7 回答
Sometimes the simplest reason is the best: it sounds right for the character. When a line needs to feel elevated or ceremonious, I'll see 'furthermore' left intact in subs. It's common in announcements, legalistic text, or when a character intentionally uses stiff language to be intimidating or formal.
I'll also notice it in older translations where the team stuck closer to literal wording, or when matching a voice actor who enunciates in a high-register way. It can feel a bit stagy, but that can be exactly the point — it makes the moment feel weighty. I always enjoy catching those little word choices; they tell you a lot about the translator's mindset and the tone they're aiming for.
I tend to spot 'furthermore' in subs when the translator wants something a bit grand or archaic. It isn't usually there for casual lines like "I went to the store," but shows up in speeches, proclamations, or when a character is being dramatic. Fansubbing groups that favor literal translations will keep it more often, while localization-focused teams will swap it for 'also,' 'plus,' or just restructure the sentence.
Sometimes you'll see it in on-screen text or formal announcements in the show — things like official memos in 'Psycho-Pass' or a royal decree in a fantasy anime. Those contexts justify a slightly lofty word. Personally, I like when a translation respects the original formality; it makes moments land with the right weight, even if it reads a touch old-school on first glance.
Sometimes you'll see 'furthermore' sitting in subtitles because the translator is trying to preserve a specific register or rhetorical flourish from the original Japanese. For example, when a character speaks in very formal, written-sounding Japanese — think the lofty speeches in 'Legend of the Galactic Heroes' or a pompous noble in 'Fate/stay night' — a translator might keep 'furthermore' instead of switching to a casual 'also' to keep that air of ceremony. It reads stiff, yes, but it signals to the viewer that the speaker isn't chatting; they're delivering something formal or authoritative.
Another reason is logical structure. Words like 'furthermore' and 'moreover' mark a clear argumentative step, and when the source uses connectors like さらに or 加えて repeatedly, dropping them can flatten the flow. Subtitlers sometimes want to preserve those connective moments so the audience feels the piling-on of facts or threats. There are also practical constraints: timing, line breaks, and matching the number of on-screen text chunks. Sometimes 'furthermore' fits the rhythm better than a longer paraphrase.
Finally, style guides and audience expectations matter. Official releases often err toward neutral but slightly formal language to avoid slang that ages badly, while fan subs might choose natural-sounding dialogue. I've seen both approaches and enjoy when translators make deliberate choices that serve tone — it's like hearing the same song played on different instruments.
In subtitling theory there's a real trade-off between fidelity and naturalness, and 'furthermore' sits squarely in that tension. I notice translators keep it when they're preserving discourse markers that signal hierarchy or emphasis in the source. Japanese discourse connectors such as さらに/しかも can carry nuances beyond mere addition — sometimes signaling escalation or rhetorical buildup — and 'furthermore' preserves that scaffolding more clearly than a casual 'also.'
Practical constraints play a role as well: subtitlers reference style guides and preexisting translation memories. If a project has an established formal register (think official transcripts, academic narration, or aristocratic speech in 'The Twelve Kingdoms'), the lexical choice becomes standardized. Another situation is when a literal rendering fits better with on-screen timing and lip-sync, even if it's a bit stilted. I pay attention to those choices because they reveal the translator's priorities and the intended viewing experience, which is fascinating to me.
I've noticed that translators keep 'furthermore' in anime subs most often when they're trying to preserve a specific register or flavor of speech. Often the Japanese original uses phrases like さらに, なお, or その上 in contexts where the speaker sounds formal, old-fashioned, or pompous. If the character is written to be ceremonious — like a military officer, a bureaucrat, or an ancient noble — keeping a slightly elevated word like 'furthermore' helps the English subtitle carry that same tone. It signals to the viewer that this isn't casual chatter.
Timing and space matter, too. Subtitlers have to fit lines into on-screen time and character limits, and 'furthermore' is longer than 'also' but sometimes it fits the cadence better. If the sentence rhythm needs that extra syllable to match mouth movements or to avoid feeling choppy, translators will choose it. It's also common in official translations or licensed releases where consistency with a formal script or translation memory matters.
I personally enjoy spotting those moments because they tell you the team cared about tone, not just literal meaning. When done right, 'furthermore' can make a character feel more rigid or theatrical, and that small choice can change how I perceive a scene.
I notice translators hold onto 'furthermore' when they want the English to echo the Japanese formality or to keep a clear logical beat. It's common in scenes that read like a list of accusations, a formal proclamation, or a villain's monologue — places where the original connector isn't just filler but part of the pacing. Sometimes it's about matching tone (old-timey or pompous speech), sometimes it's about clarity (showing cause-and-effect), and sometimes it's conservative editing: teams prefer a safer, slightly formal word rather than slang that might confuse later. Fansubs often opt for looser language, while official subs stick to uniform phrasing, so spotting 'furthermore' can clue you into a deliberate stylistic choice — I tend to enjoy those little signals; they flavor the dialogue in a way that plain colloquial words often can't.
I tend to notice 'furthermore' more in subs when translators are balancing literalness with tone. If a character's Japanese uses stacked clauses or formal keigo, a translator who wants to reflect that will pick a connector that reads as formal in English. That keeps the character distinct: bureaucrats, scholars, and villains who revel in verbosity end up sounding right.
Practical constraints sneak in too. Subtitles have strict reading speed limits, and concise words can help fit meaning into the time available. 'Furthermore' is shorter than some verbose paraphrases and more precise than vague fillers like 'and also.' In contrast, fansubbing communities sometimes prefer 'also' or 'on top of that' to sound more conversational. Official platforms like Netflix or Crunchyroll will follow corporate style guides that push for clarity and consistency, so you'll see 'furthermore' when it matches the guide's tone.
My two cents: keep an eye on the scene. If the lines read like a speech, a courtroom exchange, or an academic lecture, 'furthermore' is there to preserve that weight. If it's a casual chat or a quick aside, it's probably replaced with something more natural, and that choice tells you as much about the character as the actual words.