Unread postby jgkitarel » February 3rd, 2013, 9:23 pm
It's not that you can't use Japanese, or even Japanese conventions, but do your research.
Anyway, since we are on the subject of using Japanese, here's a pet peeve of mine: The use of honorifics.
On the use of honorifics, or additions to names in general, be very careful. One bit that tends to annoy people is using something as a title where it would be pointless to do so. To use a common fan example from Naruto, his calling Sasuke, or referring to him for that matter, Sasuke-teme. This is not only inappropriate, but meaningless.
Teme, in the context used is a rather impolite way of saying "you", with the contextual meaning being "bastard" or some other insult. It is not something that follows a name, nor have I really seen it done so, or heard it done so for that matter.
Honorifics can be complicated, extremely so, since they are a combination of gender specific, gender neutral, age-based and contextually based on social seniority. It should be noted that Japanese has dozens of honorifics, so keeping them straight can be difficult. Some are only used in specific circumstances, only in a formal setting, or are rarely used, but still appropriate.
Here's a quick run down for simple use, and this is the simple list.
-sama: Indicates high seniority socially or positionally. Can be used to address nobles as well without making a faux pas.
-san: neutral honorific, used amongst social equals, people who are unfamiliar with each other and by children when addressing adults who are not clear social superiors.
-kun: While implied to be male gender, it is gender neutral. Used to address subordinates in a professional capacity, even females where there is some familiarity and respect. Outside of professional fields, it is used to address younger men and boys. It is highly familiar, so it is only used by those who have either a clearly established heirarchy, or by friends and family.
-chan: Very familiar way to address females. While it is often used in professional fields, it can be considered very impolite if used by a co-worker who is not highly senior. It's also used by older adults to address young women and children. When used to address a boy, he is either very young, or is being addressed as such because he is either being very childish, or it is a deliberate insult.
-sensei: Used to address teachers, but it is often used to also address a given master in any field, regardless of whether the individual in question is teaching or not. It is also an acceptable way to address a doctor (where the much more formal -isshi would not be necessary). Keep in mind that this is not in the context of master-apprentice.
-sempai: Addresses a (probably) social equal who has seniority over someone. Most commonly seen in schools, where upperclassmen are addressed as such, it is also used in the context of a more experienced coworker being addressed as such by newer associates. They are there to help the bosses out by training the newbies, or just simply offering advice from learned experience
-kohai: The opposite of sempai. Used more in Japan than would be seen in fan works, a kohai is expected to listen to the sempai's advice, though they can offer their opinion without it being socially awkward.
Confused yet?
Honorifics can actually be a sticking point to a lot of fanfiction writers, which can actually show if the writer knows the conventions, or did their research. There are several who refrain from even using honorifics unless it is absolutely necessary to avoid mistakes since they may use one that may be grammatically correct, but still incorrect for the context of the situation. Using them in appropriate circumstances and avoiding the overuse of them is a fine line to walk.
Also, I have to punch you, jgkitarel, because I spent a lot of time on the nanoha wiki trying to locate information on mages being trained due to being above a certain rank, only to remember and confirm that you were the one that came up with that. - Phht
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