To Be Concern With Accurate Translation?
In my previous question, I asked about writing in both languages. I would first try write in English, and then proceed with Japanese. One of the peers suggested that I write in Japanese first, THEN in English. While most of my notebook entries are bilingual (except the 5th entry), I do notice something writing habit that developed:

1.) When I first write in English, I tend to want to include all English terms when I write in Japanese.
2.) When I first write in Japanese, I can only write simple sentences, and the English equivalent would be simple as well.

Since the Japanese language is rather contextual, should I get out of the habit of trying to write in the same context?

For example:
Does anyone like food? だれかたべものがすきですか？ --- This is me trying to translate
Does anyone like food? 誰か食べ物好きな人はいませんか？---- An example provided by a peer.

Should I be concern with the accuracy of the English equivalent?

Question

To Be Concern With Accurate Translation?
In my previous question, I asked about writing in both languages. I would first try write in English, and then proceed with Japanese. One of the peers suggested that I write in Japanese first, THEN in English. While most of my notebook entries are bilingual (except the 5th entry), I do notice something writing habit that developed:

1.) When I first write in English, I tend to want to include all English terms when I write in Japanese.
2.) When I first write in Japanese, I can only write simple sentences, and the English equivalent would be simple as well.

Since the Japanese language is rather contextual, should I get out of the habit of trying to write in the same context?

For example:
Does anyone like food?  だれかたべものがすきですか？ --- This is me trying to translate
Does anyone like food? 誰か食べ物好きな人はいませんか？---- An example provided by a peer.

Should I be concern with the accuracy of the English equivalent?

Answer

As Jason puts it, you should be concerned with thinking how a Japanese would say things rather than trying to translate everything from English to Japanese.

This isn't the best example, but supposing that you have just learned Japanese, and you want to say, "I want to eat."

So you go to the dictionary and look for what I is, what want to is, and then what eating is.

So now, you're trying to structure a sentence that involves 私、欲しい & 食べる。That can be much more difficult for a beginner, but it is senseless when the answer to that can be resolved with something as simple as  食べたい(です)。

The point is, even if you can form a more complex sentence, it may not be what the Japanese choose to use in their language so it doesn't help you in terms of communicating "naturally like a native". But what's your goal in the first place?

Answer

You should be concerned with replicating the intent of the original idea, thought, or emotion in natural language so as not to confuse, irritate, or cause the reader/listener to stumble with understanding.

With Japanese, 'unnecessary' subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, and even verbs will go a long way to making your Japanese natural.

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