Pragmatics in Korean and Japanese Translation

Thorough case studies help to provide a solid grounding for the discussion of pragmatic meanings, which could otherwise easily become overly theoretical. There has recently been widespread media exposure of criticism of translations from Korean to English in particular (notably with respect to Squid Game). Given that much of the criticism has related to address terms and an improper reflection of interpersonal relations, this is a timely discussion of the core problem. Reference to popular media (including Harry Potter and The Hobbit, as well as manga, manhwa, webtoons, anime, and cinema) enhance accessibility, as well as providing scope for further research on translations into other languages. Discussion of translation in both directions (from English to Korean and Japanese, and from Korean and Japanese to English) helps to provide a more rounded view.