Which is "easier" for you?

[KirinMan]

Just out of curiosity I am interested in knowing which is easier for people here.

Is it easier for you to translate spoken English to Japanese or spoken Japanese to English?

Written English to written Japanese or vice versa?

Which is it for you?

 

[JimmySeal]

I put down written Japanese to English, but at times it could be spoken Japanese to English. It depends on how difficult the writing is. I think that if I had a choice between translating a spoken paragraph or the same paragraph written on paper, the written one would be easier because speech is transient and text is static.

And I think it's pretty much universal that translating into one's native language is easier than translating from it.

 

[GaijinPunch]

You're basically asking what is easier: translation or intepretation. Based on what I know of pay rates, interpretation is many fold harder. Why? Time limit. Translation usually allows a dictionary and no sweat when you get stuck on a word.

 

[akai ken]

I know almost nothing of japanese but for me its much easier to understand a sentence than translating one from english or whatever language to japanese.

 

[SushiShin]

its so difficult but im going to follow japanese lessons
(when i have the time ;-)

 

[thistle]

I think for me, spoken english to japanese, but I think that is because I was away from native english speakers for so long, I sometimes have a hard time thinking of the right word in english but it is right there in japanese.
Now I am working in an english speaking enviroment again am hoping to brush up on my english speaking skills again!
For me I think it is as natural to say things in japanese as it is in english.

 

[KirinMan]

I think for me, spoken english to japanese, but I think that is because I was away from native english speakers for so long, I sometimes have a hard time thinking of the right word in english but it is right there in japanese.
Now I am working in an english speaking enviroment again am hoping to brush up on my english speaking skills again!
For me I think it is as natural to say things in japanese as it is in english.

You and me both in regards to being away from "natives" and being able to say this in Japanese and English as well.

 

[Pachipro]

Quote:Originally Posted by thistle[/URL]


I think for me, spoken english to japanese, but I think that is because I was away from native english speakers for so long, I sometimes have a hard time thinking of the right word in english but it is right there in japanese.
Now I am working in an english speaking enviroment again am hoping to brush up on my english speaking skills again!
For me I think it is as natural to say things in japanese as it is in english.

You and me both in regards to being away from "natives" and being able to say this in Japanese and English as well.

Quite the opposite for me. Since I have been away from actually living in Japan and speaking it on a daily basis I understand way more of the spoken Japanese language than I can currently speak. Therefore, it is much easier for me to translate spoken and written Japanese into English.

For example, while I am watching a Japanese movie or TV show or even talking to people, I can understand about 90% of what is being said, but ask me to repeat it in Japanese or to translate English into Japanese then it is quite difficult and takes a while. However, after a few days in Japan, it gradually comes back to me. I guess it all depends on one's situation at the moment, especially if one is not actually living the language or doing it as a living.

 

[nhk9]

Translating spoken Japanese to English is probably the hardest one since you always have to wait until the end for the predicate to come up. When there are many relative clauses, you get confused at who does what. In that sense, Japanese is not as convenient as English.

Also, spoken Japanese can different significantly depending on the context and contents. Many documentaries like Project X use very stiff Japanese so translating those is a pain. Whereas if you watch a pop show then it's much more easier. In English, you don't really see that great difference. The speech styles on CNN is pretty much what you encounter on MTV.

 

[emptybento]

As a native speaker of English: the thing about translation from Japanese verses to Japanese is that if do not know how to say something in Japanese, you cannot say it in Japanese. An attempt to simply use a dictionary to look up the English words will often bring you to misfortune because of general (but unwritten) differences between Japanese and English words.

Where as because of your much larger understanding for the English language, it is easier to take something in Japanese and express it in English. That is, you have the ability to use your built-in mental thesaurus to make sure the same point gets across. If (as a non-native speaker) you try to do that with Japanese chances are you'll make a mistake and the idea of your English phrase won't be properly expressed in Japanese.

In regards to written verses spoken, well there are two sides to every coin. While my instinct tell me to say that written is easier, there are certain advantages to translating spoken Japanese. It all depends on the situation, for instance if you are speaking to a close Japanese friend, it is definitely easier to translate him/her than the written word.

Why? Because they will help you to understand them, if you ask them chances are they'll repeat themselves, or re-phrase -- this is great because they have the built-in mental thesaurus for Japanese that you have for English. They'll make sure the proper point gets across.

On the other hand, translating the written word has the great of advantage of an unlimited amount of time to translate. There is no pressure to understand right at that moment, it's all at your own pace. Also it's much easier to pull out a dictionary and look a word up than it is when you're actually listening in real time to someone talk.

Blah blah blah blah .... blah!