Translation of words like マサラタウン


So I understand that translating literally is often not enough, since there
has to be a "patching" between the cultures of the two languages. What I don't
understand is how to handle translations like マサラタウン or certain movie/song
names like ミュウツーの逆襲 EVOLUTION (yes, this is about Pokemon).

Let's take these two examples assuming one has no prior knowledge regarding
the terms:

  1. In the first example, I'd simply translate it has Masara Town. For Pokemon connoisseurs out there, you'd probably recognise the name Pallet Town, the English translation that appeared in games.

  2. For the movie name, my first guess was "Mewtwo's Counterattack: EVOLUTION". The actual translation is "Mewtwo Strikes Back: EVOLUTION". I feel like I got the idea but it doesn't feel as natural.

I'm far from an expert, so I assume that I'll have these kind of problems
until I can properly convey the original meaning. That being said, I'd like to
know what's the thought process behind these types of translation. Does the
writer/editor decide on a translation they're happy with, "coining" the term
for other people to use? If so, does anyone have an idea on how do they do it?

Other name examples in which literal translation does not match:

  1. ルーシィ (Rushi) for Lucy
  2. リズベット (Rizubetto) for Lisbeth
  3. I could probably fill a page with these, but I think you lads and lasses got the idea

Note: I realise that this has potential to become an ongoing discussion and,
thus leaving the purpose of this site. So I'd like to ask to tackle this from
the following point of view: is there something I can actively do to
eventually get these translations right or will I just have to use previously
coined terms?




When it comes to localization of proper nouns, especially titles, experts may
do something aggressive for various reasons. It's a very creative task, and
you have to be very good at both languages and cultures. Check [this list of
Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Japanese_Pok%C3%A9mon_names)
and imagine how Japanese names are localized to English. You can see many
patterns:

  * Transliteration: ピカチュウ → Pikachu; ズバット → Zubat
  * (Partial) translation: ニャース → Meowth; ビリリダマ → Voltorb
  * Newly coined, ignoring the original etymology: メタモン → Ditto; カモネギ → Farfetch'd; ユンゲラー → Kadabra

Sometimes there are practical reasons to change the title entirely, sometimes
there are absolutely no reason.

  * バイオハザード was changed to _Resident Evil_ to avoid trademark issues. 

> When in late 1994 marketing executives were setting up to release Biohazard
> in the United States, it was pointed out that securing the rights to the
> name Biohazard would be very difficult as a DOS game had been registered
> under that name ([from
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil))

  * ポケットモンスター itself was rebranded as _Pokémon_ to avoid [its possible sexual implication](http://www.japanforum.com/forum/anime-manga/34443-pokemon-vs-pocket-monster.html) (although ポケモン is common in Japan as an abbreviation).
  * 上を向いて歩こう was changed to _sukiyaki_ for no good reason. 

> In Anglophone countries, the song is best known under the alternative title
> "Sukiyaki". In Japan it refers to a Japanese hot-pot dish with cooked beef,
> the word sukiyaki does not appear in the song's lyrics, nor does it have any
> connection to them; it was used only because it was short, catchy,
> recognizably Japanese, and more familiar to English speakers. A Newsweek
> columnist noted that the re-titling was like issuing "Moon River" in Japan
> under the title "Beef Stew". ([from
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_\(song\)))

  * クッパ in _Super Mario_ franchise was changed to Bowser for no apparent reason.

So, conveying the original meaning is not always the top priority. People who
are responsible for localization have to think many aspects, and they choose
names thinking what will be the best for the local audience.

Lastly, the Japanese language [doesn't distinguish L and R
consonants](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/9333/5010). Your example of
"ルーシィ → Lucy" seems to be a fairly faithful transliteration to me.




When it comes to localization of proper nouns, especially titles, experts may
do something aggressive for various reasons. It's a very creative task, and
you have to be very good at both languages and cultures. Check [this list of
Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Japanese_Pok%C3%A9mon_names)
and imagine how Japanese names are localized to English. You can see many
patterns:

  * Transliteration: ピカチュウ → Pikachu; ズバット → Zubat
  * (Partial) translation: ニャース → Meowth; ビリリダマ → Voltorb
  * Newly coined, ignoring the original etymology: メタモン → Ditto; カモネギ → Farfetch'd; ユンゲラー → Kadabra

Sometimes there are practical reasons to change the title entirely, sometimes
there are absolutely no reason.

  * バイオハザード was changed to _Resident Evil_ to avoid trademark issues. 

> When in late 1994 marketing executives were setting up to release Biohazard
> in the United States, it was pointed out that securing the rights to the
> name Biohazard would be very difficult as a DOS game had been registered
> under that name ([from
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil))

  * ポケットモンスター itself was rebranded as _Pokémon_ to avoid [its possible sexual implication](http://www.japanforum.com/forum/anime-manga/34443-pokemon-vs-pocket-monster.html) (although ポケモン is common in Japan as an abbreviation).
  * 上を向いて歩こう was changed to _sukiyaki_ for no good reason. 

> In Anglophone countries, the song is best known under the alternative title
> "Sukiyaki". In Japan it refers to a Japanese hot-pot dish with cooked beef,
> the word sukiyaki does not appear in the song's lyrics, nor does it have any
> connection to them; it was used only because it was short, catchy,
> recognizably Japanese, and more familiar to English speakers. A Newsweek
> columnist noted that the re-titling was like issuing "Moon River" in Japan
> under the title "Beef Stew". ([from
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_\(song\)))

  * クッパ in _Super Mario_ franchise was changed to Bowser for no apparent reason.

So, conveying the original meaning is not always the top priority. People who
are responsible for localization have to think many aspects, and they choose
names thinking what will be the best for the local audience.

Lastly, the Japanese language [doesn't distinguish L and R
consonants](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/9333/5010). Your example of
"ルーシィ → Lucy" seems to be a fairly faithful transliteration to me.

