Why are Unown based on English characters & not Japanese?

**Liz Azzimagica** · 26th February 2013, 4:59 AM

well like everyone said it's universal...on that note, think they'll make unown numbers in gen 6?

**Dragontail** · 26th February 2013, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by sizida

It is like why most aliens can speak English and yet we don't understand their language.

^This, 100%.

**Pokemon~Master** · 27th February 2013, 8:23 PM

I'm still waiting on Greek, Cyrillic and Unown based on runes to be honest...

**Ana_Julía** · 28th February 2013, 3:10 AM

Originally Posted by Ver-mont

Both because there are tons and tons of Japanese ideograms and because the Latin alphabet (not "English characters") is much, much more widespread.

Most of the languages use the Latin alphabet — even the Japanese use it sometimes. By the time of Gen II, GF already knew Pokémon was going to be sold worldwide, so they chose the "universal" option.

This, definitely.
Finally, someone has mentioned this. It's doesn't exist a "English Characters"...using such a term is so...Egh.

And everyone said it'all. But it would be a good addition if they created New Unowns, with Hiragana Katakana, for example. I would like it.

**Rakansen** · 28th February 2013, 6:21 AM

Woah, this is actually pretty interesting. I guess it's just an example of how not all Pokémon are based of Japanese mythology.

**Bolt the Cat** · 28th February 2013, 6:26 AM

Katakana/Hiragana would be too much, there's like 56 for each IIRC.

I'm curious as to what else they could do with it, though. More punctuation? Numbers. IDK

**pikadon92** · 28th February 2013, 9:41 AM

I say it has to be the number of characters in each set of alphabet.

**Akriloth** · 1st March 2013, 4:22 PM

A. A lot of people in Japan are at least somewhat decent in English
B. There are a gazillion Japanese characters
C. The Roman alphabet is widely recognized around the world. Even Japanese speakers can use those 26 letters to compose words in their language.

**dd1zzle** · 1st March 2013, 4:52 PM

I always thought it was because they would have no place for the "eye". There's a lot of lines in japanese text so there would be no room for the eye.

**AmusedMilk** · 1st March 2013, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

I assume they decided having 28 different Unowns was better than having several thousand.

Well, there's your reason.

Plus, Japanese Unown would look weird. No room for the eye.

Thread: Why are Unown based on English characters & not Japanese?

Thread Tools

Display

Posting Permissions