September 05, 2006

Pronouns on Friends

As it turns out, there are sites that post samizdat English-Japanese translations of Friends scripts. (Episodes of most popular American television programs are available in Japan on DVD or via satellite.) A brief exerpt from one such script reveals some interesting translation choices. For the most part, though, as you will see below, most pronouns are simply eliminated in the Japanese translation.

Several interesting translation choices occur with the first-person and second-person pronouns in the conversation between Ross and Chandler. Ross refers to himself as boku while Chandler uses ore. This is clearly based on the translator's understanding of the difference between their characters: Ross is a professor, while Chandler—although a college graduate—is "one of the boys." He used to live with Joey, after all.

The one time Chandler does refer directly to Ross, he uses his name (Rosu) rather than a pronoun, suggesting that even though they are addressing each other as equals, Chandler is elevating Ross slightly above himself.

The one time that Ross's diction matches Chandler's is when he is "threatening" him. Previously, when he says, "I need to talk to you," he uses the more neutral kimi. In this case, though, he refers to Chandler using the second-person pronoun o-mae. This "guy talk" is clearly out of character for Ross, and given Chandler's reaction, is as funny in Japanese as it is in English.

The following materials were borrowed from the LA Tokyo website.

Monica: Do you realize this is probably the last time we'll all be here in the coffee house as six single people?ここで集まるの最後だね6人のシングルとして
Phoebe: Why?! What's happening to the coffee house?! (Monica looks at her.) Oh! (Realizes.)なんで?ここがどうした?!(モニカが視線を送る)ああ(気づく)
Chandler: Yep! From now on it's gonna be the four of you guys and me and the misses. The little woman. The wife. The old ball and chain.だな!これからは君達4人とオレと妻女房奥さん昔ながらの恐妻
Monica: Old?昔ながら?
Chandler: The young hot ball and chain.若くてセクシーな恐妻
Monica: That's much better.よろしい
Rachel: (checking her watch) Oh! We gotta go! (The girls stand up.)(腕時計を見て)あ!行かなくちゃ(女性郡が立ち上がる)
Ross: Oh, where are you guys going?どこ行くの?
Monica: We're gonna pick up the wedding dress then we're gonna have lunch with mom. (Joey stands up.)ドレスを受け取ってそれから母さんとランチ(ジョーイが立ち上がる)
Ross: Ah. Joey you're-you're having lunch with my mom?そうかジョーイもうちの母さんと?
Joey: No, I-I just heard lunch. But yeah, I can go. Sure! (They all exit.)ただランチって聞こえたでもまあ行けるよおお!(店を出る)
Ross: (To Chandler) Y'know what? Actually I'm kinda glad they're leaving 'cause uh, I need to talk to you about something.(チャンドラーに)あのさちょうどよかったかもに話があるんだ
Chandler: What's up?どうした?
Ross: Well this uh, this may be a little awkward.ちょっと言いにくいけど
Chandler: Listen, if you want to borrow money, it's kind of a bad time. I'm buying dinner for 128 people tomorrow night.金借りたいなら今日はだめ明日128人分のディナーおごりだからさ
Ross: No, it's…It's not that. Umm, now what I'm going to say to you, I'm not saying as your friend. Okay? I'm-I'm saying as it as Monica's older brother.違うあのさ今からが言うこと友達としてじゃないからなモニカの兄として言うぞ
Chandler: But you're still my friend?でもロスオレの友達?
Ross: Not for the next few minutes.今から数分は違う
Chandler: During this time . . . are you, are you still my best man?この数分間・・・まだオレのベストマン?
Ross: Nope.いいや
Chandler: Do I still call you Ross?まだロスって呼んでいい?
Ross: Okay! You guys are getting married tomorrow and-and I couldn't be more thrilled for both of you, but as Monica's older brother I-I have to tell you this. If you ever hurt my little sister, if you ever cause her any unhappiness of any kind, I will hunt you down, and kick your ass! (Chandler laughs.) What? I'm-I'm-I'm serious! (Chandler laughs harder.) Hey! Dude! Stop it! Okay? I'm-I'm not kidding here!君達明日結婚するわけで本当に嬉しいけどモニカの兄として言わせてもらうの妹を傷つけたり悲しませたりしたらお前を探し出してぶっ飛ばすからな! (チャンドラーが笑う)何?マジだぞ! (チャンドラーがもっと笑う)ちょっ―おい!やめろ!冗談じゃないぞ!
Chandler: (smiling) Hey, I hear what you're saying, okay? And, thanks for the warning.(笑顔で)言いたいことはわかった忠告ありがとう
Ross: No problem.いいえ
Chandler: So are we . . . friends again?もう友達に戻った?
Ross: Yeah.ああ
Chandler: Okay. (Pause) You won't believe what Monica's older brother just said to me!おぅ(間)びっくりするぜモニカの兄に言われたこと!

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