Language Assistance for Pokémon Terms in Japanese and Others

[Rod Lockwood]

I have noticed that some foreign language sites that used the English language versions of the games use the English spellings when creating lists such as pokédex entries, but use transliterations into their own alphabets for film titles. Does this apply to all other languages?

Nintendo created a special romaji system for trademarking purposes. Bulbapedia also notes the translations of the forms and variants. Are some or all of these translations also trademarked/official translations?

Sometimes when Google translates the types for arceus from katakana into romaji it creates one word. Which is correct, one word or two (dākutaipu, nōrmaru taipu), or is there no correct way?

I also noticed that even when written using the order, pokémon (form), when speaking the German order is always “form pokémon”. Wouldn’t that be the proper order when using the forms in normal conversation in all languages (except for the unown, and when using a language that normally uses the noun-adjective syntax order)?

 

[SnorlaxMonster]

Nintendo uses two romaji systems for pokémon, Hepburn and the trademarked spellings

Not true. Nintendo uses only the trademarked/official romaji; Hepburn indicates pronunciation. Having said that, Typing DS does offer multiple romanization systems, but that is for the purpose of the program.

Which is correct, one word or two (dākutaipu, nōrmaru taipu), or is there no correct way?

Since you intend to present it for English speakers, it would be two words. Spaces in Japanese are only used as optional formatting, not a required part of writing like in English, and quite often they aren't used. Both are correct, but I think using a space is better.

 

[Rod Lockwood]

Nuts. I didn’t mean to write that Nintendo uses both, but that they created the trademarked versions and that both exist. I will correct that.

Having said that, Typing DS does offer multiple romanization systems, but that is for the purpose of the program.

I am not sure if I follow you. I don’t know what Typing DS is, but I am guessing it might be a writing aid application?

Well, it’s for any speaker who is non-Japanese. It would be easier to read, even if the user’s native language is usually written without spaces (like German for instance). After all, the Japanese can read the kana.

 

[pokemoll]

Moved to Video Games from Outside the Box.

 

[Rod Lockwood]

Now why would you move this to Video Games? The topic is related to using languages not video games.

 

[GatoRage]

Since this would probably be more suitable as a blog and has already been made into one, I'm closing this for now.