Names & Phrases: Translate or Not?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Seems to me you just don't like the word "Mirai".

Honestly, that's pretty much what I'm like. It just annoys me for some reason. But it's specifically that word, as "daimao" and such doesn't bother me nearly as much. I suppose it's because that's an actual title, and it's part of the character and the series. Future/mirai Trunks is just how fans identify which Trunks is which, and I can't understand why it ever went untranslated.

Exactly, why do people leave mirai untranslated? It has a direct translation and it's not like it is his name or title. It's just used to indentify that he is from the Future not the Mirai.

[Thanos6]

Well, there's no evidence to suggest that "Briefs" (or rather, Brief) is a part of his name at all, for reference's sake.

Confession time; I started writing my fics and calling them the Briefs family, Bulma Briefs, Trunks Briefs, Mirai Briefs, etc. during the brief period after I started realizing how bad the dub screwed things up but before realizing that applying the Doc's name to the whole family was a dub invention.

By the time I realized it, I'd grown to attached to the idea to really let go of it, so I keep using it. Anyway, it makes things handy, being able to refer to "the Son and Briefs families."

Exactly, why do people leave mirai untranslated? It has a direct translation and it's not like it is his name or title

And again, speaking just for me, from an English-speaking fan's point of view, Mirai works better AS A NAME than "Future" does.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

And again, speaking just for me, from an English-speaking fan's point of view, Mirai works better AS A NAME than "Future" does.

But it's not his name, it's just used to distinguish one version of Trunks from another.

[JulieYBM]

How about "Kaiô-sama"? Do you drop or translate the honorific, and then how do you deal with it basically being a double-"king" between the "ô" and the "-sama"?

If I might borrow a card from the Naruto dub '-sama' is typically translated to 'Lord', i.e. 'Orochimaru-sama' becomes 'Lord Orochimaru'. Now, I see no point in trying to render 'Kaiô' as an English equivalent. It's like translating 'shogun' or 'ninja' (I'm sure there's a proper term for this sort of situation). 'Kami-sama' is a bit more tricky, espicially in-series, but fans have been using 'Kami-sama' as written in the English subtitles on the DVDs and the Viz Media release for years so I see no reason to bother at this point.

I also see little reason to translate attack names in Dragon Ball, too. 'Kienzan' is the same number of [pronounced] syllabals as 'Hadôken' and we don't see that translated.

[penguintruth]

I think that, as long as you aren't using REALLY incorrect names for characters like Krillin, Tien, or Hercule, or vastly different attack names like Destructo Disc, some amount of flexibility should be allowed. At least be consistent with Freeza and Coola, not mixing and matching like Funimation does.

"Mirai no Trunks" is a bit much from the other side, though. Being part of the fandom for so long, it doesn't bother me, but I can see where it would bother others.

[Innagadadavida]

I have a real fucked up and all-over-the-place naming convention. I mostly stick to what's easiest for me to say as an American English speaker and/or what I heard first. As far as spelling, I stick to the obvious.

I'm fine with honorifics and not-easily-translated Japanese titles and honorifics in subtitles. But as far as a spoken translation goes I don't want to hear Japanese honorifics or names like "Mirai no Trunks." I also don't like hearing dubs where a character says he or she is speaking Japanese. These instances bring me out of the show when they occur, at that point, I usually switch to the Japanese audio with subtitles.

[Kiyza]

With "Mirai Trunks", I'm fine with either or. It doesn't make too much of a difference since it does mean future. I'm like that with most things. I have a habit of alternating between Saiyan (and even between the two different pronunciations at times) and Saiy-jin, which can get a little annoying to friends who like the dub.

One of the things about this that does bug me is using Kami-Sama and completely ignoring the fact that it literally means god like the dub does. I have no problem with someone using Kami-Sama as a name, but when I see him reffered to as something like the "Guardian of Earth," it really bugs me.

[Xyex]

Correct me if I'm wrong but his name isn't Mirai Trunks Briefs. Mirai is just describing that he is from the future and can be translated unlike Yamucha which is his actual name.

In the official material, yes. But in the matter at questions, its usage in mine and Thanos' fics as a name for Future Trunks in fics with Kid Trunks also around, it is as a name, not a descriptor.

And again, speaking just for me, from an English-speaking fan's point of view, Mirai works better AS A NAME than "Future" does.

Exactly.

But it's not his name, it's just used to distinguish one version of Trunks from another.

In the official material and the series, you're right. And in those contexts I do refer to him as Future Trunks. Even in fics where he's not running around with the cast after Kid Trunks comes along he's refered to as Future Trunks whenever mentioned. But in these instances Mirai is being used as a name.

[Innagadadavida]

One of the things about this that does bug me is using Kami-Sama and completely ignoring the fact that it literally means god like the dub does. I have no problem with someone using Kami-Sama as a name, but when I see him reffered to as something like the "Guardian of Earth," it really bugs me.

Well it's obvious the reason for that specific change was an attempt to tone down religious references in favor of a more secular and John Smith-palatable show. The intent also obviously favors business over artistic merit which is a move that I don't favor in any form of media. But is "guardian of Earth" really that out-of-place? Not in defense of the dub or anything, but Kami doesn't exactly do very many godly things. He really just- kind of... watches. He even offered the position to Goku, who is the last guy I'd want to be God. And the whole "God of Earth" thing is an original concept by Toriyama, correct? It's not quite the same as the omittance of references to "heaven," "hell," or "ki." At least in my opinion.

[Rocketman]

In the official material, yes. But in the matter at questions, its usage in mine and Thanos' fics as a name for Future Trunks in fics with Kid Trunks also around, it is as a name, not a descriptor.

But you're only using it as his name because it was his descriptor, which is no better.

[DNA]

Why not just call them "Gay Trunks" and "Awesome Trunks"?

Because there happen to exist people who are both gay and awesome... so it'd be too confusing.

Inappropriate, uncalled for, and fully ban-able. Next offense = consider it done.

Ouch ;\ I didn't really mean it that way... Is is too late to go back and change to "Lame Trunks"/"Awesome Trunks"?

I'm sorry if I offended someone, I didn't really meant it as a insult, I just think that the Trunks from the future is pretty awesome and that the Trunks from the present acts a bit like a homosexual later in his life. I'm in no way implying that an homosexual person can't be awesome, I'm just saying that in present Trunks's case, I don't find him awesome at all. I wouldn't be surprised or shocked if later on Toryama would reveal him as a full fledged homosexual, it would make sense at least for me and I would embrace it as canon. In the other hand, future Trunks seems to not even have time to think about things like love, he's too busy kicking asses, although I still think he is really thick.

Somehow I think someone will distort my words to make them look bad and I'm gonna end up banned...

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

My main problem with Mirai Trunks or Mirai no Trunks is the mixing of japanese and english. It's either Future Trunks or Mirai no Torankusu not a mixture of both. It's kind of like why people say Kami-sama instead of God because it sounds awkward like Future Trunks. I guess Kami-sama and Mirai Trunks sound better and less awkward than their english counterparts, which is why people say them.

[jda95]

My main problem with Mirai Trunks or Mirai no Trunks is the mixing of japanese and english. It's either Future Trunks or Mirai no Torankusu not a mixture of both. It's kind of like why people say Kami-sama instead of God because it sounds awkward like Future Trunks. I guess Kami-sama and Mirai Trunks sound better and less awkward than their english counterparts, which is why people say them.

But that's what the Japanese do. So many words of theirs are borrowed from English, German, Portuguese, etc.

Don't you say Makafushigi Adventure instead of Makafushigi Adobenchaa? Or Sabitsuita Machine Gun de Ima o Uchinukou as opposed to "mashin gan"? It communicates the meaning. In the context of Mirai VS Future, either could be acceptable, but "language mixture" isn't inappropriate.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

My main problem with Mirai Trunks or Mirai no Trunks is the mixing of japanese and english. It's either Future Trunks or Mirai no Torankusu not a mixture of both. It's kind of like why people say Kami-sama instead of God because it sounds awkward like Future Trunks. I guess Kami-sama and Mirai Trunks sound better and less awkward than their english counterparts, which is why people say them.

But that's what the Japanese do. So many words of theirs are borrowed from English, German, Portuguese, etc.

Don't you say Makafushigi Adventure instead of Makafushigi Adobenchaa? Or Sabitsuita Machine Gun de Ima o Uchinukou as opposed to "mashin gan"? It communicates the meaning. In the context of Mirai VS Future, either could be acceptable, but "language mixture" isn't inappropriate.

To me language mixture feels wrong. I would say either Mystical Adventure or Makafushigi Adobenchaa not a mixture of both.

If your going to translate half of the word you might as well translate all of it or not translate it all.

[B]

It's tricky. I like to translate everything that's not an attack, because they end up sounding far too long to say to be practical in battle.

[Xyex]

But you're only using it as his name because it was his descriptor, which is no better.

In a sense, sure. The fact it has been used as a descriptor made it an obvious choice as a 'replacement name' for use in fics to avoid confusion. But even had he never been called "Mirai no Trunks" I'd still have likely chosen it because it's an effective pun to use.

And it's not like characters in stories haven't for years taken 'assumed names' that have some sort of relation to their origins.

[Piccolo Daimao]

With my naming scheme, I tend to use the Viz names (Son Goku, Tenshinhan, Yamcha etc). There is no right or wrong way to say a character's name. You can't make someone say "Future Trunks" instead of "Mirai Trunks" if they don't want to. Yeah, it may annoy some people, but that's just how it is.

I seem to remember one member on here who referred to Goku as "Kakarrot", and people started having a go at him because Son Goku is commonly referred to and generally known as "Goku", not "Kakarrot". Frankly, I don't see the reason for calling him "Kakarrot" either, but if that's the name he wishes to use, let him use it. Stop compaining just because you don't like something and grow up. It's just like bashing someone for their opinion, no matter how wrong it may be to you. People have different opinions, as do people have different naming schemes.

[Rory]

I'd like to personally apologize for helping this discussion rocket completely off topic in the first place (ironically, this may now also be somewhat off topic).

[DemonRin]

I tend to think Names should be left, as should Attack names, but only in series' Like DB because it's got a clearly Asian setting, but nothing else. It adds to the flavor of an Asian-stlye Martial Arts Epic to have people shout out "Kamehameha!" and "Genki Dama!"

And One Piece has made me appreciative of the fact that "Kami" should be "God". Viz pulled the same stunt on the Skypiea arc of One Piece. "God Enel" became "Kami Eneru", (despite the fact that he calls himself "Goddo Eneru" in Japanese) and the point was ENTIRELY Lost. The fact that the guy was so delusional that he thought he actually WAS God was lost on the reader.

It also irks me to see "Chibi-Trunks" "Mirai Trunks" too. It's "Little Trunks" and "Future Trunks". Just like "Buu" irks me, it should be "Majin Boo", but this stuff is so deeply ingrained in the DB Fandom, that trying to actually fight it and keep people from doing it it futile, and just comes off to others as annoying.

One thing that ESPECIALLY irritates me though, is when people use Japanese terminology on A Series and characters that are not even supposed to be Japanese. Like the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure fans who insist on leaving "The Ripple" untranslated as "Hamon" despite the fact that the Two parts of the series that deal with the "Ripple" take place in the UK and America, with Characters named "Johnathan Joestar" and "Joseph Joestar".
Or In Hellsing, I've seen people insist that Walter isn't the "Angel of Death" he's the "Shinigami", or people who insist on calling Alucard "ARucard" because of the Japanese R-L thing. THE SERIES TAKES PLACE IN ENGLAND! JEEZ!...

A Story like One Piece is a hard one because it's sort of half-and-half on everything. The setting is clearly a western-style Pirate Story, but then these things will occasionally show up that have a Japanese flair to them. Recently Oda flat out said that None of the Straw Hats Sans Zoro were actually Japanese, he listed their Nationalities, so Nobody sans Zoro should have Japanese attacks, etc.

But yeah, again.
Series' That take place in Asia - Attack names, Honorifics, etc, fine
Series' That clearly do NOT take place in Asia - Translate Everything.

[DNA]

Especially when Alucard is supposed to be Dracula backwards. What, Japanese Dracula is Dracura? Damn weaboos... ruining my fandom! D: