Review Detail of True_Seeker in Plundering the Heavens

Hi there, thanks for your feedback. As I have mentioned in a previous comment, there is a reason behind using pinyin for terms such as 'shixiong'. Other than that, we have taken into account the reader comments and you will (or may have already) noticed that the usage have indeed been reduced since chapter 10+. As for place names, some have been Anglicised while others have remained in pinyin. While it may be confusing at times, all of these places have been noted with TL Notes (including certain Chinese idioms that are relevant in text). As for loosing the meaning, please be rest assured that as I have a personal relationship with the author, every change made in the English version was only made after having discussed and permission granted from him. If at all, it will only make the English version somewhat superior to its original (as logical flaws would have then been removed). Finally, I would like to thank you on behalf of the author for your love of the novel and your input. It is a fantastic story and definitely worth our every effort to make the translations one of the best too! :)

Please stop using zi'zhi. It's the most annoying word I have ever seen. Just use what every translator uses. Also, I don't get the need for "flavor" when all it does is make it annoying. (You would notice how almost most translators use English equivalent for a reason) . I am sure I am not the only one who feels that English equivalent should be used for "boss" "apprentice" etc. Please.

Unless author is proficient in English I don't understand why author's permission would even matters. Chinese readers can understand pinyin but for native readers you're just ****** it difficult by trying to force the so-called culture on their throats. Not a professional translator behavior.

Yes, we will soon be able to fix our previous chapters without having to go through a long (and strenuous process), so we will be looking at fixing up some of the pinyin usage by popular demand (eg. zi'zhi, and perhaps some names) in the earlier chapters. However one thing will stay the same, that is the use of shixiong and shidi. :) Have a good day.

Sugarcoat all you want while trying to hide your incompetence lol. You might be offended but a professional translator tries to translate the name of Sects, kingdoms and Continent. See Alyschu (whose Against the Gods is the #1 novel on WW based on views) and you will know what's proper translations. If you're getting paid for it at least do it right.

I finally decide to read the comments and this is what I see. It's saddening to see you think this way. There is no one "proper" way of translation if you take everything into consideration. Calling it " trying to hide your incompetence" is rather insulting, to both you and the translator. It is an attempt to put a label to an issue without considering the translators stance. Lets ask you a question: in your opinion at what point, what would constitute "forcing the so-called culture down your throat?" To me, the very concept of xanxia IS a part of Chinese culture--just like how anime is a part of the Japanese culture. Should I, as an editor, change it to fit the Western theme? Change the "flying swords and daggers" into "ak47s and desert eagles"? Spirit stones --> dollar bills? Change their names into their Western equivalent of Tom, Jerry, Bob, etc? That would be in accord to your stated stance, although it may be more of the extreme end. Additionally, are we basing "proper" translation based on popularity now? That is not proper at all. If i recall correctly, MTL was pretty numerous and popular before the huge influx of actual translators. Heck, even RWX used the term Nascent Soul before it was popular. He made it popular. Then, there's World of Cultivation. You're saying they're incompetent too?

In addition, in translation, you have the literal meaning and the figurative meaning. As a professional, your duties would differ depending on your audiences. For example, as a professional translator in the the courtroom, it is extremely important that you translate everything word for word (literally) and not just paraphrase what they said. . It, also, is important to translate what each meaning of the sentences are too.

Yesss, roast this guys

Sorry, it wasn't my intention to "roast" him. I want him to just see the other side that he may or may not be aware of.

Kind of wondering how changing things into their proper, closest english version would turn into changing stuff into something else that is not even close to being the same, especially the names part since a name is not something you ever translate(unless you count romanizing it). I do know you were just trying to go extreme to try to prove a point, but it was a bit too extreme :P I actually also agree with others that quite a few of the pinyin used would(in order with my tastes) be better off being translated to the closest english word since it makes things unnecessarily complicated otherwise. It's true that people sooner or later will learn the pinyin, but it takes time and is annoying, especially the first few dozen chapters... Oh, and at the beginning, there really was TOO much pinyin, but the really unnecessary stuff was changed, so it's all good. Well, how to translate is the translators decision. I'm just happy it's getting translated. I'm not trying to change how it's translated, just saying my thoughts about the matter. I also believe that Strixflash is a dip**** douchebag that should just stop reading altogether if he can't handle it, no need to go around insulting the translator, as if that'd help. It's such a high quality translation even if you don't like the pinyin, I'd rather have it riddled with even more pinyin than not being able to read it at all or having to read some subpar crap with a translator that hardly seems to know english grammar at all. Cheers for the effort in translating.

Ah, I wasn't addressing the "changing things into their proper, closest English forms". I was addressing the issue of "Chinese readers can understand pinyin but for native readers you're just ****** it difficult by trying to force the so-called culture on their throats." I understand that he, along with many other readers, wants to read a novel with **just** English terms--especially for readability's sake. Constantly having to backtrack and consider, "oh, what does this word mean again?" totally kills the mood. That I understand. But I really want to keep the pinyin for the 'flavor'. Here, let me use this example in an attempt to try to explain my perspective: (I hope you've watched anime before enough to know this line) "Notice me, senpai." (keeping the "pinyin") "Notice me, earlier colleague". (translating it literally) "Notice me, colleague." (translating it while ignoring the _type_ of relationship) And this example: "That's so ecchi!" It's not right to TL it just as "naughty" or "sexy" or "dirty" either. It'll be more along the lines of "light erotic" materials. But if we translate it to, "That's so naughty/sexy/dirty/erotic!" ... the meaning is completely different. Using shixiong/shidi/shimei/etc have that same appeal to me, as the editor (and I push to keep them with the translator).

it's not that difficult to understand that easy terms, if you don't go to the beginner's pick

Well, I like those pinyin because I dont just enjoying the stories but also learning Chinese culture. still better this than History Number 1 Founder where they translate "God Wind Sect" as "Aeolus Sect" and all. that made me stop reading in this Web and choose to read in MTL web.

i agree with Editor-Sama... on keeping pinyin cause English and Chinese teams is nearly completely different... it was hard at first with the "pinyin" things.. but with time we already got used it... Translators just put the "TL note on below " u can just look at it... Chinese terms of words have a hidden meaning in their so-call sentence... I was confuse at first.. but after reading 3 or 5 novel with that Pinyin thing.. I think it already normal...

Ye

Someone please take these useless " I hate how they translated it " comments down. They are giving the story a bad impression. I wouldn't have told anyone to take it down if it were only for this reason. But as a reader I can't stand people not reading a good book for such useless comments. So to people who can, I am earnestly requesting you to remove such comments. Thanks you for taking your time to read this. 😄

I prefer shixiong/shidi/shemei than senior martial brother/junior martial brother/junior martial sister. So keep it like this is better so you won't lose out the original taste 🙂

Wow can you all get off the TL and editors crotch? The sucking up is strong here. As for your comparison to anime and changing it. When you watch a subbed out dubbed anime do they keep Japanese or Korean words to keep it "authentic"? Outside of the names everything else is translated. People comes here to read a book not try and learn a language. And saying to remove a comment it reading because you don't agree with it is pretty sad.

Funny. In anime subs, senpai is still written as senpai since that one is bloody hard to translate since it changes according to circumstances. Only rarely do they put the term "Senior" in and then only because the relationship and circumstances have been clearly defined. Also, reading manhwa, I see the terms Ahjussi, Sunsengnim, Oppa, Noona/Noonim were frequently kept (with translator notes as usual), so I don't know what kind of Korean you get. Lemme guess, you White western? Coz You oozing superiority right now and seems annoyed people won't translate literally. And yea this can be considered an attack. I always respect foreign cultures and try to read them in as original form as possible, as opposed to White people butchering other people's cultures just for their "Comfort". And if you ain't white, you sure as hell sound like one.

Also, keeping the original sometimes let's you in on the inside joke. And example would be if watching Zetsubou Sensei. There was a part where there was an interaction between a student, teacher and a doctor. The joke becomes clear if you know that "Sensei" refers to BOTH Teacher and Doctor, which was tbe funny part where the student kept talking but the teach and doc don't have a clue which of them she's referring to resulting in a hillarious confusion.