Frequently Asked Questions

		Author		Characters		Music		Links		Musings
		Data		Translations		Gallery		Guestbook		FAQ	e-mail

FAQ

This FAQ is intended to state and clarify the information and policies related to this site. I enjoy reading mail and chatting with people, but there are times when I get a bit stressed out. To save your typing time and my sanity, please check the FAQ first. Then, if you're still unsure, e-mail me or post in the guestbook. Thank you very much for reading.

General policies

1) When is your next update?
2) Could you add more images, music, ... for downloads?
3) Could I submit my artwork, stories, info about Berubara, ... to your site?
4) May I use ... from your site for my site?
5) Let's exchange links!
6) I'd like to correspond with you!

Series and product info

1) Where could I find ... ?
2) Could you buy ... for me?
3) Could you sell ... to me?
4) Do you know ... about Berubara in my country?

Translations and languages

1) Could you translate ... for me?
2) How do you translate things?
3) How many languages do you speak?
4) What is your level of Japanese?

Webmistress

1) Tell me a bit about yourself.
2) How did you first learn about Berubara?
3) Why did you make this site?
4) What does "Araya" mean?

Odds & Ends

1) Tell me about ... allusions to Greek mythology.
2) I'm looking ... for this shoujo/shounen/yaoi/non-Berubara series.

Credits

Disclaimer, sources, and special thanks

* ~~~~~~~~~~~ *

General policies

1) When is your next update?

It really depends on how busy I am when you ask. It used to be every month, but now it's more like how much time I can squeeze in before going to bed. E-mail me if you'd like to be notified of the updates.

2) Could you add more images, music, ... for downloads?

Maybe, depending on time, web space, copyright, and whether I have it already. At this time, I'm not considering more manga images and music files for the above reasons.

3) Could I submit my artwork, stories, info about Berubara, ... to your site?

Yes, by all means. I'd love to learn more about Berubara and see fan-made projects. I do, however, reserve the right to refuse or edit the submissions for grammatical/graphical clarity and offensive content.

4) May I use ... from your site for my site?

General info about series and author:
You are welcome to use the romanization, English translations, and annotations. However, you must cite my name and add a link back to this site. Here are several ways:

     Romaji/English translation/Series info by Amy L.
     Romaji and English translation by Amy L.
     Care of romanization and English translation by Amy L.
     Romaji and English translation courtesy of Amy L.

Obviously, you would need to modify the citation depending on the info you used.

Translations and commentaries of manga, lyrics, and other writings:
No, for English and Chinese. The translations are designed for your personal reading only. You may not quote, post, or distribute any part of the translations on other websites and publications. If you wish to use a translation, just link back to this site instead. The same applies to the commentaries.

The exceptions are co-translation and non-Berubara projects. Please check with me first if you think you have an exception.

Gallery images and music files:
In most cases, no. Each of the graphic and music files has been carefully scanned/encoded and re-touched by yours truly. Please respect my time and effort. If you're dying to use an image or song, please check with me first.

5) Let's exchange links!

Sure, the more Berubara the merrier. Just let me know your site name and address.
Here are two ways to link with me:

a. image and text: Download and save this image to your server. Then copy and modify the code below.

Araya Home

<a href="http://www.araya.i8.com/" alt="Araya: Berubara Land">
<img src="YOUR_SITE/araya.jpg" width="164" height="50" border="0" alt="Araya: Berubara Land"> Araya: Berubara Land</a>

b. text only

<a href="http://www.araya.i8.com/" alt="Araya: Berubara Land">Araya: Berubara Land</a>

6) I'd like to correspond with you!

Uh, I'm flattered that you asked, but I think it'd be better if you first looked into the various Berubara fan clubs and forums. Feel free to post comments in my guestbook, if you just want to chat.

Series and product info

1) Where could I find ... ?

Please see "Where to find Berubara stuff".

2) Could you buy ... for me?

No. Buying and shipping things across continents are rather difficult for me, since I barely have the time and resource to find manga stuff for myself, much less for others. However, I'd be happy to recommend places where you could find things.

3) Could you sell ... to me?

No. Most of the stuff you see on this site are from my personal collection. I only have one copy of each book/CD/video and will not make copies for people. I'd be happy, though, to recommend places where you could find things.

4) Do you know ... about Berubara in my country?

Maybe, depending on your country. E-mail me, and I'll see what I can find. Remember to tell me where you are and which language versions you need.

Translation and languages

1) Could you translate ... for me?

Maybe, depending on several things: time, language, copyright, length. If I have time, I'd be happy to do little pieces in the following: Japanese -> English, Japanese -> Chinese, English <-> Chinese.

A few caveats ... I will not translate manga, lyrics, and other texts, if it already has a complete official translation or various fan translations. Also, I will not release any translation to scanslation sites (i.e., sites offering complete volumes of scanned manga images with text).

2) How do you translate things?

In translating, I try to preserve as much of the original flavor as possible. My philosophy is to present the text as is, keeping most of the cultural and more obscure references.

Still, as with most translations, there are limitations on how much a translation can replicate the original's style. In cases where English lacks an equivalent expression, I've taken the meanings and modified the words into natural sounding English. While some of the rhythm may be lost in the process, I think it's better to convey the word meaning rather than force it into some awkward structure.

3) How many languages do you speak?

I'm fully fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Hokkien Chinese (Minnanhua/Taiwanese). My working languages are Japanese and Spanish -- this means, I can read at an advanced level and communicate in casual conversation and writing. However, I haven't yet acquired a native speaker's intuition in these languages. So, if you write to me in any of the above languages, I'll try to reply in your language. Feel free to correct me if I make boo-boos. ^_^

4) What is your level of Japanese?

Like many manga and anime fans, I learned Japanese through a mix of classroom and informal study. Let's see, informally, it started when I was old enough to watch TV (Doraemon!). My formal study consists of three years of language and Japan-related courses in college. Now I'm in self-study mode.

Webmistress

1) Tell me a bit about yourself.

Please see "Amy's profile": English| Chinese

2) How did you first learn about Berubara?

This may be a surprise to some of you ... I actually didn't pick up Berubara until just a few years ago. Somehow I never heard of it even though it was published around the same time as some of my favorite series. Through random surfing, I stumbled across the title and ordered the entire bunko set on a whim.

Soon I found myself spellbound by the romance and political intrigues, feeling elated when Oscar declared her wish to join the Revolution and sobbing uncontrollably when she died. From then on I became a devoted Berubara and Ikeda Riyoko fan.

3) Why did you make this site?

My main goal is to recommend an excellent series to the English-speaking manga/anime fans. While English fansubs are available, the Rose of Versailles anime is still an obscure series in North America. The manga receives even less attention.

I think it's unfortunate that Ikeda's writing is not recognized for the beauty it is. I'd like to introduce the manga to more people through my translations and writings. And, as you will see, I've provided comparisons between the manga and anime to help people follow the story.

4) What does "Araya" mean?

Please see "Meaning of Araya".

Odds & Ends

1) Tell me about ... allusions to Greek mythology.

Okay, so I do have a page about the mythological allusions used in "The Rose of Versailles." If you're looking for detailed info about Greek mythology, though, I'm not the best person to ask. Use the recommended books and sites under "Sources" (see here). Please do not e-mail me with requests like "Help! I need to find 100 allusions for a school assignment!" I will not do your homework for you.

2) I'm looking ... for this shoujo/shounen/yaoi/non-Berubara series.

I'd love to help, but it really depends on whether I'm familiar with the series. Please be as specific as you can in your e-mail. I can't help you find things unless I know where you are, which language edition you want, and what format/version you need, can't I? Also, if you want suggestions for other series, it'd be helpful to include a brief description of your likes/dislikes and age.

Credits

Please see "Credits".

Got more questions? E-mail me.