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Japanese Translations of Word play in Through the Looking-glass


  1. Jabberwocky
  2. Scores of each translator in translating of word play
  3. Translations available

1. Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky
'Twas brillig, and the slithy tobes
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Many words can be used as translation of one original word, especially in translating of Carroll's words such as portmanteau words. Some translators use same Japanese words. This table shows how many words are used commonly between translators.

Frequency of same Japanese word in translating of brillig, slithy, tove, gyre, gimble, wabe, mimsy, borogove, mome, rath, outgribe
OkadaTakahashiShonoTadaTalayamaSeriuYanaseTakasugiIshikawaKitamuraYagawaNakayamaMunakata
215231432320Okada
12232222220Takahashi
1231111310Shono
132312211Tada
41232420Takahashi
2232521Seriu
000200Yanase
21220Takasugi
2320Ishikawa
221Kitamura
20Yagawa
0Munakata

2. Scores of each translation

45 word plays were sampled. Each translation was tested with counting scores of 45 word plays. Scores are measured under criteria: A. word play is mentioned in translator's note, B. word play is not mentioned even in translator's note, C. word play is translated into Japanese word play, d. translation of word play is given up but translator puts other jokes.


Scores counted
OkadaShonoTadaTakayamaSeriuYanaseTakasugiIshikawaKitamuraYagawaNakayamaMunakata
a7

15.6

2

4.4

12

26.7

4

8.9

0

0

0

0

17

37.8

5

11.1

12

26.7

0

0

0

0

0

0

b5

11.1

6

13.3

7

15.6

4

8.9

1

2.2

4

8.9

10

22.2

12

26.7

14

31.1

4

8.9

11

24.4

8

17.8

c32

71.1

37

82.2

26

57.8

37

82.2

38

84.4

41

91.1

18

40.0

27

60.0

19

42.2

39

86.7

31

68.9

34

75.6

d1

2.2

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

13.3

0

0

0

0

1

2.2

0

0

2

4.4

3

6.7

3

6.7

(Lower rows: %)
Scores of each word play also can be seen.

3. Translations Available


Tadataka Okada: Kadokawa Bunko (1959)
Kokichi Shono: Fukuinkan (1972)
Kozo Tada: Obunsha (1975)
Hiroshi Takayama: Tokyo Tosho (1980) *Translation of Annotated 'Alice'
(Hiroshi Takayama: Tokyo Tosho (1994) *Translation of More Annotated 'Alice')
Hajime Seriu: Kaiseisha Bunko (1980)
Naoki Yanase: Chikuma Bunko (1988)
Ichiro Takasugi: Kodan-sha Bunko (1988)
(Ichiro Takasugi: Kodansha Aoitori Bunko (1994))
Sumiko Ishikawa: Tokyo Tosho (1989) *with colour Tenniel's Illustrations
Taro Kitamura: Okoku-sha (1990)
Sumiko Yagawa: Shincho-sha (1991)
(Sumiko Yagawa: Shincho Bunko (1996))
Tomoko Nakayama: Four Bunko (1992)
Ayumu Munakata: Kinnohoshi-sha(1995)


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