In our translation class (English – Japanese) today, we spent about 45 minutes discussed about one Japanese word – ‘祖国’ (sokoku). What’s that meant in English, well, that is what that 45 minutes all about.
The contents we translate for history section is the controversial Japanese history text book. The translation module is divided into three parts: 1) literature on Japanese archaeology, 2) Japanese literature and 3) Japanese history. It’s interesting to see how different of discussion among students on these three topics, the first two seems much quieter than the history one. Don’t know whether it’s because history itself is interesting, or merely just this controversial text book?
Like in our class today, our discussion was on whether the word ‘祖国’ should be translated as ‘fatherland’, ‘motherland’, ‘country’ or ‘nation’, especially the first two carry out kind of emotional meanings and could be too subjective to put into history text book which meant to be objective. And then argument changed to the difference between ‘fatherland’ and ‘motherland’. We supposed to finish more than one page in our one hour class, but ended up spending 45 minutes just discussing only one word.
But, it was very interesting to hear other people’s opinions and their argument, I learned a lot.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
the term ‘motherland’ is anthropologically more sensible because society starts with matriarchy and the connection with mothers is deeply rooted in the human counscience. we also have other similar expressions such as 母校，母体，motherboard, etc.
i think what youve really meant is ‘nationalism’ embodied in the japanese history textbook issues.