Ask John: Why Include Translation Notes in Erotic Manga?

Question:
Why do hentai manga scantalators occasionally post cultural notes for a particular title? Do American fans who read H doujinshi genuinely care about the duel meaning behind a sexual innuendo or the different interpretations of an erotic sound effect? Or are the scantalators hoping it’ll lead to legit work?

Answer:
I’ve personally never worked on a translation of any pornographic manga or anime, and I don’t personally know anyone who has, but I can make a guess. My observation is that the principles that apply to any fan created translation are consistent regardless of the medium translated. Whether it’s manga or anime, mainstream anime or adult oriented, sexually explicit material, fan translators create translations because they want foreigners to understand and appreciate the original work as much as the translator does. I honestly believe that the majority of fan created translations are a labor of love, created because the translator wants to bring attention and recognition to a work. Fan translators don’t distribute their translations publicly for language practice, or because they’re looking for professional qualification; they do it because they want to share something with other fans. They put effort into translating and explaining sound effects and other cultural nuances because they want to take pride in doing a comprehensive translation job; and they want readers and viewers to fully understand and appreciate the original work. As their name implies, fan translators are fans who translate specifically because they are fans of the work (either the specific work, or the genre or medium).

While amateur translators may occasionally attract the attention of professional businesses, and may graduate into professional work, flooding the internet with illegal translations doesn’t seem like a very efficient means to seeking employment. Translators searching for a professional translating position don’t distribute unauthorized, illegal works to the public; they send translation samples and resumes to employers.

The theory that “mere pornography” doesn’t require extensive and detailed translation, I think, is short-sighted and inconsiderate. Regardless of whether a manga or anime is about fighting ninja, giant robots, students, or sex, the same, or similar effort went into drawing and creating it. When an adult manga artist takes the time and consideration to use specific sound effects, he or she does so with a purpose in mind. When an artist includes contemporary or cultural nuances in his art or narrative, those details are present because the artist put forth the effort to include them. So ignoring those details is a dis-service to the creative artist, and limits the reader’s appreciation and comprehension of the meaning that the creator was trying to convey. Translators shouldn’t disregard parts of a manga just because they’re deemed non-essential. I think that translators that include notes and explanations for erotica understand this principle, and translate with the principle that erotic subject matter doesn’t automatically make a work less artistically significant or valuable.