Despite being a certified Japan-nerd (I just spent 10 months in the country trying to learn the language, after all), the only thing I have ever read of Murakami is a short story I was assigned in one of my classes during the aforementioned 10 months in Japan. It was called "Firefly," (Japanese is "Hotaru"), and I liked the parts of it I understood. I dunno if it's ever been translated, though.
As for Japanese-to-English translation quality, I have yet to actually attempt one, but from first impressions, I think dialogue is probably a lot harder than description. There's a lot of nuance in various things like word choices and verb forms in Japanese that are basically impossible to get across in English. Description, on the other hand, is pretty much always written in the same style, so that would seem to be easier. Take that as you will.
pHaruki Muralamiext_260816December 23 2010, 09:37:43 UTC
Liked your post on what is a fantastic little. book, but then I guess I'm biased as I think Murakami is a great writer & if you fancy another go at him (as I guess you do, as you've entered the challenge) his short story collection- The Elephant vanishes, might appeal.
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As for Japanese-to-English translation quality, I have yet to actually attempt one, but from first impressions, I think dialogue is probably a lot harder than description. There's a lot of nuance in various things like word choices and verb forms in Japanese that are basically impossible to get across in English. Description, on the other hand, is pretty much always written in the same style, so that would seem to be easier. Take that as you will.
-TealTerror
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