Majin tantei nougami neuro : a Japanese manga Internet translation analysis

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Authors
Donaldson, Amanda Elisabeth
Advisor
Tomizawa, Sadatoshi
Issue Date
2013-05-04
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Japanese manga is becoming an increasingly popular form of literature for American readers, particularly young adults. For manga that has not been translated by companies, published, and sold in local bookstores, enthusiastic readers turn to online manga reading sites such as Manga Fox and Manga Reader. However, this system relies heavily on amateur translators who are typically pressured to produce chapters quickly for impatient readers. In many cases they are unable to proofread their work, and it becomes filled with many mistranslations of Japanese text. The analysis of the first volume of a Shonen Jump magazine manga, Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro by Yuusei Matsui, proves beneficial in illustrating the degree of difference between original Japanese text and English translation which can occur at the unprofessional level. The story follows the main protagonist, Yako Katsuragi, in her mystery solving adventures with underworld demon Neuro Nougami. I have reviewed each chapter of both the original Japanese text and the uploaded English translations from the website Manga Fox from the first volume, which is seven chapters, and have compiled a list of notable differences between the two versions from each chapter. The work of this project was to revise the incorrect translations in the English version of the manga.