Yes, this is called localization, and I decided it was appropriate given the context. The above is what she says word-for-word but I can hardly imagine anyone actually saying that in English.
Yes, this is called localization, and I decided it was appropriate given the context. The above is what she says word-for-word but I can hardly imagine anyone actually saying that in English.
I figured that, but in most posts they do say "trick-or-treat" word-for-word. If someone said "I'll play a trick on you if you don't give me candy!" in english, I wouldn't translate that into japanese as "トリック・オア・トリート" even though it would be the more normal way to say it. Just my opinion.
I figured that, but in most posts they do say "trick-or-treat" word-for-word. If someone said "I'll play a trick on you if you don't give me candy!" in english, I wouldn't translate that into japanese as "トリック・オア・トリート" even though it would be the more normal way to say it. Just my opinion.
I agree with this. Japanese people are fully aware of the phrase "trick or treat" and will absolutely use it in both English and katakana if that's what they're wanting to say. Localization is a tool to fill in the blanks between cultures and clean up awkward dialogue, it's not an excuse to rewrite or abridge what someone says just because it's not verbatim what someone would say in English. She's Japanese, she's speaking Japanese, if she wanted to say the English phrase then she would do so.
In this case, I would say it makes more sense to translate it as it's worded, because the context seems to specifically be that she's threatening the commander. "Trick or treat" barely qualifies as a threatening phrase.
And for the record, I've seen plenty of real kids say something along the lines of, "If you don't have any candy I'll have to play a trick on you!"
I agree with this. Japanese people are fully aware of the phrase "trick or treat" and will absolutely use it in both English and katakana if that's what they're wanting to say. Localization is a tool to fill in the blanks between cultures and clean up awkward dialogue, it's not an excuse to rewrite or abridge what someone says just because it's not verbatim what someone would say in English. She's Japanese, she's speaking Japanese, if she wanted to say the English phrase then she would do so.
In this case, I would say it makes more sense to translate it as it's worded, because the context seems to specifically be that she's threatening the commander. "Trick or treat" barely qualifies as a threatening phrase.
And for the record, I've seen plenty of real kids say something along the lines of, "If you don't have any candy I'll have to play a trick on you!"
Fair enough. I figured a more concise phrase fit better with the visual expression in the picture and that the threat was expressed sufficiently by it and the accompanying growl, but this isn't wrong either.
Yes, this is called localization, and I decided it was appropriate given the context. The above is what she says word-for-word but I can hardly imagine anyone actually saying that in English.
halseyttk said:
I figured that, but in most posts they do say "trick-or-treat" word-for-word. If someone said "I'll play a trick on you if you don't give me candy!" in english, I wouldn't translate that into japanese as "トリック・オア・トリート" even though it would be the more normal way to say it. Just my opinion.
blindVigil said:
I agree with this. Japanese people are fully aware of the phrase "trick or treat" and will absolutely use it in both English and katakana if that's what they're wanting to say. Localization is a tool to fill in the blanks between cultures and clean up awkward dialogue, it's not an excuse to rewrite or abridge what someone says just because it's not verbatim what someone would say in English. She's Japanese, she's speaking Japanese, if she wanted to say the English phrase then she would do so.
「お菓子をくれないといたずらするぞ 」(or some variant with different levels of casualness/formality like what Nowaki uses here) IS the stock translation for "trick or treat". It's even listed as the definition of the phrase in an EN/JP dictionary. Along with sample sentences.
Various ESL resources intended for Japanese readers also define the phrase in an identical way:
There are many examples of お菓子をくれないといたずらするぞ being translated into "trick-or-treat" or the other way around. Reverso contain many examples, and お菓子をくれないといたずらするよの海賊団 from One Piece is translated as the Trick-or-Treat Pirates.
blindVigil said:
In this case, I would say it makes more sense to translate it as it's worded, because the context seems to specifically be that she's threatening the commander.
About as threatening as someone going trick-or-treating.
Note also that "gao" is a cutesy "roar" vocalization usually associated with kids play-imitating a dinosaur (like Misuzu from Air), taking out the bite further.
blindVigil said:
"Trick or treat" barely qualifies as a threatening phrase.
It's (technically) an implied threat, and people were complaining about it when kids first used it. But most people don't interpret it take way now because it's a set phrase that has been used for ages. Same (the latter part) goes with お菓子をくれないといたずらするぞ.
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So, overall, SimonP's original translation was right on point. There were zero flanderization or liberties being involved, and it fits with most practices of how the phrase (and its variants) is (back-)translated. That said, the more literal translation is also okay, so I see no reason to revert it.
(Though I took the liberty of altering the translation for "gao" to better convey the "cutesy" aspect of it. Hope you don't mind.)
