FUNimation's "Saiyan" vs "Saiya-jin"

cartoonboy · Post by **cartoonboy** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:15 am

I hope this question will be answered in the 3rd Podcast. I think Saiya-jins sounds better.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:09 am

First of all, from what I've seen of your other posts, you need to work on your grammar. Captalization mainly, it would seem. Secondly, this post was rather... small/pointless. (I see another on this board as well, shoulda lumped them into one post since this one's so small.)

Anyway, to answer the question at hand, language. It's as simple as that. Time for a minor Japanese lesson! Alright, the suffix -jin basicly means people of. For example, in English I am an American. In Japanese, however, I am an Amerika-jin. The same applies to the Saiya-jins. The Japanese spelling is "Saiya-jin" as in "People of Saiya" where as the English spelling is Saiyan (because that's how our language works) which means exactly the same thing.

And there you have it.

Bejiita · Post by **Bejiita** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:41 am

Yes that's pretty much right, that's why the call the Earthlings 'Kukyu-jin', because in Japanese Kukyu means Earth, or for example Namek-jin, that's namek person, although they refer to them as Namek sejin, which probably means Planet Namek person.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:06 am

You may also find a good bit of information in this thread:

http://db.schuby.org/daizex/viewtopic.php?t=2404

B-kun · Post by **B-kun** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:51 am

Bejiita wrote:Yes that's pretty much right, that's why the call the Earthlings 'Kukyu-jin', because in Japanese Kukyu means Earth, or for example Namek-jin, that's namek person, although they refer to them as Namek sejin, which probably means Planet Namek person.

Unless I missed something, I think you mean "Chikyuu-sei" for "Earth". ^^;;

tarsonis · Post by **tarsonis** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:07 pm

They probably used Saiyan because it was already an accepted romanization of the word Saiya-jin. Bandai was using it first, so maybe that's why they kept it.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:41 pm

Unless I missed something, I think you mean "Chikyuu-sei" for "Earth". ^^;;

Just Chikyuu, no -sei with it

Tanooki Kuribo · Post by **Tanooki Kuribo** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:47 pm

Well, I can understand if you understand or speak Japanese so that when you name a person based on where they come from you would add "jin" (Or is to my understanding, I could be way off).

But I never say "Saiya-Jin" just because I speak English. It's not really a dub name it an actuall Japanese way to say that this certain person is from wherever, so it's just easier for me. If you wanna say "Saiya-Jin" thats fine to but me, I like Saiyan.

On the other hand...they do say "Saiya-Jin" in that Spanish and Italian and probley every other dub...Well now I don't know what to think.

Conan the SSJ · Post by **Conan the SSJ** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:24 pm

I find it very odd that the one single time Saiya-jin was pronounced properly in the FUNi dub was in a Buu arc episode where Goku was about to turn SSJ3 for the first time, Buu questioned Goku's transformations by saying "Super Saiya-jin?". Anyone else ever catch that? It's in dub episode "Super Saiyan 3!?" I believe, before Goku goes SSJ3.

Chaos Saiyajin · Post by **Chaos Saiyajin** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:32 pm

I don't really mind the name change. I use Saiyajin in my screen name and I'd rather write SSJ than SS. (Damn Nazis) But when I'm writing a fanfiction or something, I'll use Saiyan instead.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:41 pm

Conan the SSJ wrote:I find it very odd that the one single time Saiya-jin was pronounced properly in the FUNi dub was in a Buu arc episode where Goku was about to turn SSJ3 for the first time, Buu questioned Goku's transformations by saying "Super Saiya-jin?". Anyone else ever catch that? It's in dub episode "Super Saiyan 3!?" I believe, before Goku goes SSJ3.

That's one of those things I've never quite understood. It makes absolutely no sense for Buu to say that, there. In the original dialogue, Buu simply repeats what Goku says ("Super Saiya-jin / Super Saiya-jin"). One would assume that the dub would do the same thing. But noooooooo. Instead, we get something that's so far out of left field, it doesn't even make sense for FUNimation. Goku uses the phrase "Super Saiyan," and Buu questions it, just like in the Japanese dialogue... but instead... says, "Super... Saiya-jin?"

What the $%&#?

Did he hear Goku wrong? Does he know something Goku doesn't? Were the writers trying to throw in a little nod to the old-school fans? Could Buu's dub voice actor be trying to put in the nod? Was anyone even paying attention while recording this episode?

... I don't get it.

Bejiita · Post by **Bejiita** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:54 pm

My mistake, Chikyuu'jin, it always sound like they're saying 'kukyu' but it's just my ears.

And it's funny you mention the SSJ3 thing about fat buu, I always wondered, why? He clearly say's 'Super...saiya-jin', it kind of left me lost for words. Then I thought, what other word could they have added if Buu said 'Super Saiyan'? There's a syllable left to cover, I guess they could have put 'a' at the start and make him say 'A super...Saiyan'.

Also, on the episode where Majin vegeta blows up the audience, after the half way point, the BGM from the Japanese version is left playing for about 3 second before the dub music comes in. Did anyone notice this?

Dayspring · Post by **Dayspring** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:59 pm

VegettoEX wrote:Did he hear Goku wrong? Does he know something Goku doesn't?

Buu killed the very first SSJ ever which occured over a million billion years ago. Back then, the English language was still just a bunch of grunting sounds, so instead of "Super Saiyan," the original SSJ referred to himself as a "Soo-Puh Sai-Ya Jin." Over the eons, the language evolved into "Super Saiyan," which is why every other dub apart French still says "Saiya-jin." So when Goku said "Super Saiyan," it turned out Buu knew what he was talking about and was actually correcting Goku about the proper pronunciation.

It's in the daizenshuu chronology somewhere.

MyVisionity · Post by **MyVisionity** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:22 pm

VegettoEX wrote: Did he hear Goku wrong? Does he know something Goku doesn't? Were the writers trying to throw in a little nod to the old-school fans? Could Buu's dub voice actor be trying to put in the nod? Was anyone even paying attention while recording this episode?

... I don't get it.

I believe that Buu's use of "Super Saiya-jin" was to express the confusion he felt from hearing a strange term like "Super Saiyan", as well as being a nod to the original series. It's that thing fictional characters do when they hear wild phrases and repeat them back to express the oddness. Babidi does the same thing in the same episode if I remember correctly.

cartoonboy · Post by **cartoonboy** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:31 pm

Xyex wrote:First of all, from what I've seen of your other posts, you need to work on your grammar. Captalization mainly, it would seem. Secondly, this post was rather... small/pointless. (I see another on this board as well, shoulda lumped them into one post since this one's so small.)

Anyway, to answer the question at hand, language. It's as simple as that. Time for a minor Japanese lesson! Alright, the suffix -jin basicly means people of. For example, in English I am an American. In Japanese, however, I am an Amerika-jin. The same applies to the Saiya-jins. The Japanese spelling is "Saiya-jin" as in "People of Saiya" where as the English spelling is Saiyan (because that's how our language works) which means exactly the same thing.

And there you have it.

Yeah I know what -jin means saiya- means. Anyway, I was halfasleep when I wrote this and thanks for answering my question.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:55 pm

I think they wanted Buu to mispronounce it when he said it back because, well, he's Buu. And they figured the best way would be to have him say it the Japanese way, possibly as a nod to the original even.

Dayspring · Post by **Dayspring** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:08 pm

Xyex wrote:I think they wanted Buu to mispronounce it when he said it back because, well, he's Buu. And they figured the best way would be to have him say it the Japanese way, possibly as a nod to the original even.

Could also be a mistake in the translation of the script: the translator accidentally left the original version in.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:54 am

I think the simplist answer is probably the best: they needed another sylable to cover "jin" and couldn't think of one - so they didn't. They just said "to hell with it, there's only a month left, just say jin".

tarsonis · Post by **tarsonis** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:43 am

They could also have had Buu say "super saiyan three?" which would have the same number of syllables as "super saiya-jin".

Chibi Mystic Gohan · Post by **Chibi Mystic Gohan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:34 pm

Dayspring wrote:
Xyex wrote:I think they wanted Buu to mispronounce it when he said it back because, well, he's Buu. And they figured the best way would be to have him say it the Japanese way, possibly as a nod to the original even.
Could also be a mistake in the translation of the script: the translator accidentally left the original version in.

Someone would notice that during recording, though.