Source
r/worldbuilding•
Sebeck

How should I properly draw inspiration from the real world?

Question

I apologize if this has been asked here before, but my searches haven't found it. Also this may be a non issue and only in my mind.

I'm trying to create a Japanese inspired world for my ttrpg, that I'll probably never publish, but you never know. And I'm trying to avoid, I don't know how to describe it differently, being cringey.

Please allow me explain what I mean, as I'm not a native English speaker and I may be using the wrong word. The feeling I'm describing is the one a doctor would get when watching a hospital show where the patient needs a triple bypass of his left pituitary gland, it's the feeling a cybersecurity expert would get while watching NCIS where someone is explaining that their HTML database got hacked, or what you feel when someone references the one thing your country is most known for in an exaggerated or incorrect manner. That's what I'm trying to avoid, if it is indeed a feeling that exists and not only in my head.

The CRPG Pillars of Eternity 2 did something interesting where they built a conlang inspired by the Maori language and one that sounds a lot like Italian. Not being a speaker of either of those languages I wonder if that felt cringey to someone who does. The languages were pretty awesome and I actually picked up a few words from the game.

My questions are: Is it possible for me to construct my fantasy/post-apocalyptic world that draws on the Japanese language, folklore, customs without making it cringey to a Japanese person? And if so how? What are the guiding principles?

Posted Jul 3, 2021, 9:42 AM UTC

76
Kartoffelkamm•

I would honestly watch Gaijin Goombah videos on Youtube. The guy lived some time in Japan, goes there frequently, does a ton of research, and explains just about everything to do with the culture in an incredibly detailed, yet easily digestible, manner.

If you want to learn about Japan, what to do and what not to do, and so on, I can't think of a better source of info than that guy's videos.

He also explains it with video games, so it's pretty easy to understand.

8
Wyvern72nFa5•

Absolutely, people already do so to medieval europe with all the isekai and generic fantasy stories so of course you can.

5
jackkiwi•

In my own content, I embrace the cringe because inherently I struggle as a creator and a person at seeing the positives in my work. I would describe viewing or listening to or otherwise noticing my own work as "trying to tickle myself" I just can't respond the same way, but just as I am very ticklish when other people poke me, I really enjoy other people's content and can experience it more wholesomely. If this makes sense. Basically, I would advise to create first, and then edit or change things to seem less subjectively cringe, as I find myself and many creators and artists I know to be their own worst critics per say and are limited by this. So personally I keep my cringe.

Secondly, to specificly answer your Japanese question. I have 3 years of formal language education in Japanese taught by qualified native professors every year, and they all gave different cultural facts, and sometimes disagreed with each other. For example getting taught 'Japanese is a flat language with a rule of stresses and rythmns' as well as 'this word has stress on this part, or this letter can be silent.' which is contradicting. So even educated experts in the same field disagree on things, or explain in different ways.

My methods of learning about Japan: I use primary sources: Asking my friends who live in a variety of cities all over the country. I visited museums and asked my local tour guides everything. I asked my workmates, both local and foreign.

I used secondary sources: Translated Japanese websites. Non Fiction books.

Now I understand that you might not be able to just go to Japan and work a couple months like I did. Or spend years learning the language. (I still actively study)

But volunteering with International Students, or going to Japanese cultural showcases, making friends with Japanese people online through a common interest (worldbuilding maybe) and just asking them about day to day things, and take an interest in their lives, and you will learn not only material culture, but also their individual, and local cultural mindsets.

3
jackkiwi•

Edited for clarity. English is my first language, I just am a Kiwi.

2
ShiningStars_•

The trick is to remain being respectful to the original culture; Make sure to stay educated and stay away from tropes that may be harmful or too overused. I'm not exactly sure how to make it 'not-cringey' tho

3
Martial-Lord•

I actually like playing with languages that are vaguely similar to actual languages, but distinct enough to not be mutually inteligible.

Sa serjand mithrapoliz lingel. Ir sva sirvind athral lingendes indo-europeanz.

This is the mithrapolian language. It serves as a combination of the indo-european languages.

2