Fansub Translations & Accuracy Problems

[Monki D]

Since I started learning Japanese I've been noticing Fan Subs screw up what the characters are actually saying and It makes it hard to actually trust the subs once you realize what is written is not what is being said. Not just with Dragon Ball Kai but many other Japanese anime's that are subbed also. I know It's really nothing and I'm just looking to much into but here's an example Episode 38 of Dragon Ball Kai at about 8:35, After Freeza beats Gohan in a brawl the subs say "After all you're just a mere runt, Is that all you're capable of?" To my knowledge he was actually saying something more along the lines of "Is that all the power you got?" Sure the fan subs had it pretty damn close and it's basically the same thing just reworded; but why did they choose to re-word it slightly? I mean Freeza clearly says "Pawaa" which is obviously Power, So why not put it in the fan sub to make it more accurate?

That like someone saying "He's not really much, I bet he can't beat me" and the Closed Captioning says "He not much at all, He probably can't defeat me"

Is it that Japanese can't be directly translated to anything in English so it's personal preference to whatever the hearer takes it as?

[NeoKING]

Since I started learning Japanese I've been noticing Fan Subs screw up what the characters are actually saying and It makes it hard to actually trust the subs once you realize what is written is not what is being said. Not just with Dragon Ball Kai but many other Japanese anime's that are subbed also. I know It's really nothing and I'm just looking to much into but here's an example Episode 38 of Dragon Ball Kai at about 8:35, After Freeza beats Gohan in a brawl the subs say "After all you're just a mere runt, Is that all you're capable of?" To my knowledge he was actually saying something more along the lines of "Is that all the power you got?" Sure the fan subs had it pretty damn close and it's basically the same thing just reworded; but why did they choose to re-word it slightly? I mean Freeza clearly says "Pawaa" which is obviously Power, So why not put it in the fan sub to make it more accurate?

That like someone saying "He's not really much, I bet he can't beat me" and the Closed Captioning says "He not much at all, He probably can't defeat me"

Is it that Japanese can't be directly translated to anything in English so it's personal preference to whatever the hearer takes it as?

You don't have to translate literally; you could just capture the essence of what was being said, which is what the example that you gave did.

[Monki D]

You don't have to translate literally; you could just capture the essence of what was being said, which is what the example that you gave did.

Indeed, you're correct about it being all about capturing the essence but sometimes in anime characters will actually say words in english, horrible english but english none the less; Like I've seen in several animes such as One Piece a character will yell "Sexy!!!" but the subs will say something like "Gorgeous!!!" sure they have basically the same meaning, but if you're translating it for an english audience why even change the english words? Seems a bit odd to me

[TheBlackPaladin]

For a variety of reasons. Please bare in mind that I'm speaking in generalities, however.

1) The translations are generally done by people who don't have the best grasp on either Japanese or English (and sometimes both).

2) The translations are also generally done by people who want to add their own take on the translation purely for the sake of "internet cool points." This often includes adding swear words and darker language that previously didn't exist. Anime Labs was notorious for this in their DBZ subs, but this still continues with fansubs today.

3) In the interest of making the subtitles appear more "hardcore," less "kiddie," and more authentically Japanese, the translations will often not translate words. I stopped watching fansubs several years ago, but this tendency in particular really bugged me. Things like leaving "nakama" untranslated in One Piece, or "yami no gamu" in Yu-Gi-Oh. It bugged me because it was such a blatant attempt to appear "cooler," and had nothing to do with wanting an accurate translation. Even their attempts to defend their translation descisions bugged me, because it was often total BS.

Regardless of generalities, though, the one universal fact is that in this day and age, fansubs have and continue to cause huge damage to the industry. That's reason enough for me not to watch them anymore, but the three reasons mentioned above made it all the easier.

[Monki D]

For a variety of reasons. Please bare in mind that I'm speaking in generalities, however.

1) The translations are generally done by people who don't have the best grasp on either Japanese or English (and sometimes both).

2) The translations are also generally done by people who want to add their own take on the translation purely for the sake of "internet cool points." This often includes adding swear words and darker language that previously didn't exist. Anime Labs was notorious for this in their DBZ subs, but this still continues with fansubs today.

3) In the interest of making the subtitles appear more "hardcore," less "kiddie," and more authentically Japanese, the translations will often not translate words. I stopped watching fansubs several years ago, but this tendency in particular really bugged me. Things like leaving "nakama" untranslated in One Piece, or "yami no gamu" in Yu-Gi-Oh. It bugged me because it was such a blatant attempt to appear "cooler," and had nothing to do with wanting an accurate translation. Even their attempts to defend their translation descisions bugged me, because it was often total BS.

Regardless of generalities, though, the one universal fact is that in this day and age, fansubs have and continue to cause huge damage to the industry. That's reason enough for me not to watch them anymore, but the three reasons mentioned above made it all the easier.

Interesting; Its sad that people who don't have a grasp on the language they are translating to and from would even attempt to translate at all, Lol. It's also sad that FanSubbers aren't looking for accurate translations but trying to make their subs cooler. In the Dragon Ball Kai subbed episodes I've watched the translators have a field day with Vegeta; He has a foul mouth and talks like an asshole most of the time but the subs take this to a new degree, espcially shortly after the scene I noted in my first post Vegeta unleashes attacks on Freeza saying "Hows about I give your ass another pounding?!" and they will often translate "Kisama" to whatever insult word they wish.

Hmm now that I think about it, It is silly that FanSubs attempt to keep Japanese Words in their subs to seem cooler but sometimes it nessessary because the literal translation sounds a bit awkward but I find it especially annoying when subbers use the dub name for an attack or item, if I hear "Ikuzo Nyoi-bo!!" and see "Power Pole Extend" for example It makes me role my eyes

[Eire]

They meant to be awkward. If the author put that words in Japanese he had clear intention to make viewers understand literally what characters say. Generally the rule is to translate everything that everything written in language should be translated, leaving macaronic parts.

[Monki D]

They meant to be awkward. If the author put that words in Japanese he had clear intention to make viewers understand literally what characters say. Generally the rule is to translate everything that everything written in language should be translated, leaving macaronic parts.

I'm pretty sure the Japanese even know some of their words sound "cool" which is why they pick certain names. "Big Bang Attack" sounds cool, which is why Akira didn't call it Ooki Ban Kogeki; They aren't deaf, I'm sure they notice which sounds catchier or "cooler".

[Eire]

I'm not sure if there's a good thing. Leaving "cool words in English" they were able to spoil Disney Movie Songs including "Can You feel the Love Tonight".

[sangofe]

Fansubs are not always off. Just that unfortunately, most group don't have good translators. I've been in the fansub scene for 8 years or so, and through that time I've only known 5-6 really good translators.

[Bussani]

Like I've seen in several animes such as One Piece a character will yell "Sexy!!!" but the subs will say something like "Gorgeous!!!" sure they have basically the same meaning, but if you're translating it for an english audience why even change the english words?

Some English words have made their way into common usage in Japan, but at the same time their meanings can be slightly different. Shouting "sexy!" in Japan isn't exactly the same as shouting it in an English speaking country, so maybe they used a different word to better capture the meaning the Japanese audience would have taken from it. Another example I can think of is the word "glamor", which in Japan, for some reason, apparently refers to a woman with a large bust.

Anyway, I suppose it can be odd to hear one word and read another in the subtitles sometimes, but I think capturing the meaning and making it sound natural in English is more important than keeping individual words. Official subs also do this.

[SHINOBI-03]

Indeed, you're correct about it being all about capturing the essence but sometimes in anime characters will actually say words in english, horrible english but english none the less; Like I've seen in several animes such as One Piece a character will yell "Sexy!!!" but the subs will say something like "Gorgeous!!!" sure they have basically the same meaning, but if you're translating it for an english audience why even change the english words? Seems a bit odd to me

Sometimes this single English word does not work that well when adapting the whole sentence.Usually it's for grammar or plain Engrish. a One Piece example is Luffy's gears. We all know he says "Gear Second" in the Japanese version, but the official subs uses "Second Gear" since it more accurate.

Another word change I see quite often is "Pinch" when a character is in trouble. The subs usually use "problem" or "trouble". But does it change the meaning? No. This guy is still in a problem.

[Zestanor]

Another word change I see quite often is "Pinch" when a character is in trouble. The subs usually use "problem" or "trouble". But does it change the meaning? No. This guy is still in a problem.

Yeah, I see "pinch" a lot in Simmons' Z subs. He always keeps the word pinch. I'm sure he could back it up with reasoning, but I don't know anyone that actually says, "I'm in a pinch." Sometimes it just reads really weird! I think an episode title is "Goku's Greatest Pinch!" I guess Goku rates his pinching power?

[Gaffer Tape]

I've never seen "pinch" as an odd thing to keep. I mean, it doesn't just have that meaning in Japan. I've heard it used to describe trouble or peril many times, particularly in comic books. It might be a bit dated, but I see no problem in keeping it.

[VegettoEX]

I've never seen "pinch" as an odd thing to keep. I mean, it doesn't just have that meaning in Japan. I've heard it used to describe trouble or peril many times, particularly in comic books. It might be a bit dated, but I see no problem in keeping it.

Same here. Don't understand why anyone would "translate" the word "pinch" into something else. It's very commonly used in that context in English.

I also take issue when someone "translates" Goku's (or any anime characters's, really) quasi-trademark "Yo!" into something like "Hey!" (I'm not talking about "Ossu!", I'm talking about "Yo!" like at the very end of DBZ movie 7). It's... just... the word "Yo!" It already has a meaning that we understand perfectly fine in both languages.

[Castor Troy]

I do admit I laughed at Itadakimasu being subbed as "Eat the doggy mess!" in the S. Baldric subbed Trunks Special.

[Metalwario64]

I do admit I laughed at Itadakimasu being subbed as "Eat the doggy mess!" in the S. Baldric subbed Trunks Special.

Is S.Baldric actually Sodom?