Which one's first?

[alakazam^]

Name-surname or Surname-name?

I've been pretty confused with this subject. I know that Japanese people use the surname-name way but what about when refering to foreigners? I'm confused because I think I've heard both ways. One example being Asuka from Evangelion. They say she is Souryu (sp?) Asuka Langley, but we deduce (sp?) Asuka is her first name, so, is she Asuka Langley Souryu? But that is a German name, so, should they use the name-surname way?

Well, so far, it's not really a Dragon Ball related question, but I needed the small introduction.

What should be the correct way of writing chinese names that appear in Dragon Ball? We all know that "Son" is Goku's last name, but what about Tenshinhan and Tao Pai Pai (among others)? In the Tenkai-ichi Budoukai, the anouncer sometimes refered to Tenshinhan as "Ten" and Chaozu only calls him "Ten-san". As for Tao Pai Pai, his brother calls him "Pai Pai".

So, can anyone answer my question?

[B-kun]

What should be the correct way of writing chinese names that appear in Dragon Ball? We all know that "Son" is Goku's last name, but what about Tenshinhan and Tao Pai Pai (among others)? In the Tenkai-ichi Budoukai, the anouncer sometimes refered to Tenshinhan as "Ten" and Chaozu only calls him "Ten-san". As for Tao Pai Pai, his brother calls him "Pai Pai".

"Ten" seems like a nickname if anything. "Pai Pai" is most likely one too (like how I call my sister Amber "Am").

As for Western names... They seem to go first-surname, going by anime.

[SaiyaJedi]

Japanese people themselves have names in surname-given name order (as do Koreans and Chinese). However, they keep the name-surname relationship of foreigners the same, so thus "Steve Lukather" is "Sutiibu Rukasaa" or something similar.

The problem arises in that even though many characters in anime and manga have English-sounding names, the authors often still put them in Japanese order. The best example I can give at the moment is One Piece, where "Monkey" is Monkey D. Luffy's "last" (family?) name, as are "Tony Tony" for Chopper, "Roronoa" for Zoro, "Nefertari" for Vivi, and "Nico" for Robin. They are left in the same order for the English version, simply to prevent confusion.

I believe some names in the original Gundam series are the same way, although I can't quite remember.

As for the name thing, "Tenshinhan" is always treated as a whole (except by Chiao-tzu), and thus appears to be one name. It's a bit less clear with Tsuru-sen'nin's little brother, but "Tao Baibai" (a one-syllable surname followed by a two-syllable given name) fits the Chinese model, and since his name is pronounced as Chinese, I figure it's best to have the names separate.

[Super Sonic]

Japanese people themselves have names in surname-given name order (as do Koreans and Chinese). However, they keep the name-surname relationship of foreigners the same, so thus "Steve Lukather" is "Sutiibu Rukasaa" or something similar.

Now that I think of it, would Japanese Americans who have a non-Japanese given name be introduced in Japan by the surname first way, or not?

[*PINHEAD*]

I think they would have their surnames first, but I don't know that much about Japan.

And I never knew Monkey was Luffy's last name...
But when I think about it, it does make sense.

[SaiyaJedi]

Now that I think of it, would Japanese Americans who have a non-Japanese given name be introduced in Japan by the surname first way, or not?

I think that partially depends on how the individual refers to him/herself, as well as how integrated they are into Japanese culture and/or language. During the OJ Simpson trial way back when, judge Ito was referred to as "Ransu Itou" (American name order, all in kana). At the same time, a lady I know, who was interned with her parents during World War 2, would have introduced herself in Japanese with surname first (that changed after she got married, though).

So, uh... hope that helps?

[Michi]

One example being Asuka from Evangelion. They say she is Souryu (sp?) Asuka Langley, but we deduce (sp?) Asuka is her first name, so, is she Asuka Langley Souryu? But that is a German name, so, should they use the name-surname way?

Her parents apparently gave her both a German and a Japanese last name... one is the mother's and the other is the father's? I haven't watched Evangelion in years so I can't remember which is which. Either way, Soryu is Asuka's Japanese last name so it goes first. If she didn't have her German heritage, she'd just be Soryu Asuka. But she's also got a German last name.. but since it's German, not Japanese, (excluding characters created and given oddly ordered names ) it wouldn't be said before her name like a Japanese name. So it goes after her first name, like any other Western name. Soryu Asuka Langley. A bit weird, but.. it makes sense. I hope. It's almost 9 am and I haven't slept so excuse me if I'm not so good at explaining anything right now. XD

[Super Sonic]

Now that I think about it, sometimes a fictional Japanese person's name order can be the same, but depending on the company who uses said character, his surname might be used first or second. If what I said doesn't make much sense, for example you know how the Shredder's real name is Oroku Saki. In the old TMNT comics, Oroku was stated as his family name, and Saki as his given name. In the old TMNT cartoon however, Oroku was his given name (as evidenced by his mother and younger brother addressing him as such) and Saki was his family name.