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Viz anime stream site is now live
- Thread starter Xshadow
- Start date
Hooker Stabber
New member
Ah, I nearly forgot the abbreviation for Prince of Tennis. Surprised Master Moron hasn't commented on the PoT situation...
Good times, good times.
Good times, good times.
The Japanese DVD boxes and merchandise actually use the term "Soul Reaper" as well. Death Note and Bleach are very different series as well, along with their interpretations of "Shinigami."
Though you're right in that they can indicate differences in character relationships, you can do that in English as well. And the fact of the matter is, not all of the English-speaking public understanRAB these Japanese nuances (nor do they bother). Would you argue to keep honorifics in dubs as well? It just comes across as silly and there's other ways to keep the relationships the same and not have a "-san" or "-dono" in there.
Though you're right in that they can indicate differences in character relationships, you can do that in English as well. And the fact of the matter is, not all of the English-speaking public understanRAB these Japanese nuances (nor do they bother). Would you argue to keep honorifics in dubs as well? It just comes across as silly and there's other ways to keep the relationships the same and not have a "-san" or "-dono" in there.
The use of 'Soul Reaper' in Japanese is a neat little note, but 'Shinigami' is a pronoun for the race in question, rooted in Japanese mythology. Unless 'Soul Reaper' existed pre-Viz, I see no reason to have bothered.
Retaining honorfics in dubs? Not so much, but these are subtitles that supposedly those 'not in the know' won't even bother with. It's not like I'm asking Random Dog A be called an 'inu' just because that is why the actor is calling it in the original Japanese.
Retaining honorfics in dubs? Not so much, but these are subtitles that supposedly those 'not in the know' won't even bother with. It's not like I'm asking Random Dog A be called an 'inu' just because that is why the actor is calling it in the original Japanese.
junglelion46
New member
Speaking as someone who has done translations with no honorifics to ones where I don't even translate "onee-san" my general philosophy is this:
Judge the audience that will be viewing the subs and translate in a way that minimizes audio-visual dissonance.
I.e. If the majority of watchers are used to honorifics in subs, and they hear an honorific they are familiar with but don't see it in the subtitles, that can distract them. (An opinion already voiced in this thread above).
Some honorifics have quite direct translations and should almost always be translated (like, say "-hime"), but others like -san and -chan (when used normally) the correct "translation" is often simply omission. This can cause significant audio-visual dissonance depending on your audience.
For example, in my translations of shugo chara who is watched by fangirls that like to squeal "kawaii!" around their house, I pretty much keep all honorifics intact, but for Tegami Bachi I avoid honorifics in most circumstances as they are rarely used in the Japanese way.
My opinion on dubs is that with no chance of audio-visual dissonance honorifics should be omitted in almost all cases. The only exception I would make would be for a show that took place in a historically accurate period Japan setting (like heian or edo period, say) where adding honorics to the english dub would help lend it the appropriate Japanese flavor...
Judge the audience that will be viewing the subs and translate in a way that minimizes audio-visual dissonance.
I.e. If the majority of watchers are used to honorifics in subs, and they hear an honorific they are familiar with but don't see it in the subtitles, that can distract them. (An opinion already voiced in this thread above).
Some honorifics have quite direct translations and should almost always be translated (like, say "-hime"), but others like -san and -chan (when used normally) the correct "translation" is often simply omission. This can cause significant audio-visual dissonance depending on your audience.
For example, in my translations of shugo chara who is watched by fangirls that like to squeal "kawaii!" around their house, I pretty much keep all honorifics intact, but for Tegami Bachi I avoid honorifics in most circumstances as they are rarely used in the Japanese way.
My opinion on dubs is that with no chance of audio-visual dissonance honorifics should be omitted in almost all cases. The only exception I would make would be for a show that took place in a historically accurate period Japan setting (like heian or edo period, say) where adding honorics to the english dub would help lend it the appropriate Japanese flavor...
I will give them time to improve, I'm not a big fan of the shows only being subbed but I understand why. Viz wants people to but the dubs. That's why the Naruto Dub episodes they stream on sites are limited time only. Still it's disapointing.
Anyway I hope they put up all the dubbed episodes of Zatcrabroadell sooner or later seeing how some of those episodes never legally aired in America.
Anyway I hope they put up all the dubbed episodes of Zatcrabroadell sooner or later seeing how some of those episodes never legally aired in America.