Report 1 Translation Errors
Notice
This was translated by my then lawyer. Overall, I feel the translations were of a very good standard. There were some minor errors which have been highlighted here.
Original English
“Vitreous opacities - Developed what appears to be a smear on the lens of eyes”
Original Japanese Translation
“水晶体の濁り－１０月より，目のレンズのシミのように見えるものが深化”
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Vitreous opacities – Deepening of what appears to be a smear on the lens of eyes”
New Translation
水晶体の濁り－１０月より，目の水晶体の染みのように見えるものが発現
Explanation
This translation uses the word “deepening” suggesting that it may have been pre-existing which it wasn’t.
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Original English
“Developed habit of always closing eyes”
Original Japanese Translation
“目を開けない癖の深化”
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Deepening of habit of closing eyes”
New Translation
目を開けない癖の発現
Explanation
This translation uses the word “deepening” suggesting that it may have been pre-existing which it wasn’t.
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Original English
“Loss in appetite / Anorexia”
Original Japanese Translation
“食欲減退と不安感”
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Loss in appetite / Anxiety”
New Translation
食欲減退／食欲不振
Explanation
Clearly a case of mistaking the words “Anorexia” and “Anxiety” which was possibly done at a glance without realizing what word was being stated.
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Original English
“Tolerance can be formed in as little as 4 weeks on higher doses of Benzodiazepines”
Original Japanese Translation
耐性は，ベンゾジアゼピンの大量投与により最短４週間で形成され得る
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Tolerance can be formed in 4 weeks at the earliest”
New Translation
耐性は，ベンゾジアゼピンの大量投与により僅か４週間だけでも形成され得る
Explanation
The original English uses “as little as” as an example and doesn’t rule out the possibility of tolerance forming in less than 4 weeks.
However, the translation uses the superlative “earliest” which is definitive and therefore suggests that tolerance would not be seen in less than 4 week in any case.
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Original English
“This is evident in his personal statement where he describes withdrawal”
Original Japanese Translation
このことは，同人が離脱を記述している陳述書
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“This is evident in his personal statement where he describes withdrawal (as in drug withdrawal)”
New Translation
このことは，同人が引きこもりを述べている陳述書
Explanation
Within context of the passage (making reference to neglecting alternative pleasures in life) it would appear the meaning of the word “withdrawal” in this case indicates “social withdrawal” whereas the Chinese characters used in the translation appears to suggest “drug withdrawal”.
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Original English
“I reviewed Wayne on 3oth April 2001 and at that stage he had reduced his Clonazepam to one half of a 0.5mg tablet taken in the morning.”
Original Japanese Translation
“当職は，２００１年（平成１３年）４月３０日，ウェインを再診した。その際，同人にクロナゼパムを，朝のみ，錠剤0.5mgの半分を服用させるように減らした。”
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“I reviewed Wayne on 30th April 2001. At that stage I reduced his Clonazepam to one half of a 0.5mg tablet taken in the morning.”
New Translation
当職は，２００１年（平成１３年）４月３０日，ウェインを再診した。その段階では，同人は自ら服用量をクロナゼパム，朝のみ，錠剤0.5mgの半分まで減量していた。
Explanation
The original English indicates that the patient initiated the reduction, whereas, the translation indicates that the doctor did.
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Original English
“Tingling sensation over his face”
Original Japanese Translation
顔面の疼痛感
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Pain sensation over his face”
New Translation
顔面のピリピリ感
Explanation
The original English indicates “tingling”, whereas, the translation indicates “pain”.
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Original English
“Wayne made excellent progress in his withdrawal from Benzodiazepines”
Original Japanese Translation
ウェインは，ベンゾジアゼピンからの離脱（退薬）において，急速な回復を示した。
Meaning of Original Japanese Translation
“Wayne showed (made) a speedy recovery in his withdrawal from Benzodiazepines”
New Translation
ウェインは，ベンゾジアゼピンからの離脱（退薬）において，着実な回復を示した。
Explanation
The English original indicates that the withdrawal process went well, whereas, the translation indicates that the recovery was quick time-wise which it was not.
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THE WRITING IS
ON THE WALL
for benzodiazepine use
Dr Andrew Byrne
Redfern NSW Australia
Benzodiazepine Dependence, 1997
“If any drug over time is going to just rob you of your identity [leading to] long, long term disaster, it has to be benzodiazepines.”
Dr John Marsden,
Institute of Psychiatry, London
November 1, 2007