[Nimrod4154]

Okay, so how are Japanese names converted into English names, allowing English players to see their name in the English alphabet? And vice-versa I suppose. Are they just random picked names when they convert them?

[Wind Adept]

I'm pretty sure that Japanese players see the same names above people's and monsters' heads as English players do.

[Nimrod4154]

But I don't think all English names can just be converted to English or vice versa. I don't see how some guy named WTFBBQKITTEN can be converted into Japanese alphabet without generating a random name instead.

[Wind Adept]

No, I mean they literally see the same name, in the Roman alphabet and everything. When you name your character "LOLZPWN," the Japanese players see "LOLZPWN."

[Matera]

I believe they just see the English version. There is no translated names. They also name their characters in English, I believe.

[tazirai]

Originally Posted by Nimrod4154

But I don't think all English names can just be converted to English or vice versa. I don't see how some guy named WTFBBQKITTEN can be converted into Japanese alphabet without generating a random name instead.

Umm Names are left alone on JP client ^^.

WTFBBQKITTEN, would should as that name on JP or NA clients.

It's called Romanized, after Romaji. Thats why you see JP players names as they appear to JP players also. Only the client text is different, For missions, Job Abilities, traits etc.

Perfect Example would be the JA "Blue Affinity" On JP client it appears as "ブルーバースト " or Blue Burst.
Chain Affinity appears as ブルーチェーン/Blue Chain.

The Blue mage Sp/2hr ability is called Azure lore, In JP client its called アジュールロー
Technically it says {ajyu-ru-ro} or azure Lore. Thats the katakana used for words that don't translate easily.

hope that helps.

Heres an SS of JP client
In this shot is an early test of switching jp client to English .

but the text for the items are in JP yet my name is still in english.

FFXI doesnt give the option of JP character names . Like some games Lineage 2 comes to mind. Where you can have a room full of 何ですか’ｓ
lol

[Susurrus]

Everything you can target (Players, NPCs, Enemies, ???s, Auction House counters, Chocobos, etc) are all in romanized characters on both clients. You see "Hililen" and they see "Hililen". You see "Tiny Mandragora" and they see "Tiny Mandragora". You see "Ifrit" and they see "Ifrit". When you target on "Auction House" to check items, they see "Auction House" when they check items as well.

[Grizzlebeard]

On a related note, I always thought it was curious the sign to Mhaura was in English. I mean, I was on an old established Japanese server so I guess I kind of expected the sign to be in Japanese if anything. I appreciate floating text can vary due to translation but in-game scenery/textures I'd expect to be fixed.

[Feba]

Well, I guess it's either because they assume more japanese people will speak english than english players speaking japanese.


But yes, to answer the OP, everything you target is the same on both versions. This is why you'll see a long strring of kanji<t>longstring of kanji. <t> isn't translated, it's just in english in both versions.

[Raydeus]

Originally Posted by Feba

Well, I guess it's either because they assume more japanese people will speak english than english players speaking japanese.

Well it's not about english per se, but about Romaji.

I haven't met a Japanese that didn't know romanji, since it's way easier to learn than Katana or Hiragana they have no troubles learning the roman alphabet.

(Kanji is in another league way above them all really)

[tazirai]

well with all of these examples I guess you got it by now? hehe

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Originally Posted by Nimrod4154

But I don't think all English names can just be converted to English or vice versa. I don't see how some guy named WTFBBQKITTEN can be converted into Japanese alphabet without generating a random name instead.

Yes, but they kneel and worship me all the same.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Raydeus

Well it's not about english per se, but about Romaji.

On my server, my attempts at communicating with romanji is usually met with indifference; I don't think JP players like reading those.

In fact, sometimes, they don't even realize I'm actually using (mostly) correctly formed (simple) sentences straight out of text books. Had this one party which ignored everything I typed not using autotranslate for an hour, until the party leader suddently realized I understand Japanese. ^_^; Then she used romanji for everything, making it hard to read for me. ._. I much prefer Hiragana + Kanji for Japanese.

I have the feeling NO ONE in Japan use romanji, gaijin aside. >_>

Originally Posted by Raydeus

I haven't met a Japanese that didn't know romanji, since it's way easier to learn than Katakana or Hiragana they have no troubles learning the roman alphabet.

For the record, the English alphabet isn't easier to learn than Hiragana or Katakana--I know this for sure, since I am a naitive speaker of neither.

Yes, the English alphabet is hard to memorize until you've memorized it. No, I'm not joking; English alphabet is not easier than Japanes kana's. I can assure you I spent a lot of time trying to remember those very foreign shapes and sounds in American English. -_-;

Anyway, the main points are A) JP players don't like Romaji in my experience, and often don't even read them; and, B) It's not easy for them since it's unlikely it would've been taught in school (it's useless in Japan), and they have little incentive to learn it outside of school (no one in Japan uses them).

Heck, even I don't like reading romanji Japanese--I wish I can type in real Japanese instead. Only people who like romaji are the people who were taught Japanese with it. I feel sorry for them... All it does is making it harder to learn real Japanese.

[Raydeus]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

On my server, my attempts at communicating with romanji is usually met with indifference; I don't think JP players like reading those.

Yup, most of them don't like seeing their language get romanized, but they can read it well.

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

For the record, the English alphabet isn't easier to learn than Hiragana or Katakana--I know this for sure, since I am a naitive speaker of neither.

Nope, when I talk about Romaji (Romaji meant as Roman (character) Alphabet) it includes English, Spanish, French and all those Roman derivated languages, it isn't english only.

But anyway, my point is it is easier to learn, the Roman Alphabet has around 26 characters, sometimes more, sometimes maybe less depending on the language. Katakana and Hiragana are 36 or something characters each, and if you compare it to the difficult task of learning Kanji then Romaji doesn't hold much difficulty.

What is difficult is to learn is how to pronounce words in english since english has so many weird rules about pronunciation. Japanese on the other hand is very similar to spanish because both languages sound exactly as they are written.

Vocals only have one sound that doesnt change regardless of what other letters are around them except for some cases but even then that sound remains the same if you see it in another word.

English on the other hand changes pronunciation for the weirdest reasons (although one gets used to it eventually )

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Anyway, the main points are A) JP players don't like Romaji in my experience, and often don't even read them; and, B) It's not easy for them since it's unlikely it would've been taught in school (it's useless in Japan), and they have little incentive to learn it outside of school (no one in Japan uses them).

I agree with A if you are trying to type japanese using Romaji, but B isn't the case at all, I haven't met a Japanese that didn't know romaji. It is also extensively used in magazines, books and other forms of written materials, but then again I don't live in Japan so what you say might be the case, although I really really doubt it.



So in conclusion, knowing Romaji characters and speaking a roman language (French, Spanish, English, Italian etc.) are two very different things.

[tazirai]

Originally Posted by Raydeus

I agree with A if you are trying to type japanese using Romaji, but B isn't the case at all, I haven't met a Japanese that didn't know romaji. It is also extensively used in magazines, books and other forms of written materials, but then again I don't live in Japan so what you say might be the case, although I really really doubt it.



So in conclusion, knowing Romaji characters and speaking a roman language (French, Spanish, English, Italian etc.) are two very different things.

Romaji isnt used very much in Japan at all. you may see it on street signs every now and then. But most of that is for product recognition. That or a US military base is nearby like Okinawa. in downtoan Tokyo you may see it. But in magazines and books in Japan, You wont see it at all. You'll see hiragana, katakana and furigana.
All japanese may know romaji, but when it comes to forming a legible sentence, it sucks so no one uses it. There are literally thousands of characters used in JP daily life. 2000 in common practice.

Lets take Ｒｅｉ for instance.　霊 【れい】 (n) soul; spirit; departed soul; ghost;
you have multi meanings, and if your context isn't 100% dead on you can confuse folks by using romaji.

I personally hate using it ^^.


EDIT: I lived in Japan for two years in Sakuragi-Cho.