Hello, I’m not sure if this is allowed or not, but I can’t think of any other places where I can ask for help.
I recently tried translating a short story by Dazai Osamu, (It’s about \~13 pages) and I’m wondering if anyone is willing to just skim through my translation and offer some feedback about the quality. There isn’t an English translation available online, so I have nothing to reference. Please be aware that it is unpaid.
The work in question is an I-novella from the late 1930s about two characters who set out on a journey to an inn in the mountainside where they contemplate death and find camaraderie in the psychological pain that they both feel. It’s very dialogue-heavy.
It’s my first time translating a work of literature, so I haven’t found my footing quite yet. My Japanese isn’t very good, (I’m N4) so there were quite a few lines where I struggled to grasp the meaning of what was being said and had to guess, especially with the dialogue.
Even though this story was above my reading/comprehension level, it was excellent practice and I enjoyed it a lot and learned even more.
Please PM me if you’re interested and I’ll send you a PDF and some extra details!
2 comments
r/translator may be a better spot to ask
I can’t realistically offer you a thorough proofreading of your work in its entirety without charging money for it (I do professional translation/editing work, but not on a volunteer basis).
But if you just want a general evaluation, I could probably skim through a bit and offer you some general feedback and advice (if necessary). Feel free to PM me.