Lost in Translation: Japanese to English (in Anime) part 1

We fans like to give the localizations of our favorite animes a lot of grief. I'm sure everyone knows that translating any language to English is a challenge. However, Japanese is full of pitfalls that are especially applied to anime and manga. This is the first of two videos explaining the most common difficulties translators and writers face. Enjoy!

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Tags:

• anime
• translation
• lost
• japanese
• english
• one
• 1
• ngamer3k
• mononoke
• translating

[456mon456]

what i think is weird is how sometimes when you watch an anime people will become embarrassed by using a character's first name (like in harems/romances) and theres a scene of them saying that they will talk to each other with their first names (i.e. School Days ep?).

Or if there is simply an age difference they will use their last names when talking. in english that would be considered weird...

maybe you will discuss this in part 2, but i was just pointing that out.

[ngamer3k]

Using someone's first name especially in harems/romances the way I understand it, is a way of saying that there is no formal barrier between the two people. They likely seem embarrassed because they are used to calling them by their surname. It means they're "progressing" in the relationship so to speak. Yes, usually even if you know the person pretty well, if there is an age difference, you always call someone by their surname in that case.

[type7android]

is there a simple way to translate Jap. to Eng.? (Disregaring the rule that japanese is a SOV language and english is a SVO language) is there a roughly correct rule?

[ngamer3k]

There are a few rules that can be followed, like the particle "no" is used to show ownership, but even this is up in the air at times! With all the Engrish you see everywhere, there is not a simple way to do it, there will always be different (and wrong) interpretations.

[ando1135]

damn hes cute!~

[viper8215]

Given the fact that you can't speak Japanese, I'm quite impressed by your insight. Though you made some mistakes with some minor details, for the most part you were right. I understand the difficulties that translators face, as I had to do alot of translation when i got my degree in Japanese. You got all of this from watching Anime? Sounds like you are taking a beginner or intermediate course in Japanese.

[sonicxisforever]

That's true, a lot of the original meaning can you be lost in translation. Like "anta" means "you" but is a rude form of you, so if you hear it in a sentence in Japanese you can tell someone is trying to insult the person(or is being rude)but in English the same *feeling* is lost.

Good job explaining! I enjoyed your video.

[hotwhire]

I hate fan subs, Why do they use MSN writting phrases in the subs? Keyboard emotion or extra swearing? They dont say "fuck" in japan as far as I know.

[1000erey2]

`lol this is really good :D

[eathenicus]

You!!!!!!!!!!

[ChurbaSilvertongue]

The only thing that annoys me is when they both Leave the honorific, AND translate it, because that's just wrong in both languages. Leave it or translate it, don't do both.

[bigpimpin89898989]

its not pronounced koon genious lol k-un

[tokuanimecitvguy]

Fansubs have a problem with rude versions of saying you as well. They always turn it into swear words.

[tokuanimecitvguy]

Sometimes I've seen the english put-downs be less threatening! There was this one episode of Digimon where Rika was supposed to be insulting Takato and what did she call him? A dull-brained goggle head. That was the best they could come up with!

[Fitzner123]

if you base japanese on japanese in anime, then you are so wrong. Japanese in anime is not real japanese in real life