Does anyone know what "zo-to" (I think) means.

[MJN SEIFER]

Apparently in the original translation of FFVII Reno was going to say "zo-to" during every other sentance. Anyone know what that would have translated as?

[Wolf Kanno]

It doesn't have a direct translation, which is why its often dropped from some of the translations. Its just a slang term like Yo, or Raijin's "You Know". This is pretty normal in a lot of anime and manga, especially the part where English translators often drop it altogether cause it gets grating. Like Naruto's "dattebyo" catch phrase being dropped in most fan dubs and in later episodes of the real dub.

It reminds me of MGS3 where the main villain occasionally says "Kuwabara Kuwabara" except it has no English equivalent in translation, so they just kept it as it is in the script.

[Big D]

In the Japanese audio for Advent Children Reno also says "zotto" a lot and, less frequently, "datto". In the English, this is substituted with something like an informal "ya know" or "man", as Wolf Kanno described.

Volgin's use of "kuwabara, kuwabara" in MGS3 could have been translated, but even then he'd just be naming a plant. Without the cultural context, it'd be pretty meaningless to an English-speaking audience. It would've helped if they'd taken a moment to explain the old myth about Mulberry trees, even if it was just in a radio conversation or something.

[Jiro]

I would love to know what this myth about mulberry trees is!

[Big D]

If I remember correctly...

In Chinese myth, mulberry trees are special and don't get struck by lightning; this has carried over into Japanese language and culture. The Japanese name for the mulberry tree is 'kuwabara', and the phrase 'kuwabara, kuwabara' is a superstitious oath to ward off lightning. MGS3's Colonel Volgin, a man whose body has a supernaturally powerful electric charge, mutters this oath whenever rain or lightning is approaching. Until one time, when he doesn't bother and instead grumbles about not being afraid of a little thunder. Whereupon he gets struck by a lightning bolt and killed.

Incidentally, Wikipedia doesn't fully agree with my account of the Mulberry tree deal:
Kuwabara kuwabara - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwabara_kuwabara)

[Fynn]

It's like in Persona 4 where they replaced Teddie's "-kuma" with bear-related puns. I think that was quite a smart move. Though oftentimes it is better to drop such patterns in translating, because a natural-sounding translation always tops an overly literal one.

[Jessweeee♪]

Yeah, I notice when I'm watching fansubs that weird verbal ticks at the end of a sentence is really common. It only really annoys me when it gets dubbed into something like BELIEVE IT! Fortunately I don't watch anything that does that.


It's like in Persona 4 where they replaced Teddie's "-kuma" with bear-related puns. I think that was quite a smart move. Though oftentimes it is better to drop such patterns in translating, because a natural-sounding translation always tops an overly literal one.

Aww man when the anime comes out we're gonna lose the bear puns :(

[MJN SEIFER]

Thanks for answering. I'm almost dissapointed that it was taken out now (they could have at least made it something like "yo" if they were afraid that non-Japanese gamers wouldn't get it - like how Rajin had the "Ya Know".) I think seiferalmasy2's translation restored it though...

[Fynn]

I've yet to meet a person who ends their sentences with "yo" in real life, though. "Ya know" is a bit more common. But I generally disagreed with seiferalmasy2 on his decisions in the FFVII retranslation. Ah, well...

Jess, why would we lose the puns! That would be lame! Do not want! D:

[MJN SEIFER]

I've yet to meet a person who ends their sentences with "yo" in real life, though. "Ya know" is a bit more common. I've never heard it either, just on TV. I have heard people end sentances with "Ya Know" at times, but not every single sentance like they do on games and (I assume) TV.

One I have heard (not mentioned on this thread yet) is "man" (regardless of whether the person is talking to a man or not) as in "What are we gonna do now, man?" which I have heard people say during every other sentance, and I have yet to see it employed in the media.

I thought seiferalmasy2's translation was good (I still got the guide saved). Oh, just remembered - I did dissagree with him removing all the American spellings, but that's about all I dissagreed with.

[Mercen-X]

I've yet to meet a person who ends their sentences with "yo" in real life, though. "Ya know" is a bit more common.

I believe "yo" was originated as a shortened version of "ya know", you know, because "ya know" just isn't short enough. I have heard yo end sentences usually by complete idiot street gang members or at least the wannabe "gangstas".

[Wolf Kanno]

Thanks for answering. I'm almost dissapointed that it was taken out now (they could have at least made it something like "yo" if they were afraid that non-Japanese gamers wouldn't get it - like how Rajin had the "Ya Know".) I think seiferalmasy2's translation restored it though...

I'm actually happy it wasn't placed in the game, cause its irritating and I feel Reno was actually made into a better character by having most of his characterization lost in translation. I find him less charming when he pops in other titles or media nowadays.

[Mercen-X]

There are a lot of characters I feel that way about. There are some in which I feel the opposite, but nothing doing.

[aquatius]

Verbal ticks are so much more prevalent in Japanese anime/games that a lot of time they're best left untranslated nano desu.

[Big D]

One I have heard (not mentioned on this thread yet) is "man" (regardless of whether the person is talking to a man or not) as in "What are we gonna do now, man?" which I have heard people say during every other sentance, and I have yet to see it employed in the media.I mentioned the "man" thing in my earlier post, and it's used by Reno in Advent Children. For example, take the scene in which he tells Cloud, "I think she wants you to move on, man." I'm pretty sure that's a "zotto" line in the Japanese.

Thanks for answering. I'm almost dissapointed that it was taken out now (they could have at least made it something like "yo" if they were afraid that non-Japanese gamers wouldn't get it - like how Rajin had the "Ya Know".) I think seiferalmasy2's translation restored it though...FFVII had some translation issues for sure, but it would've been downright stupid if Reno's English dialgoue included random, unexplained exclamations of "zotto", "datto" and the like. The idea that "non-Japanese gamers wouldn't get it" it silly, I think. It's basically some Japanophile weeaboo saying that us puny westerners can't cope with the sheer superhuman intensity and majesty of the Japanese language... when in reality, it's just dumb to translate dialogue from one language to another without addressing the slang too.

[Mercen-X]

Don't you know that Reno loves Risotto?

[MJN SEIFER]

[QUOTE=MJN SEIFER;2992441]One I have heard (not mentioned on this thread yet) is "man" (regardless of whether the person is talking to a man or not) as in "What are we gonna do now, man?" which I have heard people say during every other sentance, and I have yet to see it employed in the media.I mentioned the "man" thing in my earlier post, and it's used by Reno in Advent Children. For example, take the scene in which he tells Cloud, "I think she wants you to move on, man." I'm pretty sure that's a "zotto" line in the Japanese.
[QUOTE] I must have missed it, sorry.