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White Phoenix

Language Assistance for Pokémon Terms in Japanese and Others

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by , 21st February 2013 at 02:11 PM (268 Views)
I have moved this thread to my blog as per suggestion by Pokemoll, but I am really hoping for more than just “a two-person conversation”.

I have noticed that some foreign language sites that used the English language versions of the games use the English spellings when creating lists such as pokédex entries, but use transliterations into their own alphabets for film titles. Does this apply to all other languages?

Nintendo created a special romaji system for trademarking purposes. Bulbapedia also notes the translations of the forms and variants. Are some or all of these translations also trademarked/official translations?

Sometimes when Google translates the types for arceus from katakana into romaji it creates one word. Which is correct, one word or two (dākutaipu, nōrmaru taipu), or is there no correct way?

I also noticed that even when written using the order, pokémon (form), when speaking the German order is always “form pokémon”. Wouldn’t that be the proper order when using the forms in normal conversation in all languages (except for the unown, and when using a language that normally uses the noun-adjective syntax order)?

Quote Originally Posted by SnorlaxMonster
Quote Originally Posted by SnorlaxMonster View Post
Quote Originally Posted by White Phoenix View Post
Nintendo uses two romaji systems for pokémon, Hepburn and the trademarked spellings
Not true. Nintendo uses only the trademarked/official romaji; Hepburn indicates pronunciation. Having said that, Typing DS does offer multiple romanization systems, but that is for the purpose of the program.

Which is correct, one word or two (dākutaipu, nōrmaru taipu), or is there no correct way?
Since you intend to present it for English speakers, it would be two words. Spaces in Japanese are only used as optional formatting, not a required part of writing like in English, and quite often they aren't used. Both are correct, but I think using a space is better.
Quote Originally Posted by White Phoenix View Post
Nuts. I didn’t mean to write that Nintendo uses both, but that they created the trademarked versions and that both exist. I will correct that.
Quote Originally Posted by SnorlaxMonster
Having said that, Typing DS does offer multiple romanization systems, but that is for the purpose of the program.
I am not sure if I follow you. I don’t know what Typing DS is, but I am guessing it might be a writing aid application?

Well, it’s for any speaker who is non-Japanese. It would be easier to read, even if the user’s native language is usually written without spaces (like German for instance). After all, the Japanese can read the kana.

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Updated 21st February 2013 at 02:33 PM by White Phoenix

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  1. Haruhi.'s Avatar
    on the types, i think it depends. when writing "normal type" with characters it does become one word but when romanticizing it; since it's two words... i think you can separate nomaru taipu since it still means "normal type".

    as for pokemon names, i'm a little stumped. :[
  2. White Phoenix's Avatar
    Yes, I am referring to romaji as stated in the second paragraph. Kanji and the kanas are always without spaces. At least, I have not read anything to indicate exceptions.

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