Doujinshi translation

[MMM]

Originally Posted by amesei

I didn't mean to offend you, but I'm not trying to be naive. While I understand that it takes many, many years to fully master Japanese and that it's very time-consuming to translate, I'm not asking anything of you. Although paying professionals to translate doujin would be better, not every translator fluent in Japanese is paid. Some just want to sharpen their skills in the language or just want to help translate because they are interested and offer their services for free. This is why I am thankful to the hundreds or even thousands of translators who break the language barrier everyday so that millions of us can read doujinshi in languages that we are familiar with. I also want to become a translator for that very reason, which is why I'm trying to learn Japanese in the first place.

Again, I did not post this to offend you or anyone else. I am merely trying to voice my opinion on this matter.

And I do support domestic translators by buying English-translated manga and English dubbed anime. People who actually work in the manga industry work too hard so they deserve lots of support from fans and consumers.

Don't worry, you did not offend me. In my experience the people that do translate doujinshi for free are either 1) fans of the title or 2) trying to build a resume.

Skill-sharpening is something students do. Pro-bono is something lawyers do.

I do wish you the best hope it works out.

[delacroix01]

i have learned a lot from romaji

Me too. When I began learning Japanese, Romaji helped me a lot. However, I gradually prefer Kanji/Kana over Romaji as I became more and more familiar with this system since it's more helpful. But still, using Romaji for beginner is a must before they become familiar enough.

[KyleGoetz]

delacroix, you should learn the SKIP method. It's hands down the most efficient way to look up a kanji in a physical dictionary.

[delacroix01]

Thanks for your advice, but that would be when I save enough money to buy a really good one then. I don't want to waste my money on cheap but not really good ones in my city, as my allowance is very low.

[mangafreak]

i sort of have a faint idea, but what exactly is doujin?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by mangafreak

i sort of have a faint idea, but what exactly is doujin?

Fan made manga.

[SHAD0W]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

I suggest you go to an anime/manga fansite and get their help. Do not confuse "Japanese scholars/learners" with "manga fans." I suspect you've made this mistake and my proof is that you lack a "I know what doujin are but don't read them" choice in your poll. I guess your assumption is that anyone who speaks Japanese and knows of doujin must read them.

LOL quoted for truth. OP = fail.

[KyleGoetz]

Delacroix, try this one: Amazon.com: The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary: Jack Halpern: Books
I own that and the more academic version as well. The one I've linked you to is less than $30. I think that's about what a couple of doujin cost, no? The dictionary is far more valuable than another two manga where Tuxedo Mask and Ash from Pokemon make love.

And mangafreak, doujinshi is 同人誌. It's basically like "the aforementioned person's magazine" or "coterie's magazine."

[delacroix01]

Oh thanks. That would be the one I'm looking for. Including the shipping fee, it will be nearly $50, and that's 6 months of saving to me

[KyleGoetz]

Ouch. I feel your pain. Is there no bookstore in Vietnam that might stock it? Amazon has a lot of country-specific websites. Is there a Vietnamese Amazon.vn or something?