Is not translating some words a good translation decision?

[ParaParaJMo]

Well, I have seen some fansubs out there that have not bothered translating "boku" and/or "ore," male uses of me and/or I. I remember a Deathnote fansub some time back in the day that kept it as "keikaku doori," or according to plan. That I honestly don't get.

I remember in my old judo classes back when I lived in America, we did use most of the Japanese terms of the techniques also used Korean terminology in my old Tae Kwon Do classes. We still refereed to our instructor as "sensei" and whenever we had sparring, the referee would yell "hajime" to start. I believe this was used in some old Power Ranger episodes. Then I take up MMA and in context to Brazilian Jiujitsu techniques, we use the terminology of a Jiujitsu Pioneer, Eddie Bravo (look him up on youtube. Bad ass techniques with strange terms) in addition to generic Portugese terms such as "omoplata" for a shoulder lock. In judo, I learned a specific arm lock as "ude garami," then in Brazilian Jiujitsu, I learned the same technique AGAIN but another name, the Kimura Arm Lock, named after 1950s wrestler and judoka, Kimura Masahiko who used it on Helio Gracie.

I know depending on some gyms, some Muay Thai gyms outside of Thailand will use Thai terms when it could in the end be more convenient to use an English equivalent word. I know there needs to be kept some sort of exoticness, but I would prefer convenience and easy understanding to put into context.

I know in tokusatsu and anime, there is a dynamic to language which would sound really awkward in English or some other language.

 

[KingRanger]

I know in tokusatsu and anime, there is a dynamic to language which would sound really awkward in English or some other language.

I have to disagree with this. It is the job of the translator to make it work in the target language. The only reason it would sound awkward, is if you had a translator that didn't know their stuff.

 

[Kamen Rider ShinkenRed]

I personally do prefer for things like technique names and announcements from the weapons and belts and stuff to be kept as they are. But that's just me.

 

[Hentailover]

Depends on number of things:

1) How important it is to the story
2) What is the target audience is for the translation. You won't see "Onii-chan" in a book, but it's all over the place in translations of anime and stuff.
3) how iconic it is. Translating something like Rasengan, Chidori or Sharingan for example is blasphemy. Same with henshin.

Now I personally don't care. As long as I can understand and at this point I can understand reasonable amount without any translation, I'm fine with the translation.

 

[Painted_Outlaw]

You won't see "Onii-chan" in a book, but it's all over the place in translations of anime and stuff.

I know I said I did in my last post but, this reminded me of something. For whatever reason, there's a page in Viz's volume 2 of Bokurano where Daiichi Yamura's three siblings are welcoming him back home and the page is nothing but, "Nii-chan!", "Nii-chan!" with no TL note, if memory serves.

Considering the paint edits later in the volume, I consider it the lesser of the two evils but, it's there.

We still refereed to our instructor as "sensei"

I do that in my karate class.

*leaves out the back door*

 

[NateRiver]

....

What a kawaii thread.

 

[Keith Justice]

I haaaaaaaaaaate when words are left untranslated.

 

[ParaParaJMo]

I have to disagree with this. It is the job of the translator to make it work in the target language. The only reason it would sound awkward, is if you had a translator that didn't know their stuff.

well, i have seen it work.

but sometimes, its not just linguistical understanding, but cultural understanding as well. i translate a dave chappelle skit to my japanese coworkers, but they cant understand why it is supposed to be funny because of cultural differences and all that.

in tokusatsu and in sentai, they say "ou" as a means of "ok" or "lets do it" while clenching a fist as a means of unity. then in power rangers, it became the iconic "right." it was a literal translation, but looking back, it was just very awkward since nobody really does that in america that i know of.

 

[Gokaichanger]

No, depending on the context and the way Japanese people speak, it's not something that should be done. Keeping some of the sentience in Japanese and the other part in English will only lead to sloppy translating.

 

[knightphoenix2]

In Answer To The Thread Question: No

As a fairly new fan of tokusatsu, I'd prefer that everything be translated, with notes if needbe. Things like attack names can go untranslated in dialogue, but there still should be a translation available as well.