Forum - View topicCrunchyroll to drop honorifics?
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Melanchthon
 Posts: 550 Location: Northwest from Here |
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I just watched a football game where everyone was referred to by their last names exclusively, and I wasn't confused. I have often been referred to by my last name at school or work or with friends, and thought it normal. Heck, at work we always call our the higher level management by their last name, even if we know their first name. There is nothing in Western culture that demands that all characters be referred to using only first names. There is never any reason for first/last name swapping in anime subs, especially since you hear what they are really saying anyway. Honorifics are bit different, though. I've thought of it this way: if the show is in a Western or culture neutral setting (i.e. western fantasy, space, America) drop the honorifics, and if the setting is in Japan, keep the honorifics. In the first case, we can view the honorifics as a Japanesization (is that even a word?) of the original setting and not pertinent to the show. However, in the second case, the honorifics are part of the setting, and so they need to remain in, preferably in the original Japanese. Or you always include translator's notes at the end, like they do in manga. |
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ailblentyn
 Posts: 1688 Location: body in Ohio, heart in Sydney |
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I've just been watching Outlaw Star, and struck by how bio-android Melfina gets told to stay home and practise her cooking. I mean, it's science fiction, but the gender roles for example certainly aren't set in outer space! |
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RHachicho
 Posts: 897 Location: Essex, UK |
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Personally I am in the keep em camp. I mean I can hear the honorifics anyway wether they appear on the subtitles or not. Most of the early subs I watched dropped honorifics and I always used to be confused on why they where calling each other -san and -kun and whatnot. However I had almost worked it out by the time I was actually told about the japanese language and how they treat honorics. Honestly now it bugs me when I hear an honorific used now and it dousn't appear in the subtitles. It somehow seems as though the subtitle is lying to me. Leaving out the emotional inflection and subtle nuances that honrific used in that situation would lend to the drama. It's not a matter of needless formality or no or liking them I prefer to hear what was said the way people talk effects their minds. You would be surprised how much more of someones thaught process you understand when you think in their language. I find that more directly translated subtitles help me do that so I like em more.
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wanderlustking
 Posts: 449 Location: Bozeman, Montana |
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I think it's worth noting that there are certain English speaking cultures that do in fact use systems very similar to honorifics and last names. My Marine Corps is one of them. You refer to someone by their last name, but if they are an NCO or officer you refer to them by rank as well; familiarity becomes a big issue when you start using peoples first names.
I have a buddy I went to boot camp with, and I didn't even know his first name until we went to Iraq together. When we're by ourselves I can call him Tobi, but if there are any junior Marines or brass around I have to call him Staff Sergeant Cheezum. Its a very strict system, with little room for interpretation. Perhaps because I grew up around this, I always found the Japanese use of honorifics interesting. I don't use CR much, but I hope they at least choose to keep them when its important. |
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