Support NeoGAF

[Griss]

Add me to those who think her name sounds stupid. It should be either KAH-reen (japanese way), or KAH-rin (english way, and what I'll use), not kah-REEN (what is this?).

If there's a good explanation I'd accept it.

 

[Tizoc]

But the i when pronounced in japanese is an "ee" sound, so the "Kah-reen" pronunciation is accurate.

Well as long as the ee is not pronounced strongly I think it's proper, pronouncing it stronger makes it sound silly.

To add if you've watched One Piece listen to how they pronounce the 'in' in Robin.

 

[patapuf]

I've lived in America for a year and have never met a girl named "April" but I've been to France and met several women named April. Therefore because of my anecdotal experience, it's safe to say that April is not an American name but a french one.

Karin is actually a german name though. And from what i've read in the thread the Japanese pronounciation looks pretty close to the german one.

 

[GorillaJu]

Japanese pronunciation would be Kah-Leen, flat with no emphasis on either syllable. To American ears it would sound like there is emphasis on the first syllable because words with flat intonation barely exist in English. When it comes after a vowel the Japanese R sounds more like an L, but it's kinda in between the two.

I just say it Car-in when speaking English. If I'm speaking Japanese I'll say it the right way. Generally I follow that rule... I never pronounce "karaoke" the Japanese way if I'm speaking English, and so on.

 

[DryEyeRelief]

How do they pronounce it in the Naruto dub?

 

[Maligna]

Japanese pronunciation would be Kah-Leen, flat with no emphasis on either syllable. To American ears it would sound like there is emphasis on the first syllable because words with flat intonation barely exist in English. When it comes after a vowel the Japanese R sounds more like an L, but it's kinda in between the two.

I just say it Car-in when speaking English. If I'm speaking Japanese I'll say it the right way. Generally I follow that rule... I never pronounce "karaoke" the Japanese way if I'm speaking English, and so on.

This post should be the end of this conversation. Can't really disagree with any of it.

 

[KidA Seven]

Japanese pronunciation would be Kah-Leen, flat with no emphasis on either syllable. To American ears it would sound like there is emphasis on the first syllable because words with flat intonation barely exist in English. When it comes after a vowel the Japanese R sounds more like an L, but it's kinda in between the two.

I just say it Car-in when speaking English. If I'm speaking Japanese I'll say it the right way. Generally I follow that rule... I never pronounce "karaoke" the Japanese way if I'm speaking English, and so on.

I'm more inclined to use R over L. As japanese R is basically a spanish rolled r.

english R > rolled R > L

This is why Japanese get the english Rs and Ls confused as the rolled r can go either way. Spanish speakers on the hand don't get confused because they have rolled R (also rr) and L. It's extremely easy to pronounce Japanese if you can speak Spanish.

 

[V-Faction]

Used to work with a lady named Karin who was of German descent. She pronounced it "Car-ihn". So that's how I've always perceived it, or at least from that point on.