The argument between whether subbed or dubbed is better is a very old argument. Personally I like the dubbed.
Why do I prefer dubbed?
Yes, I'm an American, but being a lazy American who wants everything in English is not my reason. For a long time I couldn't watch subbed things because they gave me a headache. It wasn't like I didn't want too. I couldn't turn the sound off either because then my attention would wonder, plus I wouldn't hear any of the other sounds that weren't voices. Recently it seems that subbed versions don't bother me any more. Well, I still won't watch anything in Spanish because I hate hate hate the way the Spanish language sounds. I have nothing against Spanish people, I just can't stand the language. I can watch things in French and Japanese if I want to though. I've gotten used to the sounds of Japanese words slowly since the dubbed versions still use some. I know a small bit of French from when I took French and ballet so that doesn't bother me either. I'm only writing all this because I want people to realize that there are more than just one or two reasons for people not watching subbed versions of anime. I don't like when people act like you can't really enjoy it or you don't count if you won't watch it the original way.
However, that's not the only reason I prefer dubbed versions. I'm a pretty good reader, but that doesn't mean I can read a paragraph in a blink of an eye! If I have to read every word that is said, it's hard to have time to focus on the scene itself. Therefor I miss things sometimes. If it's an action show and they are talking during the battle, I don't want to miss what they are saying, but I also don't want to miss the fighting either. If I can use two senses instead of just one (my eyes and ears instead of just my eyes) it's easier.
Recently I watched one of the Rurouni Kenshin OVA's in subbed form because it took me a little while to find the dubbed version. (aka it was in my youtube playlist which was the one place I didn't look....) Right after I finished the subbed version I remembered where the dubbed version was and watched it. They were not the exact same. Firstly, I was able to see more of what was going on because I wasn't reading the words. There were things I hadn't even noticed before that I could see then. Secondly, it made more sense. I don't know if it's the same with other subbed animes, but this one sometimes didn't make sense. I think perhaps when it was dubbed, they changed some lines and made it more understandable for English speaking people. I'm guessing if a Japanese person read the subbed version, it might have still made perfect sense to them. However, there are cultural differences including how we express ourselves and how we speak. Saying "I am happy" in one country may have a different deeper meaning than saying it in another if that makes sense. Also, I remember when I was taking French class and when I was learning a bit of sign language, I became more aware of how tone of voice and body movements change meanings of words. For instance, you can turn any sentence in French into a question simply by changing your voice. In sign language, facial expression and head movements can change how a sign is read. In language, pauses in sentences can reveal intention. The problem is, it's not always the same across the board. It can also be harder to notice such things if you are already busy trying to read the words and watch the screen. If it is in your own language, not only does that eliminate one extra things to take your attention away, but it also makes it easier to catch those small things that only pauses, tones, and body movements can add. I'm betting the subbed version was simply the Japanese translated into English words where as the dubbed version took the concept instead of the exact words. Of course this is only one anime and only my opinion. It may not be the same for everyone and everything. I just understood the way the dubbed version put certain things better. The other problem with the subbed wording was they didn't change some words into something that would make sense to an English speaking person. It was as if they used Google translator and Google didn't recognize the word or couldn't find a corresponding word in it's English dictionary so it just left it the way it was. Which I suppose is cheaper than getting a bilingual human to do it. Is that really what they do though?
I do want to mention that I don't regret watching the subbed version. I missed seeing some things and didn't understand a lot of the conversation, but there were some useful differences. Just like how the dubbed version said some things in a way that made more sense to me, so did the subbed. Well, I think saying it made more sense is the wrong way to say it. In the subbed version, the way they spoke and the words used gave more insight to the current situation. Since I watched them so close together and I had read the first one, it was easy to combine what was said in both versions while watching the dub to get a better overall understanding of how the characters felt and what was going on than I would have gotten just watching one version.
The one thing I do like about subs is that if there is an important sign or a letter written in Japanese, it seems the subbed versions will translate the writing to. I remember watching .Hack//sign and not being able to read what was written during those silent parts. It held an important part of the story so I went searching on the internet to find out what it said. I didn't think at the time to find the subbed version and watch those particular parts. Often times, not knowing what signs and things say isn't a problem because it's not overly important. However, if the letter isn't read out loud or it's a written explanation or narrarration or important to understanding the story, I kind of want to know what it says. I still don't understand why they would make a dubbed version for people who don't understand Japanese but not translate the written parts. If I can't understand Japanese, I probably can't read it either dumb dumbs! It doesn't make any sense to translate the spoken parts and not at least the important parts.
On the up side, I do sometimes find dubs that have translated the written parts. I don't know if it was done that way by the company or if someone came along and edited it in there for the particular site or something. Since it isn't on all the episodes usually, especially if I watch some of the episodes on a different site, I'm assuming some nice intelligent person came along and so kindly translated it. It just makes no sense to bother dubbing the spoken parts if you put important parts in writing and don't translate them too. I said it before and I will say it again. If I'm watching the dubbed version I probably don't understand or speak Japanese which means.....I PROBABLY DON'T READ IT EITHER!!! What, you think you only have to edit what's on the screen if you are adding sub words. You don't have to erase the Japanese just put the English somewhere.
I don't watch subs if I can find the dubbed version but I think it is interesting to see just how different the two are. Of course, there was one scene that couldn't even stay the same in just one version. Every time there was a flashback or they showed the scene of Kenshin in front of the three graves when he met his swords master was different. It was shown more than once in the OVA and yet even though both times were in the subbed or the dubbed, the words were never the same! They weren't the same as the tv show either. The words differed a bit every time even though the scene was the same exact event. I'm not sure if the scene was ever shown twice with the exact same wording. What did they do, remake the scene every time they showed it?!
My point is, there is nothing wrong with subbed or dubbed. I think both are necessary. Some people hate dubs. I don't. All of my reviews are based on the dubbed version so far. I do have a few animes I plan to watch that either don't have a dubbed version or I can't find the dubbed version for, and therefor I will use the subs. Whether I actually write my thoughts on it will depend on if I can understand enough of it.
Dubbed Pros Cons
can look at the scene instead of the words some ideas and emotions lost
dialougue is said as English might say it farther from original
Japanese words translated into words English knows
easier to watch
Subbed Pros Cons
Closer to the original way written Attention torn between reading and watching
Keeps more of the original emotions and ideas Translation to English not always clear
Translates written Japanese Some words not translated
Anyway.....feel free to comment with your agreement or disagreement or if you feel I am wrong about something. :)
Have a nice day!
Why do I prefer dubbed?
Yes, I'm an American, but being a lazy American who wants everything in English is not my reason. For a long time I couldn't watch subbed things because they gave me a headache. It wasn't like I didn't want too. I couldn't turn the sound off either because then my attention would wonder, plus I wouldn't hear any of the other sounds that weren't voices. Recently it seems that subbed versions don't bother me any more. Well, I still won't watch anything in Spanish because I hate hate hate the way the Spanish language sounds. I have nothing against Spanish people, I just can't stand the language. I can watch things in French and Japanese if I want to though. I've gotten used to the sounds of Japanese words slowly since the dubbed versions still use some. I know a small bit of French from when I took French and ballet so that doesn't bother me either. I'm only writing all this because I want people to realize that there are more than just one or two reasons for people not watching subbed versions of anime. I don't like when people act like you can't really enjoy it or you don't count if you won't watch it the original way.
However, that's not the only reason I prefer dubbed versions. I'm a pretty good reader, but that doesn't mean I can read a paragraph in a blink of an eye! If I have to read every word that is said, it's hard to have time to focus on the scene itself. Therefor I miss things sometimes. If it's an action show and they are talking during the battle, I don't want to miss what they are saying, but I also don't want to miss the fighting either. If I can use two senses instead of just one (my eyes and ears instead of just my eyes) it's easier.
Recently I watched one of the Rurouni Kenshin OVA's in subbed form because it took me a little while to find the dubbed version. (aka it was in my youtube playlist which was the one place I didn't look....) Right after I finished the subbed version I remembered where the dubbed version was and watched it. They were not the exact same. Firstly, I was able to see more of what was going on because I wasn't reading the words. There were things I hadn't even noticed before that I could see then. Secondly, it made more sense. I don't know if it's the same with other subbed animes, but this one sometimes didn't make sense. I think perhaps when it was dubbed, they changed some lines and made it more understandable for English speaking people. I'm guessing if a Japanese person read the subbed version, it might have still made perfect sense to them. However, there are cultural differences including how we express ourselves and how we speak. Saying "I am happy" in one country may have a different deeper meaning than saying it in another if that makes sense. Also, I remember when I was taking French class and when I was learning a bit of sign language, I became more aware of how tone of voice and body movements change meanings of words. For instance, you can turn any sentence in French into a question simply by changing your voice. In sign language, facial expression and head movements can change how a sign is read. In language, pauses in sentences can reveal intention. The problem is, it's not always the same across the board. It can also be harder to notice such things if you are already busy trying to read the words and watch the screen. If it is in your own language, not only does that eliminate one extra things to take your attention away, but it also makes it easier to catch those small things that only pauses, tones, and body movements can add. I'm betting the subbed version was simply the Japanese translated into English words where as the dubbed version took the concept instead of the exact words. Of course this is only one anime and only my opinion. It may not be the same for everyone and everything. I just understood the way the dubbed version put certain things better. The other problem with the subbed wording was they didn't change some words into something that would make sense to an English speaking person. It was as if they used Google translator and Google didn't recognize the word or couldn't find a corresponding word in it's English dictionary so it just left it the way it was. Which I suppose is cheaper than getting a bilingual human to do it. Is that really what they do though?
I do want to mention that I don't regret watching the subbed version. I missed seeing some things and didn't understand a lot of the conversation, but there were some useful differences. Just like how the dubbed version said some things in a way that made more sense to me, so did the subbed. Well, I think saying it made more sense is the wrong way to say it. In the subbed version, the way they spoke and the words used gave more insight to the current situation. Since I watched them so close together and I had read the first one, it was easy to combine what was said in both versions while watching the dub to get a better overall understanding of how the characters felt and what was going on than I would have gotten just watching one version.
The one thing I do like about subs is that if there is an important sign or a letter written in Japanese, it seems the subbed versions will translate the writing to. I remember watching .Hack//sign and not being able to read what was written during those silent parts. It held an important part of the story so I went searching on the internet to find out what it said. I didn't think at the time to find the subbed version and watch those particular parts. Often times, not knowing what signs and things say isn't a problem because it's not overly important. However, if the letter isn't read out loud or it's a written explanation or narrarration or important to understanding the story, I kind of want to know what it says. I still don't understand why they would make a dubbed version for people who don't understand Japanese but not translate the written parts. If I can't understand Japanese, I probably can't read it either dumb dumbs! It doesn't make any sense to translate the spoken parts and not at least the important parts.
On the up side, I do sometimes find dubs that have translated the written parts. I don't know if it was done that way by the company or if someone came along and edited it in there for the particular site or something. Since it isn't on all the episodes usually, especially if I watch some of the episodes on a different site, I'm assuming some nice intelligent person came along and so kindly translated it. It just makes no sense to bother dubbing the spoken parts if you put important parts in writing and don't translate them too. I said it before and I will say it again. If I'm watching the dubbed version I probably don't understand or speak Japanese which means.....I PROBABLY DON'T READ IT EITHER!!! What, you think you only have to edit what's on the screen if you are adding sub words. You don't have to erase the Japanese just put the English somewhere.
I don't watch subs if I can find the dubbed version but I think it is interesting to see just how different the two are. Of course, there was one scene that couldn't even stay the same in just one version. Every time there was a flashback or they showed the scene of Kenshin in front of the three graves when he met his swords master was different. It was shown more than once in the OVA and yet even though both times were in the subbed or the dubbed, the words were never the same! They weren't the same as the tv show either. The words differed a bit every time even though the scene was the same exact event. I'm not sure if the scene was ever shown twice with the exact same wording. What did they do, remake the scene every time they showed it?!
My point is, there is nothing wrong with subbed or dubbed. I think both are necessary. Some people hate dubs. I don't. All of my reviews are based on the dubbed version so far. I do have a few animes I plan to watch that either don't have a dubbed version or I can't find the dubbed version for, and therefor I will use the subs. Whether I actually write my thoughts on it will depend on if I can understand enough of it.
Dubbed Pros Cons
can look at the scene instead of the words some ideas and emotions lost
dialougue is said as English might say it farther from original
Japanese words translated into words English knows
easier to watch
Subbed Pros Cons
Closer to the original way written Attention torn between reading and watching
Keeps more of the original emotions and ideas Translation to English not always clear
Translates written Japanese Some words not translated
Anyway.....feel free to comment with your agreement or disagreement or if you feel I am wrong about something. :)
Have a nice day!
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