I’m guessing it’s kinda rude to do it . Translators put a lot of work into translating a chapter and it usually takes a long time since it’s honestly really hard to do . Redrawing is the hardest part and usually takes 5 hours or more. Now let’s say you took days to finish a translating a chapter and someone who uploads faster but has lower quality than you starts working on the same series. Us readers don’t really care too much since we just want to be able to read it but If I was translating something I would kinda feel disrespected if someone did that . It’s like putting a lot of effort into something but someone else does the same thing but faster with lower quality and they get more praise than you just because they do things faster.
I actually hate the lower quality translations because they get so difficult to read so I can't fully understand why people prefer them even if they are faster. But regardless, thank you for your explanation as that does make some sense even if I still don't fully understand. You if you upload a higher quality work it would still end up being read over the lower quality stuff but I digress. You say it's rude so I'll treat it like another culture I don't understand and respect that it's rude.
Ex-scanlation member here! Indeed, scan groups and solo translators arent paid to do translations however it is moreso an etiquette thing and also quality vs quantity.
On etiquette: translation teams generally have a work flow for various parts of the scanlation to produce a great translation for all to enjoy and it takes a lot of time and effort on everyone’s parts. With established and highly experienced scan teams, the works produced and shown here are often on par with official translations. Also, if scan teams were to give this project to solo translators, previously used foot notes on names and terms can be preserved. It’s also about respecting who got there first and doing compromises whenever needed. At the end of the day, we all want to read the next chapter and are thankful for the efforts of the scanlation team/individual.
This then connects to quality and quantity: I know we’re all eager to read a story that clicks with us but we have to remember that as unofficial translations, it is illegal and often, we allow ourselves to enjoy low quality scans just to get to the next chapter?? I totally am not shaming such behavior, I do that too! However, if were going to translate it, we may as well get a good quality out of it, right? Additionally, for instance, on the first chapter, the translator used ‘Rin’ as a short term for Irene’s name but on later chapters it fluctuates from ‘Rene’, and other names without a smooth flow on what really to use; maybe for most they don’t mind it but for me, personally, little details like this really throw me off. On the middle chapters alone, the grammar was terrible and some cleaning mistakes were very visible. Simple mistakes such as these can be lessened when there is proper communication and agreement on the scanlators’ involved and to those individuals who are eyeing to do it themselves.
Sorry this got really long!
No, thank you for your insight and explanation.
Can someone explain to me translation group rivalries or etiquette or whatever it is that made the translator put that note at the end of ch 10? Why does it matter if two unpaid unofficial groups translate the same thing for fun? I'd understand if revenue or some other competitive incentive was involved but...