What Is Fan Translation or Fanslation?
Fan translation, also referred to as fanslation, is an unofficial translation process where fans of entertainment, such as video games, anime, comic books, and novels, translate content into foreign languages. Fanslation allows communities to access and share media that has not yet been officially translated into their native languages. Fan translations are especially popular for Japanese video games and anime.
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Fansubbing vs Fandubbing in Anime Fan Translation
Fansubbing involves the translation and addition of subtitles to a video, keeping the original audio intact. Fandubbing, on the other hand, is where fans translate the content and record their own voices over the original audio. These methods are especially popular in translating Japanese anime for non-Japanese-speaking audiences.
Fan Translation for Video Games
Fan translation for video games is particularly prevalent among non-English-speaking communities. Many Japanese video games are either not available or not translated into other languages, leading to fans stepping in. In some cases, fans will even dive into the coding of the game to seamlessly insert the translated text.
Are Fan Translations Legal?
One of the most commonly searched questions is “Are fan translations legal?” The legality of fan translations often falls into a gray area. While fanslations are typically done without the approval of copyright holders, many fan translation communities follow an unofficial code of ethics. For instance, fans agree to remove their translations once the media becomes officially available in their language.
Why Do Fans Create Unofficial Translations?
Fans create unofficial translations to share content with their community when official translations are unavailable or delayed. For example, in countries where a popular anime or video game hasn’t been released, fans will create translations to make it accessible to others. This can be seen in the translation of the Harry Potter series into Chinese, where fans stepped in to fill the gap left by publishers.
Fan Translation in Popular Culture
Fan translations have had a significant impact on the global entertainment industry. They allow people around the world to access media that would otherwise be limited to those who speak the original language. For instance, East Asian entertainment, particularly anime and video games, is heavily dependent on fan translations in many regions where official translations are unavailable.
Tools and Techniques Used in Fan Translation
Fan translators use various translation tools and techniques to translate media accurately. For video games, specialized software is often needed to manipulate the game’s code and insert translated text. For anime and films, fans use subtitle software to sync the translated text with the original video.
Is Fan Translation a Good Deed or Unacceptable Practice?
Fan translations allow media to be shared across linguistic boundaries, but they often tread a fine line between accessibility and legality. While fanslation provides invaluable access to entertainment for global audiences, it’s important to understand the ethical and legal implications of this practice.
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You may also be interested in the following:
Ebook: Top Ten Tips for Interpreters and Translators
Article: When should names be transliterated?
Article: The World’s Ten Most Translated Authors
Article: Why Translation Mistakes Happen
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