Do you know what is the translation of “The Load of the rings” in Japanese? There are two famous translation: “指輪物語” (Yubiwa-monogatari) and “ロード・オブ・ザ・リング” (ro-do obu za ringu).
“指輪物語” (Yubiwa monogatari)
When the first time the books were translated in Japanese, it was named “指輪物語” (Yubiwa monogatari). This means the tales of ring(s). In Japanese the difference between ring and rings are ignored. “指輪(yubiwa)” doesn’t have any information how many rings are there.
This translation is most popular in Japan and like the Japanese famous classical literature “The tales of Genji”. Japanese readers imagine spectacular in these title.
“ロード・オブ・ザ・リング”(ro-do obu za ringu)
How about the other translation? This is the title of the movies in 21st century. I don’t like this translation. This is inperfect copy of pronounciation.
There are three points which confuses watchers.
- The first “The” is gone.
- Japanese watcher cannot distinguish that “ロード”(ro-do) is “load” or “road”.
- The “Rings” becomes the “Ring”.
Details
In japanese, the word “ロード”(ro-do) is usually used as the translation of “road”. The idea of “The Load” is not familier in Japan. (That’s why the first translation is not “指輪の主” (Yubiwa no aruji))
And two missing parts: “The” and ring”s” confuses Japanese watchers. A part of Japanese watchers who can understand English and have not read “The Load of the Rings” misunderstand that this tale is about the ring, not the rings.
About translation
Translating is difficult. We, learners of ESL, have a time to translate between English and our mother tongues. We should make careful.