Would a Generation of Universally-named Pokémon be great?

[winstein]

When talking about a Pokemon's name, there will be different ways to call them in certain territories. The ones we normally use are English, but the French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Korean uses different names. For example, Bulbasaur is not called Bulbasaur in Japan, but it is called Fushigidane. Another example is Haunter, where it's called Spectrum in French.

Although the Pokemon are generally called differently in different territories, there are a few that are called the same name everywhere. Pikachu is a notable example, as everyone knows Pikachu as Pikachu, no matter where you live. A few others include Zoroark, Lucario and Paras. Legendary Pokemon tend to have universal names, especially the powerful ones. There are even others with the same name in at least two languages, as is the case with Chikorita and Ralts. Because of the similarity in name, they are more easily understood by those who prefer other names.

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In Generation 6, Pokemon is approaching a more universal scale, with the games being released everywhere at the same time, so no one is left behind. Now comes the point of discussion I would like to bring up.

Because of the more universal appeal of Pokemon, I would love to think that one day, we will have an entire generation of Pokemon that will be universal in the naming, so that everybody calls the Pokemon the same way as everyone else. It won't be just a select few Pokemon and legendaries that will get the treatment, but every one of them, even the birds and the insects. After all, it will be easier that way, where no one is left out of discussions where certain users insist of using a certain type of names (Japanese in particular), despite the currently universal release of the games.

Now, when I proposed this, I am not just saying that all names use the Japanese interpretations. I am thinking more along the lines of two approaches:
1) The first approach would be to have the best and most appropriate names of each Pokemon, so a certain Pokemon will use English names, others using Japanese names, others using the French version etc. Perhaps there might be a Spanish one to add to the mix.
2) The second approach would use a fusion of language. This one is harder to do, due to the bigger combinations, but we already have existing examples. Zoroark, for example, is a mix between the Spanish "fox" and "dark" or "aku" (English or Japanese). The Deino line is similarly a wordplay as well, using English words and German words to form their name.

Perhaps the idea of a generation with universally-named Pokemon might be too ambitious, or that not everyone will be ready for such a thing to happen. With that said, what are your thoughts on a generation of universally-name Pokemon? Would you like it to happen in the future? Do you prefer the names to stay segmented into their own languages? Would it be potentially beneficial to everybody? Would it be too difficult to grasp the concept? I would like to hear your thoughts on this one, for sure.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Almonds]

Some of the names don't work universally because of cultural differences.

Pokemon is created in Japan, so a lot of pokemons are bound to have names that are based on the Japanese culture. The games are mostly played by children, and they probably don't understand much Japanese if it isn't their mother tongue. They could probably just consider a name like Pichu to be a cute made-up-name and not give it much thought behind the meaning. But names like Yukimenoko, Fushigidane, and Hinoarashi just sounds Japanese on its own - because it is.
People would wonder what on earth it even means, if they don't speak the language. That's where the different names come in handy. Each language uses their own name based on their culture. Froslass, Bulbasaur, and Cyndaquil - the names are created using words that are more familiar, and more widely used based on culture in each country.

Also, there's the part where some of the Japanese pokemon names are English words. Sand (Sandshrew), Showers (Vaporeon)... wouldn't it be awkward if you just saw this "A wild Sand appeared!" in your English copy of the game? This is mostly limited to the early generations, but there's no guarantee they won't use English words for names again.

Thus... that's my two reasons why universal names won't work well.

 

[winstein]

Some of the names don't work universally because of cultural differences.

Pokemon is created in Japan, so a lot of pokemons are bound to have names that are based on the Japanese culture. The games are mostly played by children, and they probably don't understand much Japanese if it isn't their mother tongue. They could probably just consider a name like Pichu to be a cute made-up-name and not give it much thought behind the meaning. But names like Yukimenoko, Fushigidane, and Hinoarashi just sounds Japanese on its own - because it is.
People would wonder what on earth it even means, if they don't speak the language. That's where the different names come in handy. Each language uses their own name based on their culture. Froslass, Bulbasaur, and Cyndaquil - the names are created using words that are more familiar, and more widely used based on culture in each country.

Also, there's the part where some of the Japanese pokemon names are English words. Sand (Sandshrew), Showers (Vaporeon)... wouldn't it be awkward if you just saw this "A wild Sand appeared!" in your English copy of the game? This is mostly limited to the early generations, but there's no guarantee they won't use English words for names again.

Thus... that's my two reasons why universal names won't work well.

First of all, I am speaking more on the context of new Pokemon using universal names, so those with older Pokemon's names are not going to be changed. It would be too late to use the names that were already named earlier, so the notion that old names having to be retooled should be disregarded for the purpose of the discussion.

I do agree that purposefully using names that is considered bland in one language is undesirable in regards to the appeal to the Pokemon, so for example, there is a better name in English compared to "Gear", "Sand" and "Ghost".

I understand that Pokemon is created in Japan, so it's why it seems natural that the names are Japanese compared to others. I am thinking more that the Pokemon names won't just be based on the Japanese language. Instead, the name would have more connections with another language, especially if their origins are from something of a different culture (other than Japan, of course). You have a point that the overall origin of a Pokemon would be best in their own language.

I have listed two examples on names that originate from different languages, them being Zoroark and the Deino line. Would that be too confusing to anybody (so no one wins), or would it be a good way to approach a universal name?

Thanks for reading.

 

[Winterdaze]

Right now? No, since they've chosen to localise names, I'd prefer them to be consistent about it.

But if they had decided to use one set of names from the beginning, then I wouldn't be averse to it. Even if some of the Japanese names are terrible, so are some of the English ones, so it evens out I guess.

 

[Team Gaara]

So you mean like: some of the names have Japanese origins, some English, some maybe Spanish or French depending on who came up with the best/most fitting name and then they would be called by the same name in all languages? Like: Everyone says Harimaron or Spritzee, for example, instead of Harimaron and Shushup to the Japanese and Chespin and Spritzee in English/Spanish?

Well, up until now it would have made for an easier way to get the names down without having to worry about accidentally referring to Jellicent as Burungel later on. As of now, it's an interesting concept (I am one who likes to study languages) for Pokemon to have universal names. I especially like when they combine words from other languages like the Zoroark/Deino examples, as it shows that they're really taking into consideration a good sounding name.

I like both ideas, but I don't think they'd ever be implemented so that everyone says a Pokemon the same way in every language. Maybe the majority, but it'd probably be hard to do it for every language. Not to do with it being too misunderstanding, since I really don't see that, persay, as an issue, rather than, like, certain names may just be good in most languages and a bit off in others. Dialga is the only example I can think of, right now (alga is Spanish for seaweed and Dialga hardly has any connection to seaweed).

 

[KaiserLugia]

It's pretty hard to have a name that's universal. One part of creating Legendary Pokemon is so its name is the same across all languages, which makes choosing a name very difficult. Imagine doing that with ALL Pokemon in a generation, it would be near impossible.

 

[KaylaBaraonda]

Well, or maybe they can do by naming them after real people who have a

connection on the basis on the Pokémon.

You have 23 of them being named after surnames of people or placenames

related to the Pokèmon s' inspiration (maybe mispelling them a bit), 28

of them having two or three languages in the same name, and 24 of them

have names in gratitous (possibly mispelled) Latin, Greek, or another

language that is not French, English, German, or Japanese. You have 75

Pokèmon. To turn the full number in the regional dex into 151, you just

need 76 older Pokèmon. (Pichu, Pikachu, Raichu, Tentacool, Tentacruel,

Magikarp, Gyarados, Feebas, Milotic, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Geodude,

Graveler, Golem, Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar,

Goldeen, Seaking, Azurill, Marill, Azumarill, Psyduck, Golduck, Caterpie,

Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Wurmple, Silcoon,

Beautifly, Cascoon, Dustox, Onix, Steelix, Plusle, Minun, Pachirisu,

Emolga, Dedenne, Wingull, Pelliper, Budew, Roselia, Roserade, Happiny,

Chansey, Blissey, Munchlax, Snorlax, Ponyta, Rapidash, Meowth, Persian,

Mankey, Primeape, Wynaut, Wobuffet, Unown, Girafarig, Croagunk,

Toxicroak, Wooper, Quagsire, Igglybuff, Jigglipuff, Wigglytuff, Cleffa,

Clefairy, Clefable- that is what i'd say. Basing on regional-common-

placeness, fitting in with the other gens, anime-iconicness, and also the

first pokemon game i played was Diamond and most of those are in the

SinnohDex- this is why there is no Gen 5 or Gen 6 Pokemon - I played

Diamond up to the Elite Four, but i only played Heartgold up to Whitney

and Pokemon White1 up to Clay, so DPPt is the most iconic game for me.)

 

[Muur]

It would make reading threads easier when you don't see Japanese names being used on an English forum.

 

[tonny.chen.52]

It's pretty hard to have a name that's universal. One part of creating Legendary Pokemon is so its name is the same across all languages, which makes choosing a name very difficult. Imagine doing that with ALL Pokemon in a generation, it would be near impossible.

 

[SupersonicScolipede]

You know how people complain that the nickname engine censors everything because it has to block vulgarity in every language? Imagine Game Freak having to do that for every single new Pokemon. Universal names are a cool idea, but ultimately would be very difficult to implement.

 

[Te-em]

At least I would like to see that Pokemon with non-Japanese names in Japan keep their names worldwide. If they are a word like Sand, they can be altered or mispelled, like Sando for instance. Some English names of Pokemon already contain a single English word, like Gloom, Golem and Mu(c)k, so it won't be a new problem. Japanese names, if too hard to pronounce for non-Japanese speakers, can be translated into the name of the target language, e.g. Japanese Koratta -> German Rattfratz.

I understand what the original poster means, that if a Pokemon is based on a culture, it should have a name from that culture. I think that a good idea. I don't know if creatures from Japanese mythologies, Japanese fashion or other things exclusive to Japan usually have English names next to their Japanese ones, or maybe I haven't thought about it. The same goes for other cultures. Japan usually borrows English words from English culture I think.

The name of the Pokemon should highlight the culture it is based on, if it is based on a culture.