×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
REVIEW: Monster Hunter Orage GN 2




Note: this is the discussion thread for this article
Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
samuelp
Industry Insider


Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 2231
Location: San Antonio, USA
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:20 am Reply with quote
Ah, the pain of translating the word "Nakama" when used in certain shounen manga.

Nakama isn't even used that way in real Japanese... It's like a special shounen manga connotation.

Companions does seem like a weak choice though. I don't like comrades myself either 'cause I start reading everyone with a russian accent in my head.

Personally I just go with "friends" unless the people aren't really "friends" then I'd use comrades. There''s nothing wrong with "buddies" or "pals" or "brethren" or "mates" or "We few, we happy few, we band of nakama"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
MaxSouth



Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 1363
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:17 am Reply with quote
Actually, "nakama" is more accurately translated as "comrade" or "companion" (as "companions in arms"). "Friend", of course, has separate word in Japanese: "tomo".

(But I agree that any of these words are left not translated, then it is highly unprofessional, amateurish way to handle "translation" of anything.)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Princess_Irene
ANN Reviewer


Joined: 16 Dec 2008
Posts: 2609
Location: The castle beyond the Goblin City
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 2:02 pm Reply with quote
I'm generally not even a "nakama" snob when it comes to translations, but this volume just didn't sit well with me in terms of word choice. I agree that "friends" would have been better in terms of English connotations, even though, as MaxSouth pointed out, it's technically a different word. I suppose if we want a really good translation we'll have to go back to at least Elizabethan English, if not Middle. (I just had a sudden image of a shonen translated into Old English. Can't you just see Zoro yelling "Hwaet!"?)

On the other hand, Henry V in shonen-speak would be pretty awesome too...Thanks for the image, samuelp!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
TitanXL



Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Posts: 4036
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:30 pm Reply with quote
"Nakama"? Oh man, bad One Piece fansub flashback

Friend, Comrade, Companion, Partner.. use whichever word works in the context, You can't just find/replace translations, since you always have to look at the context.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group