has developed in online animation communities--even Roger Ebert reviewed it when no commercial release was in sight--it's well worth consideration.
I totally support this!
April 11, 2009 by Damir, 32 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 2534
That's a fantastic idea, even if it doesn't get on the DVD. That'd be great! Let's do it.
Translation
April 13, 2009 by Lee Miller, 32 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 2541
If people want to tackle this as a translation project for language learning, it could be a fun challenge. I'd suggest working with small blocks of the script, not aiming to translate the whole thing or even large sections.
Maybe someone could post the first few lines, with a draft translation, for feedback and reactions from other readers.
Lee
Translation . . .
April 10, 2009 by Lee Miller, 32 weeks 4 days ago
Comment id: 2531
I think in general translation is an individual project. Some groups have done it successfully (notably the translators of the Stainless Steel Rat), but doing it as a group project requires a lot of coordination, communication, and planning. The vast majority of translations in Esperanto have been done by one person--ideally, of course, with reading and critique by others, who preferably have a different first language.
It's also important to think about the goal of translation. Is it as a tool to better learn the language? To make a particular work accessible? Some other reason?
If the goal is language learning, I think it's better to work with short passages. That was William Auld's approach in The Britist Esperantist (much of which was reprinted in the excellent book "Traduku"). We've also been trying to follow that model in our column in Usona Esperantisto.
If the goal is to translate a work into Esperanto, and you want to work with a group, you're going to have to figure out: 1) who will coordinate the work of the group; 2) how will the group members communicate; 3) what process will be used to come to consensus on the translation; 4) who will be responsible for the final draft; and 5) what happens next?
I'd also suggest some thought about who the potential audience is. Who will be reading this translation? For example, there's a real need for good language models for beginners, and translations of familiar texts can be helpful . . .
Lee