Deep Ficly Thoughts

[effervescible]

Thought 1: I'm usually a "live and let live" type when it comes to badfic (yeah, I mock 'em, but I don't have a problem with people writing whatever happens to make them happy), but if I could press a button and killfile from the entire internet every Ichigo/Rukia fic that has him referring to her as "midget," I think I would do it.

Thought 2: If a character playfully refers to Ichigo as "strawberry" to be cute, how would anyone know? I mean...in Japanese, it's the same word.

Comments

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Lol. Aw, I like it when he calls her "midget."

The real question I have is-- if Ichigo's name is actually plain 'ol "strawberry"-- why every character he ever meets doesn't take a moment to make fun of him. I know Jidanbo does, but it seems like there should be a recurring joke there. XD

[jaina.livejournal.com]

But he never does! Ever, in canon. It's just spread out and become this PLAGUE in fic. It doesn't help that I've never read a good fic that uses it. :/

Technically his name isn't "strawberry"--it's a homophone, which Japanese is chock full of. The kanji he uses for "Ichigo" make the written version different than the label for fruit, so there's that. But more people should make fun of him, because making fun of Ichigo is good.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

He never does? *Scratches head* Wow, fanon has blurred over into my canon, because I could have sworn he did. Does he call her anything? Everything I've ever known about Bleach is now compromised.

Oooh. I always assumed there was some special writing or whatever, but I got confused by Thought 2. My bad. :)

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I think he just calls her Rukia? As much as they bicker, he might throw some insulting terms in there too, but I'd have to check. You also might've watched some fandoms that got a bit, ah, creative with terms of address. You see that a lot. No, internet, "teme" does not actually mean "bastard" even if the sentiment is there.

Hee, whoops.

[angstymcgoth.livejournal.com]

If I could killfile every fic that uses "strawberry/berry" to refer to Ichigo (like used as a euphemism), I'd do it.

[tenebris.livejournal.com]

Re 2: There's a possible pitch accent difference in the pronunciation of his name vs. "strawberry"? Lots of Japanese homophones have minor (to non-natives, mostly) differences in pitch between syllables that make them not entirely homophonous. So hana, "nose" and hana, "flower," don't have the same pitch pattern. Sorta like English "record" (as in "spin the...") and "record" (as in, "to tape sounds") don't make it as homonyms because they have a different pronunciation of stresses.

Or it's really all context ("Strawberry is a cute name" or "you're turning red like a Strawberry!" really don't favor the V. MANLY "one protector" interpretation) and I'm being a linguistic geek. 'Tis my job, after all...

[utenatai.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, I'm pretty sure theres a fansub or fan translation out there that uses the word.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

But I thought fansubbers were bastions of integrity and committed to the purity of the Japanese language! Fandom told me so!

[utenatai.livejournal.com]

I was going to comment that I don't THINK there's a pitch difference, but since I can't seem to pitch my dorai yanens correctly maybe I should just shut my trap.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

We should team up in righteous slaughter.

I might not killfile every fic with "raven-haired shinigami" in it, but I'd definitely give them the stinkeye.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I love hearing linguistics geekiness from you!

Though in the end, I think it's just that authors don't think about it. Most of the time it's just someone using it as a sub for his name, like "hey, Strawberry, come over here." And Ichigo gets pissed that someone...called him by his name.

[utenatai.livejournal.com]

You gotta cut 'em some slack. I mean.. how ARE you gonna translate "teme"? Sometimes you just have to approximate.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I do mostly, cuz yeah...approximation's just necessary in some cases. And when subbers get a little TOO creative, it's usually funnier than it is dumb.

But then they inspire stupid namedrops that people use in fic and I rage, as much as occasionally making an annoyed LJ post counts as raging.

[tenebris.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure there is, either--and I would have no clue where to find that information for this particular set of words, either. (Or at least for "strawberry.") But hey, it was worth a mention as a possible distinguishing characteristic!

[tenebris.livejournal.com]

Ah, if only my students were so receptive ;)

Heh, not so much. It's just something the manga presents us a coupla times, and we knooow how much authors love to use things the manga has only used for once-off or twice-off gags.

[kawree.livejournal.com]

this is why i am an avid sporker. sometimes it is the only way i get through the day without crying. .__.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I always enjoy switching out alternate raven-haired shinigami in those fics, though.

[fanartist.livejournal.com]

Thought 1: I have the same desire for the use of "orb" and "creamy" if it doesn't relate to marbles or food.

Thought 2: Maybe they can't make fun of him because even if they do, no one would know what they were talking about? .__.a