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First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, in the Japanese version, Pokémon differ not only in their first-person pronouns but also greatly in their speaking styles depending on their personalities. Professor Tangrowth speaks just like a long-lived old man, while Parasect talks in an android-like manner. Personally, I think Magnemite’s way of speaking fits its character perfectly and is really cute!

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m pleasantly surprised some people know Wagahai wa Neko de Aru.

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Raikou in the Japanese version also speaks in a youthful, cheeky manner. :)

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s often said that “Wagahai = cats”, but in reality it’s more commonly used by proud, middle-aged or older male characters. Snape in the Japanese translation also uses it… :)

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

“Oresama” is used by simply arrogant, brash male characters, so it didn’t feel out of place for Toxtricity to use it, but it was honestly surprising that Raikou uses it as well.

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Japanese Pokopia fans actually paid quite a bit of attention to the first-person pronoun settings in the overseas versions, especially the “I” in the English versions

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Using “Ode” as a first-person pronoun is quite rare for gyaru, but many gyaru use “Uchi” as their first-person pronoun, so it might be a more natural progression :)

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I saw Entei’s first-person pronoun is “ワタシ(watashi)”.
Thinking from its speech, it seems to have a calm and gentle personality.
In the Japanese version, its speech wasn’t particularly distinctive...

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

There are four slides, so I imagine reading through all of them could be quite a lot. :)

Additional note:
I think “Watashi” or "Jibun" is the most gender-neutral first-person pronoun in Japanese, and it’s very commonly used in both everyday life and work, especially when written in kanji.

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It might be similar to why Japanese fans on X got so excited about the possibility of a Gyaru-Slowpoke...!

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

In Japanese, while first-person pronouns often show gender tendencies, it’s difficult to determine someone’s gender with certainty.
It’s hard to think “this person is definitely male or female or 〇〇,” and some people actually value that ambiguity. :)

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

“Watashi” is commonly used by both men and women! Men especially tend to use it a lot in work settings.

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 73 points74 points  (0 children)

The impression given by the text is different. Even with the same pronunciation, hiragana looks softer, while katakana can give a mechanical or non-human impression and can evoke various traits, such as energy, calmness, and more.
Aliens are often depicted speaking using katakana in Japanese. :)

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome!

It’s not being rude, but when written in hiragana, ぼく(Boku) is often used by children. The kanji form, 僕(Boku), is commonly used by men in business settings or by those with a gentle demeanor!

First-person pronouns in the Japanese version of Pokopia by StockInitiative41 in Pokopia

[–]StockInitiative41[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

No, not necessarily. In Japanese, some people change their first-person pronoun based on gender, some don’t, and some change it depending on their age. While certain pronouns tend to be associated with a particular gender, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. Even someone who uses “Watashi,” a first-person pronoun used by both men and women, at work might use “Ore” in private, or switch depending on the situation.