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Translation of 答えを知っている人はいませんでした

Who is performing the actions in this sentence?MySpyPhone TranslationNature TranslationTranslation-Question:The difference between my translation and native Japanese`s translationIs my translation correct?Translation doubtsSentence translation helpColloquial Japanese TranslationHomework translation

2

I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:

[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。

Which is translated as:

[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.

This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.

Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?

translation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.
  
  – Aeon Akechi
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.
  
  – Felipe Oliveira
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:

[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。

Which is translated as:

[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.

This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.

Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?

translation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  'Surprisingly, there was no one who knew the answer', is more or less what it is literally.
  
  – Aeon Akechi
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  while I agree that when teaching a language, if you adapt the translation for the target language, you should be clear you're doing so, to avoid confusion. "There was not a (single) person who knew the answer" (Literal) and "No one knew the answer" is pretty much the same.
  
  – Felipe Oliveira
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I started studying studying Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide by Naomi McGloin et al. In section 1.2 there's following example:

[おどろいたことに、] 答えを知っている人はいませんでした。

Which is translated as:

[Surprisingly,] no one knew the answer.

This translation sounds a bit off to me. I'd say that the sentence roughly translates to "[Surprisingly,] person who know the answer is absent", which isn't equivalent to provided translation. I guess it'd be more adequate if the original sentence was something like "[おどろいたことに、] 誰も答えを知らない". I think that difference between "no one knew" and "person who know was not here" is quite stark. Second one implies presence of someone who know while first one does not.

Is this an error in the book or do I understand it incorrectly?

translation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

asked 4 hours ago

PrestoPresto

182

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

3

"To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:

1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent


2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist

You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.

• 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.


• ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.

Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

add a comment | 

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3

"To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:

1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent


2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist

You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.

• 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.


• ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.

Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

add a comment | 

3

"To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:

1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent


2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist

You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.

• 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.


• ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.

Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

add a comment | 

"To be absent" is not the only translation of いない. Xはいない can mean both of the following:

1. X is (temporarily) not here; X is away; X is absent


2. There is no X (anywhere); X does not exist

You have to determine the correct interpretation from the context. Usually it's fairly easy.

• 宇宙人はいない。 Extraterrestrial intelligence does not exist.


• ネッシーはいない。 There is no Nessie.

Regarding 答えを知っている人はいませんでした, it's indeed ambiguous, at least technically speaking. If 答えを知っている人 has been already introduced in the universe of discourse and a listener/reader understands who is that person in this context, then your interpretation may be possible. Otherwise, "There was no one who knew the answer" is the natural interpretation of this sentence.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299

answered 1 hour ago

narutonaruto

160k8153299