DECODING POWER AND IDENTITY: A DEEP DIVE INTO YAKUZA KOTOBA AND ITS LINGUISTIC SECRETS
DECODING POWER AND IDENTITY: A DEEP DIVE INTO YAKUZA KOTOBA AND ITS LINGUISTIC SECRETS

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the challenges involved in translating yakuwarigo (‘words assigned to a specific role’) markers specific to yakuza kotoba (the language of the yakuza – the Japanese organized crime syndicates and their members – families) from Japanese manga into Romanian, with a focus on identifying linguistic equivalents for elements such as meshi (meal), ore (I), and zo (sentence-ending particle that adds emphasis, assertiveness). The study highlights the importance of preserving cultural and pragmatic nuances to ensure the authenticity of character identities and social hierarchies. By employing appropriate pragmatic equivalents, the translation effectively conveys the informal, authoritative, and familiar tone of the original, providing Romanian readers with an experience comparable to that of Japanese readers.

• Details
• Contents