Still in the spit Groove translation of the external version of the book quality is poor? Talk about my personal understanding.

Source: Internet
Author: User

It is hard to imagine which computer technology people have not read the book, if only to see the technical paste on the Internet, so that the knowledge is absolutely discrete, not systematic. And to really learn a learning (such as a computer language or a technology), the role of a good book is self-evident. Many people complain that the Chinese in technical books copied to copy, superficial understanding, although the publication of books, but eventually become a boutique is rare. As a result, more readers are keen on external editions. But it is clear that not all Chinese have enough foreign language proficiency to read the original books without obstacles. Then, to seek the translation version becomes a seemingly unavoidable choice.

Unfortunately, the Internet for the translation of books on The spit can be said never stop. I have also seen the translation of its very poor, bland, so-called translations. I have even listed such examples in the past it, and I am not afraid to mention them again today. I am here to cite two books as an example, it can be said that the original book is classic classics, but translated version I really do not compliment.

First, Bruce Eckel's "C + + Programming Ideas" (in two volumes), English name "thinking in C + +".

The name of the book is Thunderclap piercing. Bruce Eckel is also the author of "Thinking in Java", both of which sell well throughout the world. "Thinking in C + +" was the first edition of the United States "software development" magazine for the 1996 Book Shock Award (Jolt Award), a major award on technical works, is the best recognition of the content of the book. But at present the Chinese version of the book is really miserable, particularly misleading readers. To give two examples, the following is the message and comments about netizens, you should be able to easily understand the meaning of the message.

1) translate the person to go *!!! Look at what you murdered a good book collapse:

It's even better to avoid writing code this uses the = for initialization; Instead, always use the explicit constructor form.

Chinese version: For initialization, use "=" to avoid writing code. Do not always use the displayed constructor form. (Chinese version 288 pages)
The original meaning is: it is best to avoid writing "=" initialization code, but use explicit constructor form.
After you idiots have translated, the meaning is completely reversed!

2) for another example, the Chinese version of the No. 278 page: Only the operator will change the left side of the assignment value (such as "+", "=") and operator=,....
The original text is clearly (such as "+ =").
You idiots, English did not learn, can't even copy these characters do not?
Another example: .... Because it is allocated in one big Chunk,and the size of the whole chunk are stashed somewhere by the allocation R Outine.
Chinese version: Because they are allocated in a whole block of memory, the size of the entire block of memory is interrupted somewhere in the allocation program.
The real meaning is: because they are allocated in a whole block of memory, and the size of the block is allocated to the program stored somewhere.
Stash: to store; hide.
"The size of the whole memory block has been interrupted somewhere" is simply Dog, "size" How to "interrupt", which country is the Chinese?

The other one is by Von Bochen (feeling is nominal) presided over the translation, Louden, k.c. "Compiling principle and practice", publishing of mechanical industry press
originally compiled is so complex, not easy to understand, the result of translation and Dog, it is called the Heavenly Book. It's not just me. This way, I casually picked up some online comments, you can see it:
1 translation is in too rotten, a lot of local statements at all, people see Foggy, despise that the name of the Bo Guide, this year, Bo Guide are not cherish their fame, find a few students with translation software A turn, oneself also do not review, dare to name, harm I want to read the person
2) In many places, the translation of this book is really too stiff. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like someone who understands the principles of compiling. For example, in the 97th side of the "program list 3-1 BNF TINY Grammar" corresponds to the original 133th side "Figure 3.6 Grammar of thr TINY language in BNF", this translation is really difficult to read.
3) I strongly recommend to all readers not to buy this book, or to buy before you must find a paper or electronic version read the two chapters, and then decide
I am very respectful to the translators in the country, but I am so angry with the translators of this book. Did the translator read the book after he had finished translating it? How dare you take it out and publish it if you've seen it?
The translation is not Chinese two or three times can understand, there are many mistakes (some of the wrong is too naïve)
I've seen chapter 1-4, and I can't help complaining.
of which 1-5 chapters are translated by Feng Yu, after a few chapters of the translation did not see, but the responsible person Von Bochen, reviewer Yesheng, Feng Yu, Zhu Danjun (these three are also translators) have an inescapable responsibility, for the translator in the preface mentioned in the person, only to Zhang Xianfeng reservation view (he and Yesheng translation of the eighth chapter, I have not seen)
I want to say to some translators: please cherish your reputation
Finally I want to scold a sentence: rubbish!
It's so irritating.
Von Bochen is a contractor, he put the translation of the single Next, to his subordinates, in addition, did not do anything.
Translation of the team only 2 of the situation, or the level is too bad, how the intentions are useless, or no sense of responsibility, a lot of local statements do not make sense, if you want to make a errata, it is to re-come!
Louden is also unlucky, originally a good book, to China, but became a dog excrement!

It can be said that the previous feeling was disgusting to this rubbish, belong to the type of absolute abhorrence. And I myself also translated some books of people, but directly on the PowerWord this kind of thing I do not come out. 100 readers will have 100 Hamlet. Whether it is translation or publishing, always leave a work of regret. I can hardly guarantee to cater to everyone's tastes, but it is still possible to have a clear conscience.

today, visit the watercress, inadvertently saw a netizen reviews compared to my previous translation of the Post (original address: http://book.douban.com/review/3259652/), the original post has been 5 years ago the matter (I have also known the Empress), there are many netizens thread discussion. I would also like to make a list of what I mean. First of all, this is definitely not an ad post, the viewer self-identification! I just want to explain the point of view as a reader and as a translator. Of course viewer discretion is advised !!


Charles Petzold's "code: hidden in the hardware and software behind the language," the name of the book, can be said as Thunderclap piercing as its author, since it is not a poster, I do not want to say how he famous, straight to the topic.

because "code: hidden in the language behind the hardware and software" this book in the early days of mechanical industry publishing house once, so the online version of the machine and the electrical version of the difference has never stopped. As this is such a famous book, as an electrician version of the translator, I would like to take it lightly. Just that Douban friend really heart, he in "no English original" case, artificial compared to the two translation of the difference. Although I personally think that this does not refer to the English version of the original comparison is actually not much significance. But thanks to this netizen's enthusiasm. I added the missing English version today, I hope you will also participate in the review.

first of all, as a translator of technical books, my first principle is to present the original meaning of the author. Technical book is not a novel after all, really restore the original meaning of the author I think is the first point.

such as the title: "Code:the Hidden Language of computer Hardware and software"
My translation is: code: Hidden in the language behind the hardware and software
The old version of the Mechanic's translation is: The Secret of coding
(the title, the benevolent See of the beholder)


Take a look at some examples from the first chapter (excerpt from Douban, I added the original English content)

1) chapter1:best Friends
My translation is: The 1th chapter of the closest friend
the old version of the Mechanic's translation is: Chapter One torch secret
(This place I really don't know why the original best Friends was translated into a torch secret.) I can only say that best Friends is the original author's meaning, this point translation must respect the original text, because your two processing is undoubtedly to let the reader eat the steamed bread you chew, which violates my first principle. As a translator, I'm not responsible for creating new words, I'm just a transporter of the original.

2) You ' re ten years old. Your best friend lives across the street.
My translator is: you l0 year old, your best friend lives across the street.
the old version of the Mechanic's translation is: If you are only 10 years old, your good friend and you live on the street.
(Please note that the author does not use the virtual voice!) I do not know why the old version gave a "if", and lives across the street, which is not the street and live in the mean, across should be over)

3) As you watch your friend's flashlight making swoops and lines in the air, you find that it's too hard to assemble th e multiple strokes together in your head. These swirls and slashes of light is not precise enough.

My translator is: When you look at a friend's flashlight in the air Circle point, you will find it difficult to combine so many complex strokes in the mind. These rotating and tilting rays are too inaccurate.

The old version of the Mechanic's translation is: When you look at the beams of light that come and go, you will find that it is not easy to put them together in your mind, and the circles that are drawn by these lights are too inaccurate.


I do not want to continue with this example, although these places do not affect the reader's understanding of the text, but obviously the old version of the translation is very casual, random to the arbitrary distortion of the original meaning of the place. I would like to emphasize again the first principle of translation: accurate, do not arbitrarily introduce too much of their own meaning .


Secondly, in terms of a serious attitude, it is necessary not to miss a mistake and not to make a low-level error. It has nothing to do with the ability to see the work ethic.

Mechanic's old version 4th: "They rub amber with wood to produce the static electricity we call today." Rubbing wood on amber to obtain electrons from amber, resulting in the electricity contained in the wood.the number of children is more than the number of protons and amber contains less electrons than the number of protons. "
If you remember the physics class in high school, do you see where the translation problem is?
Original: Rubbing wool on amber causes the wool- pick up electrons from the amber.The wool winds up with more electrons than protons, and the amber endsUp with fewer electrons than protons.
Yes: The old version of the translator, the wool wrong to understand the wood. He got the wool and the wood wrong! If you don't read the original, you'll probably have swept the place. This has nothing to do with the ability, but the wood and wool wrong, I can only "hehe".

again, such as the following is also the content of the user message:

Electrician's new version: "Since Louis Braille invented Braille Braille, its application has been extended to various fields. The most commonly used Braille system in English publications is now known as Level two Braille (Grade 2 braille). Secondary Braille Braille uses a number of abbreviations to facilitate the preservation of tree structure and to improve reading speed. For example, if the code word for the letters appears alone, they represent a common word. The following three-row pattern (including the "complete" third row) shows us the code word for these words. "

this paragraph, the old version of the "No" for example, if the code word of letters appear alone, they represent a common word. This sentence (note that there are some in the original!) ). but this sentence is very important, I have been puzzled to say that the lowercase letter and the ordinary word is the same encoding, the blind how to distinguish? There are no switching symbols like numbers and letters. I don't know how the original translator made such a mistake. I have read several translations of computer books before, so many translation errors lead to comprehension difficulties.

Finally, after all, there are cultural differences between foreign countries and China , and even if accurate verbatim translation of the original model is very familiar to American readers, it is still difficult for Chinese readers to understand, and my strategy is to add some necessary knowledge in a footnote . For example

the 9th chapter of the Mechanic edition, the first paragraph is as follows:
"In 1973, when Anthony Orlando in a song he wrote, he asked his beloved person to" tie a yellow ribbon to the oakTree "When he did not ask his lover for a tedious explanation or lengthy discussion, only asked her to give him a simpleresults. He does not care about the cause and effect, even if the song of complex feelings and emotional history in real life repeats, allWhat people really want to know is just a simple yes or no. He hoped to tie a yellow silk to the tree and said: "Yes, even if you make a big mistake and have been sentenced to three years in prison, I still want you to come back and spend time with me. "He hopeslooking at the tree with no yellow silk to say: "You can not even stop here." ""

we don't even have to move out of the original, I want to ask, are you sure you understand what the author means? If you feel confused, it will be more natural, because you do not know "Anthony Orlando", do not know the meaning of "yellow ribbon".

so I added the following footnote to the electrician's new version:
"Anthony Orlando is a famous American country singer. "The Yellow ribbon on the Old Oak tree" is his famous music, once swept the United States, popular. The song tells a young man who is about to be released from prison to fear that his family cannot accept himself, so he wrote a letter to his wife on the eve of his release to get his family's forgiveness. He also said in the letter, if the wife still love him, still waiting for him to go home, then in the village of the old oak tie a yellow ribbon, if he does not see the yellow Ribbon in the tree, he also understand his wife's heart, will continue to travel away. in the car on the way home, young man always uneasy, in the near home, even dare not open their eyes, begged the driver and the passengers in the car to help see whether the old oak is tied with a yellow ribbon. When he heard the cheers of all the passengers in the car, he opened his eyes and saw hundreds of yellow ribbons fluttering in the wind in the Old oak tree in the village. Later, the yellow Ribbon became a custom in the United States, said to greet absence wash relatives home.
"
I personally feel that the lack of such cultural background, Chinese readers are actually difficult to understand the original author's meaning.

Copyright NOTICE: This article for Bo Master original article, without Bo Master permission not reproduced.

Still in the spit Groove translation of the external version of the book quality is poor? Talk about my personal understanding.

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