(Untitled)

[inxblot]

I'm sorry, but I don't like seeing honorifics. I know it's really nothing to get annoyed by, but still, reading about Aku-pyon or Roku-me, it just clashes with the rest of the fanfic. How am I supposed to get off to Cloud-tan, Sephiroth-niisan, or Aerith-temee if I keep getting double-taking at the gratutious Japanese? I understand why people do it

Comments

[fortuna_s]

My personal rule of thumb is: If it takes place in Japan (or some analogue version of it), honorifics are fine, and if so they should be used correctly. Otherwise, what's the point? I think it adds to the story if they're used correctly, but it makes the author look like an idiot when they're not.

[misskalloway]

This.

[fortuna_s]

I'm afraid I can't tell whether the lovely icon was for the comment or the icon ^_^U (I assume the icon because M/A is made of so much win ♥)

[teal_deer]

Agreed. Given that Kingdom Hearts doesn't take place in Japan, or anywhere even similar to Japan (Save for Land of Dragons; but that's CHINA for god's sake), honorifics just sound plain odd. Not to mention it makes you sound like an anime fanbrat >>;

[harpie_siren]

Don't they not use honorifics in the Japanese version?

[ashura_sama]

I -knew- I'd heard a "Xemnas-dono" somewhere. Upon further investigation, I found the culprit: Vexen in the "new headquarters" scene, though I have no idea whether he'd do that to Xemnas' face. But generally, no, KH characters use no honorifics.

[harpie_siren]

That's what I thought... though... doesn't King Mickey get "Sama" in the games?

Not that the people in question would use Mickey.

[yuukihikari]

I know Riku addresses the King as "Ou-sama" (its in one of his pre-set battle lines in RECoM) but, I don't think DiZ used the honourific. I can't recall everyone else though (I haven't played the Japanese side of the games in a while). Riku drops the formality when he just addresses the King as "Mickey".

Also, Selphie refered to Kairi as a "Kairi-onee-chan" (or just "Kairi-chan" I can't remember which) in KHII.

The honourifics get uses, but very, very rarely.

[ashura_sama]

*eyes bleeding at Roku-me and Aerith-temee*
I like honorifics in written media when they make sense (as fortuna-s said, Japanese and Japanese-like settings), but heck, it's not that hard to do some research and get the usage right.

[phacelia]

At my Japanese school, the teachers stopped using the honorifics some time after my third year. I think we got to the point where the teachers found it no longer necessary. We, the students, are only using honorifics when we're addressing our teachers. Matsumoto sensei, rather than Mrs. Matsumoto, sounds more natural to us.

Buuut characters using it? I really can't imagine if, Sephiroth would say, "Cloud-kun, submit to the darkness!" It just kinda kills the edge.

[teal_deer]

The dissonance to me is especially jarring becuase nowhere in the KH universe feels remotely like Japan to me (And this is from someone who's lived in Japan for about four months). This is down to things as small as how Twilight Town and Traverse Town are laid out - the layout, the architecture, the shops themselves, it all feels Western (or at least a Japanese / Disnified western), not Japanese.

Granted, it's a WEIRD western, but western nonetheless. Particularly since it's a Disney based game.

Point is, it sounds weird. And to me personally it's an immediate flag that you're -probably- a stupid Anime-obsessed weaboo of about 15 years old with no life, who goes and calls all your friends "JENNIE~CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN~"

>>
<<;

[harpie_siren]

I'm pretty darn sure that Traverse Town and Twilight Town are meant to have a Main Street U.S.A feel to them.

[teal_deer]

Yeah, I always got that vibe too.

[harpie_siren]

It not just that, I think I read it somewhere...