5679
It looks like Japanese text don't use spaces between words, not even in
informal messages (yes perhaps in textbooks, but I digress). [This
page](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061231170308AAI1wdm)
claims that a sentence with spaces inbetween just looks weird, example:

> 私の名前は ゆかです。

But it seems like Japanese subtitles in Jdramas / animes etc use spaces, not
just once or twice, but _all the time_.

On the contrary, [the
comma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_punctuation#Comma) `、` is almost
non-existent. It's almost as if each comma in a subtitle is replaced with a
space instead.

I'm using the subtitles posted on d-addicts as an example. Out of [over 2000
Japanese sub files](http://d-addicts.com/forum/subtitles.php#Japanese), only
roughly ~5%* contain the `、` character. In some files, the comma actually only
appeared **once** or twice.

Some threads like [東野圭吾](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_96298.htm)
and [秘密諜報員 エリカ](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_99994.htm) did not
state the original source of the subtitles, but others like [医龍
3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_89677.htm) and
[ちりとてちん](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_58083.htm) do claim to have
the subtitles extracted from the TV broadcast:

> These subtitles were extracted from the **corresponding TV broadcast**.
> **Text wasn’t edited in any way**. Due to some technical reasons there might
> be several missing characters and/or lines. Timing is not perfect but still
> good (at least not worse than original timing for TV).

D-addicts' examples of using spaces instead of comma:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oDBKK.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lJcnb.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UPl15.png)

Anime mkv files also have "built-in" subs using spaces instead of comma, for
example the movie [Mugiwara
Chase](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=F0iv1cgUUlI#t=182s):

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/bl68H.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h2fVd.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nRcpz.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0VKFD.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jQAdO.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1xV4k.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4jgaa.png)

Why is it that instead of using commas, Japanese subtitles use spaces instead?

What is the reason for this oddity?

==

*List of d-addict files with comma:

  * [１リットルの涙 # 1-2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_90851.htm)
  * [1 Litre of Tears # 8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_99358.htm)
  * [Aishiteru # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_76066.htm)
  * [Ashita no Kita Yoshio # 11](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_59493.htm)
  * [Atami no Sousakan # 3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_87274.htm)
  * [Bara no nai Hanaya # 1-4](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_68822.htm)
  * [BOSS # 4-8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_97214.htm)
  * [Buzzer Beat # 11](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_78664.htm)
  * [Cat Street # 1-5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_65959.htm)
  * [Celeb to Binbo Taro # 7](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_66431.htm)
  * [Fuyu no Sakura # 9](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_92218.htm)
  * [Gakko ja Oshierarenai! #2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_63439.htm)
  * [GM Odore Doctor # 9](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_87317.htm)
  * [Gokusen 3rd ep06, # 8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_60699.htm)
  * [Haken no Hinkaku # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_79182.htm)
  * [Hanayome no Chichi # SP](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_103652.htm)
  * [Hayami san to Yobareru Hi # 2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_103887.htm)
  * [Honboshi ~ Shinri Tokuso Jikenbo # 2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_92302.htm)
  * [Innocent Love # 3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_66556.htm)
  * [Isshun no Kaze ni Nare # SP part 3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_58749.htm)
  * [Kaeru no Ojou sama # 4, 5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_108681.htm)
  * [Kamen Rider Double # 1-17](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_78714.htm)
  * [Kansahojin # 5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_62711.htm)
  * [Keibuho Yabe Kenzo # 4, 5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_84619.htm)
  * [Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne # 8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_61990.htm)
  * [Koukousei Restaurant # 5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_95387.htm)
  * [Kurumi no Heya # 1-6](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_97654.htm)
  * [Last Friends # 8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_61948.htm)
  * [Last Money ~Ai no Nedan~ # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_99291.htm)
  * [Lost Time Life # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_70114.htm)
  * [Lotto 6 de 3 oku 2 senman En Ateta Otoko # 5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_63031.htm)
  * [Maou # 5, 11](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_63045.htm)
  * [Marumo no Okite # 4](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_95017.htm)
  * [Monster Parent # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_63178.htm)
  * [Nanase Futatabi # 8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_66434.htm)
  * [Nihongo de Kurasou # 1](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_13551.htm)
  * [Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo # 1-2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_86915.htm)
  * [Nemureru Mori # 1-12](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_61092.htm)
  * [Ohitorisama # 7](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_79035.htm)
  * [Ohsama_no_resutoran # 1-3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_50892.htm)
  * [Orthros no Inu # 1-3, 5, 8-9](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_88507.htm)
  * [Piece Vote # 6](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_97146.htm)
  * [Ryoukiteki Na Kanojo # 4-5](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_65298.htm)
  * [Saigo no Kizuna](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_98303.htm)
  * [Shanghai Typhoon # 4](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_66211.htm)
  * [Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi # 1-2](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_58086.htm)
  * [Soredemo, Ikite Yuku # 6](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_96972.htm)
  * [Stand Up!! # 7](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_85718.htm)
  * [Sunao ni Narenakute # 4](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_84307.htm)
  * [Tenshi no Wakemae # 1-3](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_86828.htm)
  * [Tomorrow # 8-10](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_65182.htm)
  * [Umareru # 10](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_95397.htm)
  * [Unfair the special ~Double Meaning Nijuu Teigi](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_99534.htm)
  * [Zettai Kareshi # 5-6](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_61720.htm)
  * [デカ黒川鈴木 # 4](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_103629.htm)
  * [MR. BRAIN # 6-8](http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_74874.htm)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-28T22:25:48.087
5669
2012-05-29T21:23:38.663
2012-05-29T09:49:51.267
264
264
question
orthography
Why do TV subtitles use spaces (instead of commas)?
Yes, you are right. There is an old rule in the industry to substitute
[半角]{はんかく}スペース for [読点]{とうてん} and [全角]{ぜんかく}スペース for [句点]{くてん}. 半角スペース are
counted as 0.5 spaces and 全角スペース are counted as 1 space respectively. However,
television shows are less strict than movies and generally only omit 読点 only,
whereas movies omit both.

> So, why is there this rule?

I think there are several reasons why. First, I think it should be noted that
[句読点]{くとうてん} were not originally part of the Japanese language to begin with.
There use originally started when text was being translated from other
languages, such as English to Japanese in the Meiji Era. If you look at any
old Japanese text before this you will probably not see there use. Some sites
I have read point out this fact and claim that this "leftover tradition" is
the reason why 句読点 are not used. However, there also is a strong notion that
subtitles are [邪魔]{じゃま} and should only be used sparingly. Most companies have
a rule that only allows up to 12 to 16 characters per line and a maximum of
only 4 characters per second. Because of these restrictions, any extraneous
stuff is left out. Also, some people claim that omitting 句読点 makes it easier
to read without them and a lot of Japanese people don't use them to begin
with.

By the way, +1 from me for a very nice observation :).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-29T21:23:38.663
5679
2012-05-29T21:23:38.663
1217
5669
answer