Dialect preference question

[Baka Neko]

Out of pure curiosity, I have a question for you all. :)

When a character in a manga or anime is given a non-standard dialect (i.e. the Osaka dialect), there are some translators (for American-English translations...) that decide to give these characters the American "equivalent" a.k.a. a southern drawl to show that they are uhh...Southerners? Perhaps just for the sake of keeping the effect of having a different dialect?

The southern accent idea makes sense, seeming as Osaka is a southern(-ish) part of Japan, and the Tokyo people (jokingly?) view them as bumpkins (as I've been told; please correct me if I'm wrong!), BUT I have heard anime fans go "That makes him sound like a hick!" when reading/hearing English translations of characters given southern accents, and thus are not happy about it.

What do you guys think? Do you prefer that translators do this? Or would you rather those characters be given a normal dialect, with perhaps more usage of slang instead of a southern drawl? Likewise for nothern Japanese accented characters given New York accents, etc. (Haven't seen it myself yet, but heard from a friend who did.)

Sorry for the tl;dr. I hope at least a few people lasted long enough to be able to respond. XD

[Javer]

In most cases, I prefer changing the diction to the dialect. Choosing the wrong word is less risky than the wrong voice.

[Illjwamh]

Kansai-ben isn't the bumpkin dialect; you're thinking of Touhoku-ben.

Regardless, I think when VAs try too hard to "match" a dialect it inevitably comes out wrong. All they really need to do is master the character, and any subtle inflections in their speech will come through naturally.

[Baka Neko]

Kansai-ben isn't the bumpkin dialect; you're thinking of Touhoku-ben.

Regardless, I think when VAs try too hard to "match" a dialect it inevitably comes out wrong. All they really need to do is master the character, and any subtle inflections in their speech will come through naturally.

It really depends on who you ask...I've had teachers (who are Japanese from Tokyo) tell me Kansai dialect was viewed that way, but some people (when comparing our northern and southern accents and whatnot), but then I've also heard some Japanese say that Kyuushuu dialects were thought of as really backwater. (Is Touhoku-ben around the Kyuushuu area?) My teachers have also been away from Japan for a while, so this stereotype may not be quite as they remember. XD

I agree with you about what the VAs should do to make their character sound right. When I hear a character with the Kansai dialect in Japanese, I think of that character more as talking slang and informal than I think of a "southerner". No matter the dialect, I think the translation should just go with how the character is supposed to sound in terms of attitude. Giving the character a northern or southern accent will tag on personality implications that aren't supposed to be there, in my opinion.

[Illjwamh]

Touhoku is the Northern region of Honshu. ("Touhoku" = "East North"). It's mostly farmland up there.

And yeah, attitude is more important than geography.

[laborpilot86]

I know when Ghost in the Shell SAC was dubbed, they gave a character who was supposed to be from Kansai a Texan accent, which isn't quite the same as a typical 'southern' U.S accent but pretty close. I think the writers of the dub script probably decieded to do this because of some preceived similarities between Osakans and Texans (smart-alecky, kinda dim, but really good with money).

[animanic_critic]

Dialects are dialects, and I don't see the need to replace an Eastern dialect with a Western one (ie Kansai with Texan). The important thing is the way of conveying the message through its translation. Even if they give the best form of East-to-West translation, if they miss some points here and there, it's useless. For instance, I find it so inappropriate to replace an Osaka-accented samurai (for a historical-themed series) with a Texan one.

I do find some changes fitting if it suits the character, occassion or the 'big picture'.

[Illjwamh]

If you were to compare stereotypes and attitudes, I think the closest equivalent to Kansai-ben would be New Joisey.

[madpierrot]

The problem with a Kansai dialect being translated to sound like a sountern dialet is that they aren't assosciated with the same traits. A Kansai dialect is mucher closer to a New Jersey/New York accent when you look at the characteristics assosicated with it. The "hick" idea is all wrong b/c the connotations you get with a Kansai dialet are tough guys, gansters and comedians. It's a high energy, fast talking, tough, big city accent.

I can understand why they use sountern. The just want to show off that a certain character has a destinctive voice, but in doing so they can mislead people in the way the character is suppose to be presented.

[Illjwamh]

Isn't that kinda what I just said in not so many words? :p

[laborpilot86]

so make the Kansai characters from New York...it would make sense, but only if you stripped out all of other references to Japanese culture, which we all know is pretty hard to to even to the most culturally neutral anime.

I err on the side of just translating and not trying to do anything cute with accents etc.

[Javer]

so make the Kansai characters from New York...it would make sense, but only if you stripped out all of other references to Japanese culture, which we all know is pretty hard to to even to the most culturally neutral anime.

'Ey, Yoogi! You wanna play some cahd games or what?

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

You know, maybe dubbers should learn that there are more English accents than just American ones, and more stereotypes than just American regionalisms.

[Illjwamh]

This is true. I've always thought Nagoya-ben should be dubbed as Cockney. It's the closest English gets to sounding like a cat.

[Baka Neko]

Apologies for this post: None of these paragraphs are continuations of the others. >_>

Touhoku is northeastern huh? Duh. I guess I should have tried looking up the kanji for that before asking that question. XD Now I feel dumb.

A northeastern (American) accent, huh? That really would make sense, as far as personality traits go. Maybe not right-on, but a lot closer than a southern accent. Interesting. :p

I admit, I haven't seen enough dubs to really draw examples, but I've seen it in manga every now and again. The only example I'm really drawing up right now is Ferio from Magic Knights Rayearth. He was given a southern accent when I suppose his original may have been the Kansai-ben. (Dunno if that's true; just a guess) It didn't fit his character at all ("Darn-tootin'!" LOL), whereas I could see a Kansai dialect making sense. Granted, this was a manga that was translated before the big wave of anime/manga popularity in the States, but still. :p It did not work.

It seems like the general consensus is that American equivalents of accents is okay when appropriate (i.e. Azumanga's Osaka perhaps), but otherwise, translators should just word appropriate to the character's personality. That's about what I figured, but this discussion is fun. :D

[Javer]

You know, maybe dubbers should learn that there are more English accents than just American ones, and more stereotypes than just American regionalisms.

I suggest Peter Lorre impressions!

. . . but yeah, it's a secret hope to someday see a dub with a good Irish accent. :x A guy can dream.