I’ve been writing a constitution (in english) and decided to try translating a bit of the preamble into Japanese, mostly just out of curiosity/boredom.
I’m certainly not fluent in Japanese, but I think I do have a good grasp of most of the grammar rules and sentance structures. Vocabulary is my main shortfall. I’ve got a couple of apps/websites which I trust that I’ve used as resources, but this is the first time I’ve tried something like this so I’m not exactly confident with what I’ve got.
Basically I’m wondering if it reads anything like its supposed to and if the words/kanji I’ve used are appropriate for the context. I’d really appreciate any feedback.
惑星地球の住民に代表者の私共は、正義で、平等で、平和で、繁栄を見届けることの連帯目的があって、前の約束に履行で、対談的な集会で集まり上げました。
誰でもがこの憲法で保する譲渡不能な権利を等しく有するもの;皆の権利を見届ける為に、倫理的な必要の命令で被治者から正当な権力を引受けて、人の政府を開かざるを得ないもの;どれか形態の政府が皆の権利に障るに来る都度に、変えることか廃すことかで、皆の権利を見届ける為に新政を開くことが人民の権利と義務だもの;私共はこの理想達が本当だと考えます。
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The english version is as below;
>We, the representatives of the population of the planet Earth, have gathered in parliamentary assembly, in fulfilment of previous agreements, with the collective goal of assuring justice, equality, peace and prosperity throughout our nations.
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>We hold these ideals to be true; That all persons are equally ascribed with inalienable rights assured in this Constitution; That, to assure their rights, governments of people must be established, assuming their just powers from the governed by order of ethical necessity; That whenever any form of government becomes detrimental to their rights, it is the right and duty of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to establish new government to assure their rights.
PS. I couldn’t figure out how to do furigana. Apologies in advance.
2 comments
Unfortunately I don’t have time right now, but have you taken a look at the [translation of the US constitution in Japanese](https://americancenterjapan.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/wwwf-majordocs-constitution.pdf)?
It might give you something to compare to and use as a resource for vocabulary and how things are worded in official documents. Looking at the Japanese constitution (憲法) may also be helpful.
Here’s the [Japanese translation of the Declaration of Independence ](https://americancenterjapan.com/aboutusa/translations/2547/) as well as an additional resource.
The English is already wrong and translating based upon a weak basis isn’t ideal.