Encountering Japanese ellipses in English translations (2013)
11 days ago
- #punctuation
- #Japanese-language
- #translation
- Ellipses in Japanese games like 'The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening' and 'A Link to the Past' are used more frequently and variably than in English, including one, two, three, five, and six-dot varieties.
- Japanese ellipses, or 'leaders,' serve purposes like indicating speechlessness, dramatic pauses, or timing, differing from English usage which typically employs three dots for omissions or trailing off.
- Translators often standardize Japanese ellipses to three dots in English, sometimes reducing their number to improve readability, though this can alter the tone or pacing of dialogue.
- Punctuation, including ellipses, plays a significant role in translation, affecting the feel of the text, as seen in examples from 'Metal Gear Solid' and 'Final Fantasy IV.'
- The use of ellipses in Japanese media, such as games and manga, reflects cultural differences in communication styles, where pauses and implied meanings are more commonly conveyed through punctuation.