Funimation subtitle names

[GamingBuddha]

I'm compiling a list of the different names of Dragon Ball characters for the Dragon Ball Wiki. I've been borrowing a few DVD's from my friend and the library to log the names. I'm mainly looking for the subtitled names right now, and I had a few questions about them.

1) Are there any major (or minor) name differences between Mandelin and Simmons's translations? The only one I've noticed so far is Fortuneteller/Uranai Baba.

2) Does the honorific "sama" count as part of the name? I remember on a thread that I read a while ago where EX changed "Karin" to "Karin-sama" in a topic title. When someone asked about it, he said because that was his name. Also, I see Kaio-sama and Kami-sama used frequently throughout the forum.

Thanks!

[KuriboShoe]

I think that in a translation you should translate "sama" as Lord, Sir, or King.

[Herms]

2) Does the honorific "sama"count as part of the name?

No, not really. Some characters are so widely respected by most of the characters that it's almost universal for sama to be added on to their name, but it's still not really part of their actual name, and characters who don't respect them don't add it on. So Earth's God is called "Kami-sama" by virtually everyone, but Piccolo or Garlic Junior just call him "Kami" since they hate him. And Karin's just "Karin" to God, since Karin's lower on the cosmic totem poll.

[Zestanor]

Mandelin uses Nyoi-Bou and Kinto-Un, while I believe Simmons used Nyoi Bo and Kinto Un.
I think Mandelin Used 'Daimaoh' instead of Simmons' 'Daimao.'
Simmons uses the Chinese names for the Dragon Balls (Yi Xing Qiu, Si Xing Qiu) while Mandelin would always translate those as 1 Star Ball and 4 Star Ball. Simmons would translate their names if appropriate, too.

[CatouttaHell]

Sama is just an honourific. I tend to add -sama to Karin-sama, Kami-sama, Kaio-sama, Kaioshin-sama, etc myself but that's simply out of habit.

[Puto]

Mandelin uses Nyoi-Bou and Kinto-Un, while I believe Simmons used Nyoi Bo and Kinto Un.

Correct.

I think Mandelin Used 'Daimaoh' instead of Simmons' 'Daimao.'

Nope, both used Daimao.

Other differences include Taiyou-ken (Mandelin) vs Taiyo-ken (Simmons), Zanzou-ken (Mandelin) vs Zanzo-ken (Simmons), and Soukidan (Mandelin) vs Sokidan (Simmons). I could be wrong about the hyphens in these, btw.

[GotenDaisuki]

I could be wrong about the hyphens in these, btw.

No, every hyphen is placed correctly. Ken is a word that means "fist", and every move that uses ken means it is a "fist" of something, and it usually comes at the end, so using a hyphen to separate what the object's fist is is correct.

[Zestanor]

Actually, Mandelin uses Nyoibou, not Nyoi-Bou. Also, when the turtle of Kame House is called 'Kame' in Japanese, Mandelin would leave it 'Kame' while Simmons would translate it 'Turtle.' However, when he is called 'Origame' I believe neither translates it. Is this correct.

[Herms]

'Origame'

He's Umigame ("Sea Turtle"), incorrectly called "Urigome" by Goku at one point.

[Zestanor]

Dangit! Wow, I'm worse than Goku at remembering the turtle's name.
Also, Gaming Bhudda, there are some errors under your list of subtitle names that you linked to. Simmons called him 'Burdock,' not 'Bardock,' 'Cargo' over 'Cargot,' and 'ReaCoom (mm okay...)' over 'Reacoom.' You also have Vegeta's subtitle name as being Videl. Also, Mr. Simmons may be doing a slight tweak to some of his subtitles since he is translating the NEPs for the Dragon Boxes, so stay tuned

Different subject: Mandelin used Oopa while Simmons uses Upa.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

I could be wrong about the hyphens in these, btw.

No, every hyphen is placed correctly. Ken is a word that means "fist", and every move that uses ken means it is a "fist" of something, and it usually comes at the end, so using a hyphen to separate what the object's fist is is correct.

The ken is a separate character in Japanese, so hyphenating it is purely stylisitc. Some people hyphenate every separate character. It is neither correct nor incorrect to do so.

[GotenDaisuki]

Some people hyphenate every separate character. It is neither correct nor incorrect to do so.

But wouldn't something like "arigatougozaimasu" instead of "arigatou-gozaimasu" look a bit strange? And, really some people do "a-ri-ga-to-u-go-za-i-ma-su"? I've only seen things like that on Japanese lessons to get the student familiarized with the kana. Well, whatever, it really doesn't matter since Japanese doesn't separate words from the kana or kanji they have. I am going a little too off-topic, so I shall end there.

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

'Burdock,' not 'Bardock'

Actually, it was changed to "Bardock" in the steelbook. The orange bricks and Dragon Boxes still use "Burdock", though.

'Cargo' over 'Cargot'

No, GamingBuddha had that one right.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

But wouldn't something like "arigatougozaimasu" instead of "arigatou-gozaimasu" look a bit strange? And, really some people do "a-ri-ga-to-u-go-za-i-ma-su"? I've only seen things like that on Japanese lessons to get the student familiarized with the kana. Well, whatever, it really doesn't matter since Japanese doesn't separate words from the kana or kanji they have. I am going a little too off-topic, so I shall end there.

I was referring to Kanji in my antecedent post. "Fist" would be written with three characters in Kana, and one in Kanji.

[Cipher]

No one's going to mention the fact that Mandelin uses "Cyborg" while Simmons uses "Artificial Human"?

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

No one's going to mention the fact that Mandelin uses "Cyborg" while Simmons uses "Artificial Human"?

Not only that, Mandelin used "android" in the 10th anniversary DB film.

[GamingBuddha]

I think that in a translation you should translate "sama" as Lord, Sir, or King.

For now, I'm just putting in whatever name they have without the honorific. Later on, we might decide on whether or not to name them like that.

Actually, Mandelin uses Nyoibou, not Nyoi-Bou. Also, when the turtle of Kame House is called 'Kame' in Japanese, Mandelin would leave it 'Kame' while Simmons would translate it 'Turtle.' However, when he is called 'Origame' I believe neither translates it. Is this correct.

I think Simmons called him Umigame in his translation. I'm not sure what he put for Goku's nickname for him though.

Also, Gaming Bhudda, there are some errors under your list of subtitle names that you linked to. Simmons called him 'Burdock,' not 'Bardock,' 'Cargo' over 'Cargot,' and 'ReaCoom (mm okay...)' over 'Reacoom.' You also have Vegeta's subtitle name as being Videl.

Thanks for the Videl one, but I'm pretty sure the rest are correct. I put Reacoom on purpose, just because ReaCoom seems a bit obnoxious of a name to me.

Thank you for all the replies. Now, are either of the names that are different more correct than the other? It seems like those attack names just seem like stylistic preferences (ou/o), but on differences like Oopa/Upa, Fortuneteller/Uranai Baba, and Android/Cyborg/Artificial Human, which one would be more correct? I've heard that Jinzōningen is generally translated as Android, but I'm not so sure about Baba.

(Also, if anyone wants to help with the manga or romaji names, you can PM me for permission to edit )

[ThunderPX]

"Uranai Baba" is probably most correct since "Fortuneteller Baba" makes it seem as though "Baba" is her given name. As for the Jinzoningen, "Android" is a term used on a lot of Japanese merchandise, but given the whole "technically some of them are cyborgs" debacle, "Artificial Humans" is a good catch-all term. I'm not certain what the origin of Upa's name is, but I'll note that I've never seen "Oopa" used outside of Mandelin's subs.

As for the honorific thing, I agree that they shouldn't be there. It's an encyclopedia after all, so it should be objective. Look at it this way: the Japanese wikipedia article for God is just called "神" (kami), without an honorific.

EDIT: Also, do you need any naming schemes from other versions than the one listed in your document? I don't own all of the Viz manga and I'm sure you can handle the English anime dub ones on your own, but I have watched/read a few other different translations of the anime and manga more-or-less all the way through.

[GamingBuddha]

"Uranai Baba" is probably most correct since "Fortuneteller Baba" makes it seem as though "Baba" is her given name. As for the Jinzoningen, "Android" is a term used on a lot of Japanese merchandise, but given the whole "technically some of them are cyborgs" debacle, "Artificial Humans" is a good catch-all term. I'm not certain what the origin of Upa's name is, but I'll note that I've never seen "Oopa" used outside of Mandelin's subs.

As for the honorific thing, I agree that they shouldn't be there. It's an encyclopedia after all, so it should be objective. Look at it this way: the Japanese wikipedia article for God is just called "神" (kami), without an honorific.

EDIT: Also, do you need any naming schemes from other versions than the one listed in your document? I don't own all of the Viz manga and I'm sure you can handle the English anime dub ones on your own, but I have watched/read a few other different translations of the anime and manga more-or-less all the way through.

That's a good point, I used to think that was her name. What exactly does Baba mean though? While Artificial Humans is more correct for what they actually are, I've read that Android is a more accurate definition for Jinzoningen (but I'm not sure where I read it). Plus, Android rolls off the tongue much more well.

Which other versions are you referring to?

[Piccolo Daimao]

"Baba" means "crone." So "Uranai Baba" translated is "Fortuneteller Crone".

As for the whole "Android-Cyborg" debacle, I just use "Android" for convenience because even in other works of fiction, they seem to get the two mixed up, For example, in The Terminator, Kyle Reese describes the Terminator as being a cyborg, yet he is clearly an android. I think someone made a page or something about this on their website.