I usually want a way to distinguish between Hei Pao Shi and Hei Lao-ge that doesn't involve "bro" -- though, granted, now I come to think of it, I could probably use Lord Hei Pao Shi rather than Hei Pao Shi Daren. (Note to self!) And once I'm using Hei Lao-ge, it seems wrong to alternate that with Black-Cloaked Envoy, at least in dialogue. If you know what I mean? That makes a lot of sense. I tend to want to use the English because I find the word "Envoy" evocative, but who knows whether that's the right reaction? I've used "Brother Black" for "Hei Lao-ge" once or twice, but as you say I think that depends on the reader having a sense of the source word, otherwise it just sounds monk-like... . (The only characters in Guardian I would allow to use "bro" are the college boys who attack Zhang Ruonan, it is not a word I care for much.) lol, that Hangul, I see what you mean. I almost like the unwieldiness of the English "Black-Cloaked Envoy," though, just because you have to slow down and pronounce it formally; it's a little bit removed from everyday language. Also, we tend to say "the Regent" instead of 摂政官？forgotten his Chinese? and "the Lord Guardian" instead of 領主 (likewise), so I like the titles as exceptions. All that said, I've never been bothered by finding Hei Pao Shi in a fic...
Similarly, it's useful to use -ge so you can distinguish it from -xiong. I love all the nuance and inferred meaning behind the different address forms (even if I only understand a fraction of them), and translation tends to flatten. Yes! I was thinking while writing other comments as well that this whole conversation is by definition biased, because we're all language fanciers who are likely to find source-language words interesting and engaging when used in subtitles or fic, as a source of linguistic/cultural pleasure as well as the rest; presumably not everyone reacts that way, but you couldn't prove it by me. :)
Also, separate point, I'm most likely to use "my Black-Cloaked Friend" or "his younger brother" (rather than Didi) in fanfic when I'm trying to obscure my identity for the purposes of anon periods in exchanges. Heh. ha! You have now given yourself away, of course, and will have to find new synonyms :) I know what you mean, though. It can be kind of fun searching for those particular linguistic habits...
Edited (so much blather I will happily chatter back and forth about this kind of thing for ever, so please feel free to go on at length any time!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2020-11-16 10:12 am (UTC)That makes a lot of sense. I tend to want to use the English because I find the word "Envoy" evocative, but who knows whether that's the right reaction? I've used "Brother Black" for "Hei Lao-ge" once or twice, but as you say I think that depends on the reader having a sense of the source word, otherwise it just sounds monk-like... . (The only characters in Guardian I would allow to use "bro" are the college boys who attack Zhang Ruonan, it is not a word I care for much.)
lol, that Hangul, I see what you mean. I almost like the unwieldiness of the English "Black-Cloaked Envoy," though, just because you have to slow down and pronounce it formally; it's a little bit removed from everyday language. Also, we tend to say "the Regent" instead of 摂政官？forgotten his Chinese? and "the Lord Guardian" instead of 領主 (likewise), so I like the titles as exceptions. All that said, I've never been bothered by finding Hei Pao Shi in a fic...
Similarly, it's useful to use -ge so you can distinguish it from -xiong. I love all the nuance and inferred meaning behind the different address forms (even if I only understand a fraction of them), and translation tends to flatten.
Yes! I was thinking while writing other comments as well that this whole conversation is by definition biased, because we're all language fanciers who are likely to find source-language words interesting and engaging when used in subtitles or fic, as a source of linguistic/cultural pleasure as well as the rest; presumably not everyone reacts that way, but you couldn't prove it by me. :)
Also, separate point, I'm most likely to use "my Black-Cloaked Friend" or "his younger brother" (rather than Didi) in fanfic when I'm trying to obscure my identity for the purposes of anon periods in exchanges. Heh.
ha! You have now given yourself away, of course, and will have to find new synonyms :) I know what you mean, though. It can be kind of fun searching for those particular linguistic habits...
Edited (so much blather
I will happily chatter back and forth about this kind of thing for ever, so please feel free to go on at length any time!