andwhyisit wrote:DeKaFu wrote: Can't use Fangs, it's just plain wrong.
You probably could use Fangus and call it a pun. But I mean...why?
It's pretty clear the name was intended to be Fungus, and using Fangus is basically just saying you don't like the name and want to use something different you like more. XD
I mean, if you're going to do that, why not call him Fluffy, or Robert? It's the difference between translating his real name or "dubbing" your own name in.
It is quite obvious that none of the names held any meaning at all. Seriously did you think that Fangs is a fungus? Fungus does not have armor plating. Not all things translate perfectly between Japanese and English.
But the main point I want to make is that "Fangs" can be a localisation of the word "Fangasu" rather than the translation "Fungus", making "Fangs" a suitable localisation. Like how you use the name "Sue" in a translation and the Japanese name was "Suu".
Sigh.
Okay, they might not hold meaning that's directly related to the monster, but they definitely have meaning. Check RacieB's site, almost all of them have name origins of English words.
Also, that's the point. "Fangs" can NOT be a localization of Fangasu, any more than "Sue" could be a localization of "Aruberuto". It's spelled different and pronounced differently from how you'd spell or pronounce "Fangs" in Japanese. The words are SIMILAR, like how the word "Bath" is similar to the word "Path" in English, but that doesn't mean you can use them as the same word.
Trust me, I've had years of experience with translating Katakana. There's not a lot of flexibility once you get to know the system.
If you want me to break it down, it's like this:
In Japanese, the same letters are always pronounced the same way.
A pronounced like the A in Father.
O pronounced like the letter O.
U is pronounced like the U in Tube, or not pronounced at all.
I is pronounced like the EE in See.
E is pronounced like the e in End.
Therefore, the word "fangasu" can ONLY be pronounced similar to "Fawn-gaw-soo"or "Fawn-Gaws".
This sounds a lot like the english word "Fungus". It sounds nothing at all like the english word "Fangs". Too many syllables, for one.
You apparently think Katakana is a lot more open to interpretation than it really is. Pronounciation is Katakana is
everything. If you ignore the pronounciation, you translate/localize it wrong, and that's it.
I really don't mean to be rude, but you're just plain wrong. Completely wrong. XD
Sorry, this is a pet peeve for me.
edit:
Also, your Suu/Sue name example probably refers to localizing a Japanese name into an English name. That's different from this, where we're looking at an English name written in Japanese and converting it to proper English.
There's really a big difference.