Translating Flashbacks: Should I Use the Same Phrasing or Adjust the Nuance?

[Sam7010]

I’ve been translating my original Japanese novel into English, and I ran into something I hadn’t really thought about before.

When a character recalls something they said earlier—like in a flashback or a moment of reflection—should I translate their line exactly the same as before? Or is it better to rephrase it a little, depending on the tone or context?

In Japanese, repeating the exact same words can feel natural, or even poetic. But in English, I wonder if it might sound awkward or unintentional.

As a native English reader, how do you usually feel when a character repeats something they said earlier?
Does it come across as meaningful, or does it feel off?

Just wrote this post a bit casually—hope that’s okay!

 

[foxoftheasterisk]

I think if it's a direct quote, the "default" would be to reproduce it word for word—and thus, if it's changed, readers would assume there's a reason for it.

On the other hand, you could paraphrase it if it's not contained in quote marks—e.g. "He remembered when his sister told him she was a wizard".

A callback can absolutely be seen as poetic, but just remembering a line said before doesn't read as poetic, but not as being off, either—it just kinda fades into the background, I guess?

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Sam7010]

Thank you so much—arigatou!

That really helped me understand the nuance better.
I want to make sure that my characters’ words carry meaning and responsibility, so your advice is very appreciated!