The methods of correspondence of the “Role Language” in translation from Japanese to Brazilian-Portuguese Language

An analysis of the “Foreigner Role Language” in Japanese comics

Abstract

This article analyzes how the “Japanese Role Language” is translated from Japanese to Brazilian Portuguese, taking the “Foreigner Role Language” present in two Japanese comics as the object of research. First, this article draws attention to the concept of “Role Language” and its importance in the translation of fictional works. The first comic analyzed presents the use of the “Foreigner Role Language” applied to Western characters, while the second one presents the use of the same concept applied to Oriental characters. It is noticed that not only the “Foreigner Role Language” is translated from Japanese into Brazilian Portuguese, but the methods utilized in the translation of both works are similar. The methods utilized in the translations are: “variation of formal writing to simulate accents”; “no gender agreement between determinant and determinate terms”; “no agreement of number and person between verbs and subjects” and the “non-use of articles”.