The problem with the "vernacular" approach is that it seems hard to do without sounding completely ridiculous. Translating "-san" as
Mr./Mrs./Ms., while not what I'd call entirely wrong, but it often sounds strange. The basic usage is similar, but since -san is used for a wider range of
subjects under more conditions, the translation makes things sound unusually formal. Leaving the honorifics intact, even if someone has a relatively simplistic
understanding of them, means assuming that such patterns from english automatically apply less likely.
-Morgan, and I thought -tan was a variant of -chan?
Mr./Mrs./Ms., while not what I'd call entirely wrong, but it often sounds strange. The basic usage is similar, but since -san is used for a wider range of
subjects under more conditions, the translation makes things sound unusually formal. Leaving the honorifics intact, even if someone has a relatively simplistic
understanding of them, means assuming that such patterns from english automatically apply less likely.
-Morgan, and I thought -tan was a variant of -chan?