My 2 cents. I agree with everyone else, it is not romanticized. It's not only awkward and weird to directly translate in English but it also holds meaning in the relationship.
If Japan is very specific with names, as in if your still in "-san" stage, it means two people are still not that close. Next stage is calling by surname and lastly, calling by first names.
In Korea, it's position basis - if they are boss and subordinate, sunbae/hoobae if senior/junior basis, first name basis and lastly, if they are truly confident with each other, it will be the "hyung/oppa" if the other one is older. Otherwise, it will just be first name basis unless they decide on a pen name.
And it's the culture because they use the same words for blood related hyung/oppa.
Shit, sent too quick. I think that it really depends on who the translators are. If you look at super old manga with official translations usually the translator will keep stuff like sensei and then translate it at the end so newcomers to manga can learn something new. And this was before the entire manga and anime boom that happened in 2013 and later on. A lot of translators will keep it in because they think that they're SUPPOSED to keep it in or else fans will be angry, and others just do it because they think it's funny. It depends on intent, I guess. The "baka gaijin" meme exists for a reason.
Rather than real life I was more focused on manga/anime. Cause where I'm from people won't say big brother/big sister but they'll say "bro/sis". Not sure if it was you I said this to, I lost track but for example, with animes/dramas if you listen to the dub (boooo) you'll hear them use the full translations. They won't just speak English the entire time and then go "onii-san" at random
Rather you'll hear the titles in the sub in replacement because it's the office language
I find it strange the same thing isn't applied in mangas. Maybe in official translations? I wouldn't know. I can't tell the difference. Sometimes some translation groups do cleaning really well lol.
But like I said with the honorifics rather than words with translations, I just brought those up as well because the manga I was reading had full English translation but they'd bring them in to add that "feel" to them and it was just offputting.
It's also already been said that even in these places, i.e Japan, people would use certain honorifics simply for the sake of adding a "cutesy" sound to it. I remember I had read about that when I was actually active with anime and was learning the honorifics since they were new terms to me
Maybe it's just cause I personally wouldn't find something loke that cutesy in the slighest
Actually this makes more sense. Might be a older/newer thing because yeah...I can definitely remember these actually being kept and explained in older mangas. It's just the newer mangas I'm seeing this occurrence in which is why i bring it up now and not years ago
Again, not sure if it was you I replied to but I had mentioned a group who did do the explanations and they're one of the older groups. I don't really see them anymore now, been a few years. And plus nowadays chapters are just uploaded by any/everyone. Usually people are just uploading the chapters rather than actually doing the whole, cleaning, typesetting, proofreading translating process.
Oh wow, that's a lot. I mean if we're trying to be pedantic here I still stand by keeping the Korean honorifics as it is because you made your point of including it. Because while you may say "why not just use the character's names?", well that's the thing. Korean culture has strong emphasis on social hierarchy and respect. And referring to someone by their names and/or surnames is an entirely different kind of address and of different usage thank the honorifics terms of address that you wish be rid of for the sake of translation. It would be no different to burying the nuance of said culture where a piece originally belongs to. Risking misinterpreting such a thing by doing that is rather the cultural appropriation instead no? I have to say such because the amount of times western audiences misinterpret something dearly and make hell out of it just because of the insistence of a material translated a terminology with no equal English equivalent is hopeless oblivion. Meanings lost. I don't mean this to be a one way thing, it can go both ways. Point is, it happens.
Now i can't say the same for the inane words like the "Baka" example because all I can tell you is: Otaku culture I guess. And it's true while some weebs may have the tendency to romanticize Japan because "anime IRL of their dreams lol". But it's a bit presumptuous if you're using that to assume every translator in sight acts in the though you have in mind about their intentions. It's asinine not gonna lie. And also Including no less the ones choosing to retain the honorifics as it is.
But I do get the angle of why it makes you think so alright. I just plead you not to lump this and that to be of the same level of triviality. So I can try to understand your point, I hope you see mine too. Just here for a civil argument, peace.
We're all familiar with the term "hyung" right?
Korean honorific/title for a guy older than you. Usually within like kid-young adult range.
Is it just me or is it cringey?
Not the term itself but the use of it in manga.
Like the entire manga would be translated in English but then the translator decides they'll only keep "Hyung" or even other honorifics or romaji (not sure if that's spelled correctly) words in because they think it sounds cute.
i.e "baka" "onii-san"
You'll have the typical tsundere guy get mad/called out about something and the typesetter/translator types "BAKA!!!" instead of "IDIOT!!" Like please...be so fr
Like don't get me wrong. I know these are the "English" translations of the words but I think they're so "romanticized" (Is that the right word?) in mangas that I'm starting to cringe every time I read them.
Not even sure if it happens in straight manga but it happens A LOT in BLs. And it's always the male honorifics. They'll never say "onee san" That's the one time they'll stick the English throughout.
...now that inthink about it, might really just be a romanticized thing on the translators' end because even when you watch anime/dramas in dub you'll hear them say "big brother/sir/mister/big sister/etc" while you'll hear the "onii san/ahjussi/onee san/etc" in sub.
But still give me your thoughts on this because I'm reading a manga where the seme is the puppy type but the way he just calls the uke "hyung" is starting to throw me off SO bad. Like he's "babying" him or something.....I CANT THINK OF THE RIGHT TERMS.