93228 - Japanese Pop Cultures: Training Seminar in Translation and Localization (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the seminar (activity strictly related to the objectives of the degree course) students acquire specific skills and notions  dealing with linguistic and/or philological and/or literary and/or historical and/or artistic issues and problems. The seminar aims to introduce the different aspects of translation and localization of products of Japanese pop cultures (manga, animation, light novel, videogames), deepening the linguistic problems more specifically related to the professional approach.

Course contents

The seminar follows a workshop-style editorial format: the entire workflow revolves around a single translation project—an excerpt from a manga that is followed from start to finish through the actual publishing process—on which the students work in small “editorial teams.” Each session adds a new stage to the pipeline (editorial brief, translation of the panel, adaptation, lettering, editorial review), ensuring that every concept is immediately put into practice.

The sessions, led by the teacher and enriched by contributions from industry professionals—a freelance translator, a letterer/adapter, and an editorial editor—cover: the unique nature of the medium and its visual dimension; the main challenges of translation and adaptation; the relationship with the publishing world and the technical and practical aspects of the profession, from drafting a resume and a collaboration proposal to working with the editorial team and the publisher.

A specific theme is dedicated to how artificial intelligence is transforming the publishing industry. Drawing on real, current examples from the manga sector—in particular, the experience of AI-assisted localization and the ensuing debate among professionals, trade associations, and the public—the seminar introduces the tools available today (machine translation systems and language models, post-editing, CAT tools and text analysis tools, automatic proofreading and lettering software) and invites participants to reflect on how these technologies can be integrated with traditional skills, helping to improve the efficiency and quality of editorial work, as well as on the ethical and professional implications of their use.

In-person sessions are supplemented by online activities carried out independently by the editorial teams and supervised by the instructor.

Upon completion of the seminar, the student will:

• understand the specific characteristics of manga as a medium and the publishing chain that governs its publication in Italy;

• be able to address the main challenges of translating and adapting manga: registers and voice, honorifics, onomatopoeia, wordplay, cultural and intertextual references, constraints of panel space, and text-image interaction;

• will be able to submit a translation in editorial format, accompanied by a translator’s note explaining the choices made;

• will be familiar with the technical, practical, and professional aspects of the field: résumés, collaboration proposals, rates and contracts, and relationships with the editorial staff and the publisher;

• can critically evaluate AI-based tools applied to publishing—machine translation and language models, post-editing (MTPE), CAT tools and text analysis tools, quality control, and automatic lettering—and reflect on their integration with traditional skills in terms of efficiency, quality, and ethical and professional implications.

Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in the NipPop Translation Slam, a manga translation contest organized in collaboration with leading companies in the industry.

A basic knowledge of the Japanese language is required to participate in the seminar.

Students who have difficulty attending should contact the teacher before the seminar begins to discuss specific exam procedures.

Readings/Bibliography

The course materials and handouts will be made available online on the Virtual Platform at the start of the course. They will include: introductory materials on the translation of comics and manga; the storyboards and working materials for the project carried out during the seminar; and a selection of case studies and sources on the debate surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in publishing and translation.

Teaching methods

Workshop-style seminars and hands-on sessions led by the teacher and industry professionals, organized into 5 blocks of 4 hours each over 5 weeks. Lecture-based instruction is supplemented by online activities organized through working groups (“editorial teams”) supervised by the instructor. Practical exercises include a direct comparison between manual translation and the revision of drafts produced using AI tools (post-editing). Active participation in classroom activities and working groups is essential for achieving the course objectives.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of several ongoing assessments related to the activities of the working groups and the creation of an individual and editorial portfolio. Completion of the tasks is required to earn 3 CFU credits. The portfolio includes:

• the translation and adaptation of the assigned excerpt, submitted in editorial format;

• a translator’s note explaining the main decisions made (honorifics, onomatopoeia, literal rendering vs. adaptation, handling of cultural references);

• a collaboration proposal and a resume tailored to a specific editorial office.

A peer review phase is planned, in which each editorial team acts as an editor for another team’s work. Participation in the NipPop Translation Slam is an optional supplementary activity.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching tools

Slides, videos, and multimedia resources shared and managed through the Virtual Platform; project worksheets and materials; CAT tools, machine translation tools, and language models used in the exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Scrolavezza