: Re: Can non-English-speaking characters use wordplay specific to English? Would it be jarring if in an original (non-translated) story, the characters, who don't speak English in-universe, use "untranslatable"

@LarsenBagley300

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Even then, there are some jokes that are "Universal Jokes" such as the following:

Wife: Does this dress make me look pretty or ugly?
Husband: I would say pretty ugly.

The word play here is almost universal and the gag translates into nearly every language just fine and without losing meaning. It even works in language families that are not connected to English, such as Chinese families.

In specific cases, for example, Japanese and English Jokes that pun off of the English word "Dream" (Yuma in Japanese) will work fine as the two words can be used to cover the same meanings of the word Dream equally. A lot of Japanese Punning deals with numbers having multiple sounds and these sounds can sound like real words in a combination of numbers. This isn't unknown to English punning as many numbers can sound like other words as well. Suppose I title my chapter on the multiplication table of 6 "The Joys of Six (Sex)) and you'd get the idea. It's not uncommon for Japanese pop stars and companies to sign their twitters with a number combonation and it's why so many Japanese titles use the word "Go": Modern Japanese, which has a large amount of English Loan Words from post-WWII occupation, became well aware that English also use the word "Go" but instead of for a number (5 in Japanese) as an action. For example, the Japanese title for "Speed Racer" is "Mach Go Go Go" which contains a triple pun as in addition to the English Go and the Japanese number Go, the Japanese also use "Go" as "Type" in machine iterations (Similar to a Iron Man's "Mark 1" designators for his various suits). So the correct title could be read as "Mach Type 5, Go" if properly translated. The Super Sentai Series "Kyukyu Sentai GoGoV" (Provided footage for "Power Rangers: Light Speed Rescue" in the States) is an even more extended pun. Kyu is Japanese for 9 and Kyukyu (99) is also the word for Rescue. The V is being used as a Roman Numeral Five and the English word "Five" was used when announcing the name properly. The series was the first after the Sixth Ranger concept hit the screen to have an entire run without an additional sixth hero, so the name highlights the fact that it will only focus on five heroes. Now, where the pun comes in is that the Rescue themed series debued in 1999 which is punny enough, but the number 555 is also a rescue themed pun, in that it's the Japanese equivelent of 911 in the States. Again, here it can be funny if you understand the nuances of the language's popular puns, but requires a lot of explaining.

Another good series of jokes in English is Russian jokes. Aside from a few genral knowledges of Russian Culture, the humor is generally accessible in translations and works well. In fact, what is to be considered the funniest jokes in the world (The Sherlock Homes and the Stolen Tent) originated in Russia (the character is wildly popular and Between Holmes and Wattson, they can afford to set up a lot of humor at the expense of the English.).

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