WasedaKate

[WasedaKate]

I want to say the following:

"There are many works in which Akutagawa criticises culture and society."

Is this anything like it? I don't get the "in which" bit

芥川が文化と社会を批判する作品が多いだと思っていま す。

Thanks so much!

Kate

 

[nice gaijin]

Just my thought. I try not to focus too much on translating directly, but getting the intended ideas across (like worrying about how "in which" works). Granted, I don't consider my Japanese to be too great, so take this with a grain of salt. Generally it's my J>E translations which try to capture things more accurately.

芥川の作品には文化と社会の批判が多いと思う。There are many criticisms of culture and society in Akutagawa's work.

芥川の作品の中で、文化と社会を批判するところが多いと思う。Amongst Akutagawa's works, there are many instances where he criticizes culture and society.

I would like to know how a native speaker would express this.

 

[Mike Cash]

I don't understand how she got the relative clause bit just fine while saying she doesn't understand the "in which" part. The only thing wrong with what she posted was the だと思っています ending.

 

[WasedaKate]

Thank you both very much and you're right, it's probably best not to try to translate things so literally!

 

[Toritoribe]

Apart from an obvious grammatical mistake(×多いだと思っています ○多いと思っています), 芥川が文化と社会を批判する作品 is more likely "works that Akutagawa criticises culture and society". Your translation ignored "in", just as you worried about. As nice gaijin-san translated, には/の中で performs the roll.

my attempt
芥川の作品には、文化と社会を批判するものが多くあり ます。
芥川には、文化と社会を批判する作品が多くあります。

 

[WasedaKate]

Thank you! Very helpful!

 

[Mike Cash]

Where did you get the sentence in your initial post? I don't understand how you got the clause right while claiming not to understand it.

 

[WasedaKate]

I don't know, I just put it together but thought it didn't look right. I've only ever taught myself Japanese and have never really learned it properly so my Japanese is a bit hit and miss! Can you recommend any good grammar reference books?