The Eastern Edge

I found an interesting post in a blog about translation called Sensei' Ramblings on a site called Translation Dojo.

It's about what a manga rewriter/adaptor does (or doesn't, as the case may be.)
It also points out the difference between the translator and the rewriter, the different skill sets necessary, and the fact that some people can do both and some can't - which I don't think a lot of people realize.
Not all rewriters are non-Japanese reading, know-it-all fanboys!

The difference between translator and rewriter is an issue I sometimes have trouble with for that very reason.
How do you know what they understand of the original and what they don't? What did they base certain decisions on, their own understanding or translator's notes? And does any of that even matter? Well, it probably doesn't matter - except when the writer gets ripped on because, as "Sensei's Ramblings" points out, they are usually the first to get raked over the coals.

So, if a rewriter can and does go back to the original text when rewriting, should the work be credited as a collaboration (i.e. "Translated & Adapted by", instead of splitting the two credits)?

Hmm...

Anyway, a very interesting post, on a topic I haven't seen much written about, that I liked and thought I'd share.