Subject: [Spam] Using Japanese language in fanfics
From: "Happosai" <happosai@jps.net>
Date: 8/31/1997, 8:52 AM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
happosai@jps.net

I'm curious to hear some thoughts by other authors on using Japanese 
language in fanfics, and what the best way to let the reader know 
what the words mean, if (s)he doesn't know them already.

Is it better to try to let the reader figure out unknown words and 
phrases from context, or is putting in some kind of translation note 
preferable? And is it generally OK to use some of the really common 
ones, such as "tadaima" or "gomen nasai" or "itadakimasu", and just 
assume the average fan knows what they mean?

Or, for example, if I have the following line:

"Kuso!" he swore angrily.

Is it enough for the reader to understand that the character is 
cursing, without letting them know what "kuso" means?

'Cause I just got my copy of "Making Out in Japanese", and I can 
see myself getting carried away pretty easily.

"Motto hayaku, Tenchiiii! Motto hayaku! Iki-soo-daaaaaaaaaaa!" :)


Hassheen!