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English to Japanese translations [PRO] Bus/Financial - Management / Training material
English term or phrase:fix
プロジェクトの進め方について説明した資料の中に次のようなパラグラフがあります。
（パラグラフの見出し）An ounce of respect is worth a pound of "fix"
（本文）When people feel that they are not being respected, or when they feel they might loose respect in the eyes of those they respect (peers, bosses, subordinates), they resist. There are other reasons for resistance (like fear of job loss), but lack of respect, in the way the project interacts with the business managers and the users, is often a key cause of resistance.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 19 hrs (2011-02-01 04:11:29 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I asked my partner to prepare the Japanese explanation, but he just left and I am on my own, so please allow me to switch to English.
The idea here is that "fixing" people (by correcting their mistakes, pointing out their weaknesses, trying to train them, telling them that their performance is not up to snuff, etc.) is not a good strategy for improving their performance. It is more effective to make people feel good about themselves and to show them that you value them as members of the team.
When we analyze "fix," we need to ask, "fix what?" The answer is "fix someone who is underperforming or making mistakes" (or "fix the mistakes of a person who is making mistakes"). Other ways of expressing this idea would be "try to make someone perform better" or "try to cure a person's weaknesses."
http://www.colorfulleadership.info/papers/fix_people.htm "If you want high performance from your team, make the choice to step away from fixing people. Everyone is good at something. Find that something and figure out how to put it all together."
http://www.wosnews.org/Blog/CIO-VIEW/Dont-Try-to-Fix-Weaknes... "If you play to your people’s weaknesses, they (and you) will fail. If you play to their strengths, they will succeed. As a leader your focus shouldn’t be on 'fixing' all of your people’s weaknesses (and we all have them!). Rather, you should find creative ways to ensure that you are allowing people to play to their strengths and doing the things they enjoy and are good at. This will ensure their success as well as the success of their projects and teams."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 19 hrs (2011-02-01 04:19:50 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
This English is also a reference to a more common expression, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of fix." Rather than dealing with the problem directly when it arises, treat the cause of the problem by preventing it from occurring.
This translates to a business setting in the following way: A good leader doesn't focus on the errors, mistakes and deficiencies of her team members. Instead, she primes them to be receptive to her ideas by treating them with respect. The feeling of being respected will prevent any of the technical problems that might have otherwise occurred from interfering with that person's performance.
This is not about fixing relationships among team members, but rather about fixing the stand-alone performance-related problems of individual team members.
http://www.familyfriendsfirearms.com/forum/archive/index.php... "We lock our doors, and we have outside lights on switches. I like to count the stars on occasion as well and with the flip of a couple of switches the exterior of our home is lit up 360 degrees. Remember the old statement, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of fix."
http://primarydatacenter.com/2011/01/discover-the-hard-drive... "That clicking noise is a sign that your hard drive has completely failed. Without a back up you’re out of luck. The only way to get the data off it would be through a data recovery service which would cost about $ 500 or more. Compare that to even the most expensive external hard drive at about $ 200… an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of fix."
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 19 hrs (2011-02-01 04:23:07 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The most common version of the expression I cited above is "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," a quote from Ben Franklin.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 hrs (2011-02-01 05:11:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
あるいは、予防は治療にまさる；ころばぬ先の杖。
Without a doubt, the English source sentence is making reference to this classic expression, and it would behoove us all to read it accordingly. --- (Now that I've done my share of fixing the erroneous direction of this conversation in complete violation of the advice whose meaning I've taken it upon myself to preserve and convey, I'll bow out and hope that my assistance will get Arakawa-san out of her translation fix. ^^)
I think the term 「矯正」is used in precisely the way I have described in Japanese. The author is trying to say that 「矯正」is the wrong way to address the failings, faults, and flaws of one of your team members, subordinates, or colleagues.
...nice to see everyone's views. Notice how Shannon's point appeared to be so logical and reasonable, yet it had to be repeated without gaining traction? I wonder if it was a matter of semantic fields, or 意味場. The word 矯正 does not belong in the field where this particular snippet of source text was concerned. For example, we don't say スープが寒い, no matter how eloquently one argues that "my soup is cold" is acceptable in English. The Japanese language may be much less forgiving in this regard than the English language when it comes to 人間関係. I'm not a linguistics scholar, but my impression is that the Japanese language may come with a wider, richer range of semantic fields in describing relationships, each of the spectrum being rather distinctively defined.
"My point is that there is no rule against using words that have negative meanings or connotations in a written Japanese text. If there were, words like 「矯正」and 「非難」 would not exist." ↑ 補足しますね。 下の私の翻訳案の欄をご覧いただければ分かりますが、「ビジネスの（←ここは重要です）文書ではそのような言葉を使用するべきではない」と申しあげているのです。 日本のビジネス文書には、非難とか矯正という言葉は、不適切です（マスコミ用語以外は）。
I can't believe you have been following this whole discussion on your Blackberry. That's dedication!
Anyway, thanks for the clarification. That makes more sense. I was a bit puzzled by the fact that you were contradicting your earlier comments. ^^
FWIW, I guess my response would be that this text is not quoting one person saying "I'm going to fix you" directly to another. Instead, it's using "fix" to describe the actions of a third party, and that's also how I've seen "矯正" used with reference to people in Japanese. Therefore, it's possible that the slight difference in usage between "fix" and "矯正" that you cite doesn't really matter in this context.
Anyway, it's all water under the bridge now. And hopefully no more water near your home! :-D
Would you mind responding to my linguistic points?
18:46 Feb 4, 2011
a6903239-san, to be quite frank, I am offended by your desire not to engage with the content of my linguistic arguments. Focusing on my identity is an ad hominem attack (a logical fallacy), and it's not a very convincing (or respectful) way to have a conversation.
What's more, I am working with a partner who is just as Japanese as you are. He was educated entirely in Japan, and he has Japanese business, marketing, and magazine editing experience. So even if you wanted to use ad hominem attacks to criticize all non-native translators, I would be the wrong target for your efforts. For what it's worth, I quite agree that it's rare to find someone who can produce natural-sounding translations in a non-native language. However, all of of this is irrelevant for our purposes.
Getting back to the point, when I said that every sentence does not need to sound rosy, I did not mean that it was okay to speak impolitely in a business context. Of course I know about keigo, etc. What translator wouldn't?
My point is that there is no rule against using words that have negative meanings or connotations in a written Japanese text. If there were, words like 「矯正」and 「非難」 would not exist.
"Japanese business culture does not require that every sentence sound rosy." ↑ Shannonさんと議論していて、「何かズレがある」と感じていましたが、この部分のようです。 ビジネスに関わる多くの日本人（そして日本人のビジネス翻訳者）が感じていることと、Shannonさんの考え方は、違うと思いますよ。 １０年以上、日本の上場企業に勤めた経験から言えることは、お客さんに説明する時も、上司に説明する時も、相手の気分を害さないように、とても気を使って話す必要がある、と言うことです。日本語には敬語の種類がたくさんあることも、そのひとつの表れであるといえます。 Shannonさんの場合は、あくまで訳語にできるだけ忠実に翻訳する方針、いいかえれば、原文である英語の背景にあるAmerican(etc.) standardに忠実であろう、とされているようです。 しかし、この翻訳文は日本語であり、日本文化(つまりJapanese standard)をバックグラウンドに持った日本人が読み手です。ビジネス翻訳者としての私の経験から、日本人が共感を得やすいような自然な日本語に翻訳してこそ、クライアントにお褒めをいただけるのは、間違いありません。 上手な翻訳者とは、原文（by source language)の意味をきちんと理解し、かつ翻訳文(by target language)についても、読み手が理解しやすい自然な訳文を考えることだ、と私は信じています。読み手に理解されない訳文は、意味がありません。
sorry I should have said differently like this. In English you can say "He needs to be fixed" or I will fix you!" even though it is not nice. In Japanese, we don't say｢彼は矯正されなければならない」「お前を矯正してやる」 not because it is not nice, simply because it's not the right verb. Rather, we say 「彼は鍛えなおさねばだめだ｣｢貴様、鍛えなおしてやる！」something like that. So this is what Mika san has been saying, how it can be expressed in the final translation text. So, I admit that 矯正 may be closest to express the harsh meaning, and from there the translator can process all the connotation and produce more common word in the Japanese text. Anyway, I agree the choice is OK for the Kudoz answer. お疲れ様 Shannon, sorry I didn't read all the discussions more carefully but you know I only had a Blackberry in the dark candle night!
Just some general last thoughts, building on some of the themes that have come up in this conversation:
1. "If you focus on going word-by-word, you'll miss the forest for the trees." I absolutely agree, and I don't think that anyone would argue completely against rephrasing things to make them smoother in the target language. However, that does not lead to the logical conclusion that preserving the author's word choice is automatically the wrong strategy. "Missing the forest for the trees" is a perfect example. The phrase works in both English & Japanese. There are times when straight translations are totally unproblematic, and there are times when it's better to rephrase. I don't think any of us would disagree with this; we were merely disagreeing about whether, in what ways, and why this particular instance might be a good time to choose one strategy over the other.
2. Avoiding negative connotations just for the sake of avoiding them is not my preferred strategy. Some things sound negative in English, and I think it's okay if they sound negative in the translated Japanese, too. Japanese business culture does not require that every sentence sound rosy.
「日本語の「矯正」という語には、リスペクトは感じられないのが現実です。」I totally agree with you, which is precisely the reason that I chose the word 「矯正」. Fixing is supposed to carry a negative connotation.
「もし私が「君の発言（行動）を矯正してやる」と誰かに言われたら、間違いなく「キレる」でしょうね（笑）。少なくとも、その後も話し合う気には、なれません。」The same thing would happen if I said "I'm going to fix you" in English. It would be rude and insulting and you wouldn't want to talk to me again. You would feel disrespected (as the source text describes).
What you're saying is exactly the reason why 「矯正」is the correct way to understand "fix." "Correcting someone" and "fixing someone" are different in English; the former sounds more polite (but can still be disrespectful, arrogant, annoying, etc.), whereas the latter sounds very strong and rude because you're treating someone like a kid. That's precisely why the author is recommending against fixing people as a strategy for solving problems (解決策の１つ）. A better strategy (もう１つの解決策, the one the author is recommending), would be to respect people.
Yumico-san, I'm glad you're okay! A quick response
16:50 Feb 4, 2011
”many sentences are used with negative connotation or used in a negative sentence, that's what I wanted to tell, because Fix it self, I don't think it has it... ”
Actually, my main point all along has been that "fix" does indeed have this exact same negative connotation when used to refer to people. In fact, it's such a strong word that we often use quotes with "fix" (e.g. from above, taken from a website: "As a leader your focus shouldn’t be on 'fixing' all of your people’s weaknesses"). "Fix" in a vacuum has a variety of connotations (some positive, some neutral, and some negative), but when used to refer to people, it has a strongly disrespectful, negative, disciplinary, and arrogant tone. That's precisely why the author chose the word "fix" here, and precisely why it's in quotes in the source text. It is so wrong and impossible as a strategy that the author can't even say it with a straight face. The point is that it's not a real option, because you can't (and shouldn't try to) fix people.
Japanese people do use 「矯正」in this way, even if you personally wouldn't, and I think it's perfect that the connotation is negative. That makes it an accurate translation.
I was reading your example sentences above, then I noted that many sentences are used with negative connotation or used in a negative sentence, that's what I wanted to tell, because Fix it self, I don't think it has it... for example, 他人の言動を矯正したくてしかたがないのだ(the author is criticizing the person) , and ３４年も生きてきた人を矯正するのは不可能. Of course you may already know this difficult challenge of us translators trying to find the closest word for the word to be translated, but I just wanted to point out that it is not that we didn't understand or tried to avoid the direct mention of fixing. Sorry for dragging this, but hope you understand my point here.
Yumico Tanaka (X)
Australia
Thank you Shannon, I am safe but totally wet!!
04:54 Feb 4, 2011
with my perspiration, that is. Today I have been sweatting to cut down blown trees and branches in my backyard. Luckily Cairns did not get hit like some other towns which were in the middle of the cyclone path. My neighborhood actually enjoyed the opportunity to tidy up to prepare for the cyclone, getting together for the dark night and then cleaning up together afterward. We had three public holidays so to speak due to the cyclone. On top of that, the council pays for collecing all the branches... so I am not complaining at all. But you can see how serious it was: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/yasi/8206369/hero-red-cr... I made a tanka before this cyclone: おそまつながら一句。 サイクロン 来そうで来ない ケアンズの 潮風恋しい 寝苦しさかな
I think that we all contributed in our own ways, and I think this was a good example of 十人十色! ^^ I'm glad that Reiko-san found my explanations useful, and I'm sure she also enjoyed pondering all of the great title suggestions that everyone offered. I certainly did.
I've got to admit that I'm still not sure why there is so much fuss about avoiding the direct mention of "fixing"; of course it's an acceptable translation technique, but it's certainly not mandatory. Anyway, I don't want to stir anything up. Without the entire context (both source and target), which only Reiko-san can see, we're really all just stabbing in the dark, aren't we? :)
Until next time, everyone. And Yumico-san, I hope you're safe and dry!! ^_^
the appropriateness of 「矯正」 in this context, as you think it implies "dental braces" and I think it's broader than that." Shannon, I didn't say it implied that. The Japanese word just reminds me of the dental brace, and I don't think it's only me, it is widely shared this slight association/connotation among Japanese people. How widely, I cannot say, but the Japanese word doesn't fit to be used in relationship terms unless specifically explained. As it is a translation into Japanese, we have to think about how the general Japanese public feel when they read it and what is the closest and best way to convey what was meant by the author. I won't repeat what Mika san says here, so have a good day. By the way, Cairns was saved again as the category 5 cyclone changed the course slightly (but of course the damages in the towns right in the path was great). I will be out of power too and won't be able to follow this up till next week, but good luck, and thanks to Reiko san for revving up the Proz. com Japanese translators community.
I almost missed it, but I like your suggestion of ころばぬ先の杖 quite well. In Japanese, the main focus will shift and be lost easily by the WAY the context is presented, so translators obsessing on a pound of "fix" (the latter half) could do more harm than good; we can't be arguing on a detail by ignoring the whole. An ounce of respect should never be overshadowed by a pound of fix. On this point, I would not want ANYONE to compromise. We are here to discuss exactly where we draw the LINE. An English cliche "Agree to disagree" with a Japanese twist is a bad idea, because it's easily confused with 単なる同調, breeding hypocrisy that we see in translation. Back on track, It's all about how we fit the pieces together into Japanese.
Yumico-san, I recognize that you agree with my understanding of the word "fix" in this context. ^^ I'm sorry that I haven't been clearer in distinguishing my comments on the meaning of the English source text from those on the choice of words in the Japanese text.
I'm glad that you and I agree on the meaning! However, some of the arguments and comments here led me to believe that either the English wasn't being interpreted with precision or that the Japanese translations were going too far afield and shifting the emphasis away from "fixing" to "respect." I suppose we will have to agree to disagree about the appropriateness of 「矯正」 in this context, as you think it implies "dental braces" and I think it's broader than that.
But in any case, thanks to Mika-san's helpful call for clarification, we know that Reiko-san was looking for both an explanation of the source text and a good way of rendering the title in Japanese. Hopefully she will be able to sort out all the ways in which we translators agree or disagree with one another in one or both of those areas, and hopefully I've been helpful in at least one! ^^
Yumico Tanaka (X)
Australia
Although I agree with your idea of 'fixing"
12:53 Feb 2, 2011
and that it has such forciful connotation, in this Japanese translation, 「矯正」を人間関係にもってくる言葉としてはどうしてもニュアンス的に納得できません。 すでにMikaさんからご指摘のあったことに通じることですのでこれ以上言及はしませんが。。。
(A) Fixing someone and (B) showing respect to someone are two different solutions for solving the problem, but the problem itself is not lack of respect. A feeling of lack of respect results from (A), but the problem itself is (C) the mistakes, faults, and deficiencies of someone's work performance. This paragraph is trying to explain why (A) is not a good way of solving (C). All of the examples of causes of resistance focus on (A). A better way to solve (C) is (B).
(C) is not an assumption that I am imposing on this text. Rather, "fix" implies the presence of (C) as a problem. This paragraph would make no sense if (C) did not exist, because there would be nothing to "fix," no cause of bad feelings, and no resistance. The paragraph does not say that people resist lack of respect. It does not say that the solution to lack of respect is respect. That would be inane. If we don't try to think about (C), even though it's not explicit, we are missing a crucial component of this author's argument. This is not my premise (前提) or a guess (憶測); rather it is in the source text itself. It is the translator's job to preserve & communicate unwritten meanings.
I realize that many of you are focused on the idea of respect and the importance of respect, perhaps because the word "respect" is used so many times throughout the paragraph. However, one of the main points that I was trying to make is that when the author says "not being respected" or "lack of respect," he/she is actually referring to "fixing." The paragraph is criticizing the strategy of "fixing" people (which sounds harsh and rude in English, too...see my sources below). The paragraph means: "When people are criticized for their mistakes or corrected like a child, they resist because it makes them feel like they aren't respected. When they feel that they might lose face in front of their bosses, peers, and subordinates because they are being chastised and disciplined, they resist. There are other reasons for resistance (...), but the bad feelings caused by micromanagement and incessant reprimands are often one of the key causes of resistance. [So if you're trying to get something done and nobody is listening, perhaps you should stop trying to force them to do it your way, the "correct" way, and treat them with respect.]"
Thanks for the discussion. Good luck, Arakawa-san! ^^
実際、最初は私も教育、育成、指導…とう単語も考えましたが、これは元に戻らずに、以前よりも良い方向に向かうという結果に結びつきやすいうえ、いきすぎた意訳のような気がしたので、あえて使いませんでした。正直私自身も思ってはいることではありますが、皆さんの中にも「矯正」という言葉の響き、イメージに対して拒否感、違和感、やりすぎの感があるのではないでしょうか？ でも、英語の場合（例えば、Don't try to fix me; you're not my mother.もしくはYou can't fix men; you just have to learn to live with them.等）、人に対してFixという言葉を使った時には（本来、人は壊れるものではないのに、壊れているという表現を使わざるを得ない）、かなり無礼な表現になる事を考慮して「矯正」という言葉を使用しました。
It has really become an interesting discussion. May I suggest to treat the meaning as "A stich in time saves nine." Now how you translate the word "fix" into your native language Japanese let the Japanese decide it. Thank you.
