{"id":1474,"date":"2023-04-14T15:22:23","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T06:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsletter.nichibun.ac.jp\/?post_type=messages&p=1474"},"modified":"2023-08-22T14:04:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T05:04:02","slug":"dobutsu-aigo-a-problem-of-translation","status":"publish","type":"messages","link":"https:\/\/newsletter.nichibun.ac.jp\/en\/messages\/1474\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cD\u014dbutsu aigo\u201d: A Problem of Translation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello everyone, my name is Ken\u2019ichi Shunt\u014d. I research the modern and contemporary histories of social movements and legal and bureaucratic systems as these relate to care for animals. I spend my days thinking about what it means to care for animals and how the connections between humans and animals have changed over time. As a result, I often find myself reflecting on the meaning of d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

The Japanese expression d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em> is not a translation; rather, it appears to have first appeared in Japan in 1906. There are straightforward Japanese translations for expressions like \u201cprevention of cruelty to animals,\u201d \u201chumane treatment of animals,\u201d \u201cprotection of animals,\u201d \u201canimal welfare,\u201d \u201canimal rights,\u201d and \u201canimal liberation.\u201d But these are all expressions that convey, a way of thinking that is different from that implied by d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>. This is shown by the fact that none of these translated expressions incorporate the term d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

Consequently, the translation of d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em> continues to cause me grief.<\/p>\r\n

In Japan, there is a law known as \u201cD\u014dbutsu aigo kanri h\u014d,\u201d for which the Justice Department\u2019s official translation is \u201cAct on Welfare and Management of Animals.\u201d The legal principle ends up as \u201canimal welfare,\u201d which is distinct from d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>. It is, therefore, hardly a suitable translation.<\/p>\r\n

When I write articles or give presentations, I sometimes have to translate d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em> into English, and it always gives me trouble. A collection of essays was published in March 2023 as part of Inaga Shigemi\u2019s research project \u201cAvidya on a Spider\u2019s Web\u201d<\/a><\/span>. I wrote an essay for the collection entitled \u300c\u8718\u86db\u306f\u52d5\u7269\u611b\u8b77\u306e\u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u306a\u308a\u5f97\u308b\u304b\u300d, or \u201cKumo wa d\u014dbutsu aigo no taish\u014d to nariuru ka?\u201d The essay is in Japanese, but I was stuck when asked to provide an English version of the title. The essay is about the distinctive features of d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>, and its connection to spiders. The problem was that I could only make sense of my case by using the Japanese d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

The Japanese expression d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em> implies a profound respect for the life of animals. It involves thinking of animals as living beings, and reflecting that in our treatment of animals. In short, it involves respecting the dignity of animal life. I translated the Japanese title of my essay into English as \u201cShould We Respect The Spider's Life?\u201d In other words, I went back to the special features behind d\u014dbutsu aigo<\/em>, and changed the meaning of my original Japanese title accordingly. I thought this was a better way to ensure I got my point across than by translating aigo<\/em> as \u201cprotection\u201d or \u201cwelfare\u201d, for which Japanese terms\u2014hogo<\/em> and fukushi<\/em> respectively\u2014already exist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

On this occasion the translation may have succeeded, but it is clear to me that I shall scream in frustration on the next occasion. When I am completely stuck, I use \u201cAigo<\/em> Culture,\u201d in order to show it involves something other than \u201canimal welfare.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

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