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Jocelyne Allen

@brainvsbook.bsky.social

2.2K followers 520 following 3.6K posts

アレン・ジョセリン I write. I ramble. I translate. And interpret. 筆者／翻訳・通訳家／取り留めの無い人 (she/they) brainvsbook.com kaikatsu.ca

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · Jun 19

Since people have asked why I don't start a Substack:
I have one; it's called a blog and it's at brainvsbook.com. Why would I let some company slap its brand all over my writing?? Especially when that company is fascist and transphobic! (Great summary of why Substack sucks in case you're unaware)

Don't call it a Substack. - Anil Dash

A blog about making culture. Since 1999.

www.anildash.com

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Reposted by Jocelyne Allen

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 11h

When my neighbourhood is described in a book, I always end up picturing myself on the edge of the action, living my life. Like the characters are fighting to stay alive in the big boss battle in the park, and I’m in the conbini to one side, buying Chu-Hi and eyeing the shu creams. #AmTranslating

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2h

Hilarious! I didn't know he yells it in the anime

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2h

My Japanese brain knows the "ufun" is a little giggle spelled with the alphabet instead of kana, but my English brain can't help but read it as "U fun" like a Prince lyric, especially combined with Hibari's sidelong glance.

Chapter title page from Hibari-kun. Kohsaku is in close up on the right, looking sideways to the left at HIbari, who is similarly looking at Kohsaku. Their names are in English type above their heads, and the SFX on Kohsaku reads DOKI while the one on Hibari says UFUN. The title at the top of the page is 彼女（！？）はおれのものの巻

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Haitch Kay 🏳️‍🌈 @haitchkay.bsky.social · 8h

There's fucking yaoi art on a train by my house I'm fucking losing my mind, this rules so much

Anime styled graffiti art on a train car depicting a male demon looking seductively at another man while saying "That's a good boy", with the phrase "kiss yr homies goodnight" in the bottom left corner.
Artist seems to be "Akira BPD"

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 6h

I mean, it's pretty likely one of the multi-verse Jocelynes knows Chinese, so I can see where the mix-up might have happened.

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 7h

This is a good way to think about 素直! But still not helpful in translating it *sigh*

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 7h

But I can't read this language! I only know Japanese, so I will have to join the rest of the gang in the alt text.

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 11h

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · Jul 29

Words I Hate Translating Part 89: 素直
I wish this word would be what it means and slip obediently into English for me.

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

If it means Eguchi will cease torturing me, I regret nothing!

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

I would join you in those next lives! Analyzing language is basically translation but without the hard part of making something readable in English

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

Reminded that my sister had a portrait done of her old lady dog, and it is the most amazing dog painting of all time.

A shih tzu with her tongue hanging out and a fairly empty look on her face has her fur on her head pulled up into a little ponytail above her eyes. She has a person's body, shown from about the waist up, dressed in fancy white clothes that look they're made out of silk and satin, strings of pearls draped around her neck and a diamond brooch on her chest near the bottom of the painting. It's all very realistic looking and giving noblewoman gets her portrait painted.

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Deb Aoki @debaoki.bsky.social · 1d

Hit me up if you have any questions about this gig! I’m still a part of CB/KCB but am focusing on other projects for a bit.

This is a great opportunity to take charge and shape the direction of a fast-growing and dynamic part of this Eisner Award-winning comix news site.

Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 1d

THE BEAT AND K-COMICSBEAT ARE HIRING:

We are looking for a new person to fill the job of Managing Editor for KComicsbeat.com and manga/anime editor for The Beat. Knowledge of webtoon, manga and publishing business required. There is some pay as a PT position.

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

I love this!!

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

Previous pet word 直後 still dots these pages, but has clearly fallen out of favour.

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 1d

Fun thing about working on a series/artist for a long time is you notice when the artist suddenly takes a shine to a phrase or word. Current project is using そのつもりで見ると constantly, a phrase the author has never used before this volume. #AmTranslating

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 5d

耳にタコができる is just such a great expression. Getting calluses in your ears because people keep telling you the same annoying thing over and over and over.

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, thank you for this! I didn't know about Hello, Hello! I'll have to hunt it down and read it. I love her style in Twinkle, but I'd be very curious to see her work during this transition period.

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

Yeah, I'm prepared for the horizontal text to show a different language being spoken, but this was same font in a book with only Japanese speakers and no previous horizontal text, so it really threw me for a loop. Artists out here making our jobs harder

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

I love it!

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

In case you were not aware there was a mystery to be solved:

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 3d

My nibling coming to me with the important translation questions.

I have a question!
We saw demon slayer infinity castle and the subtitles were normal and didn’t translate the song at the end.
But some theatres did and it created the unfortunate sentence “from the smelly darkness” …. Is there a word that would likely have been mistaken for smelly??

Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

The mystery of the smelly darkness has been solved!!

Buddy Waters @buddywaters.bsky.social · 2d

It is 匂い立つ闇 but smelly is just a really jarring word to use there. Rank or scented might work better.
Pointing out jarring word choices is a great skill all editors should have!

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, excellent! Thank you for this! Now I can give my nibling a proper answer.

Reposted by Jocelyne Allen

Jon Mitchell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ジョン・ミッチェル @jonmitchell.bsky.social · 2d

Yesterday, my publisher @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social revealed the cover for my new book, "Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence." Feeling super honoured that artist, Yuken Teruya, designed an obi wrap for it. Release date set for February 2026!

www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...

Book cover featuring the text, Jon Mitchell - Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence and Bloomsbury. The off-white cover features a sky blue obi belt which includes a swallow, red hibiscus and two jet fighters.

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Jocelyne Allen @brainvsbook.bsky.social · 2d

Looks great! I can't wait to read it!!