Bulma or Blooma?

[VegettoEX]

Yeah, as I was writing that last part I knew that's how it would end up coming across, and I wasn't explaining it well enough ("alphabet" versus "language"), and all that jazz. Can I just append it by saying that I was trying to transition into what you brought up, which continues to mean that there are no real "answers"...?

To be honest, I don't have too much of a problem with a "Bulma" spelling if when pronouncing it you slur over and de-emphasize the "correct" parts. That can come out sounding like "Blooma" perfectly well. People just... don't.

[DoomieDoomie911]

For now on I'm just going to alternate between Blooma and Bulma. But I'm primarily going to use Blooma. The reason is, just as VegettoEX pointed out above, it's a more direct translation, and it also captures the pun. So all in all, a better pronunciation in my opinion.

[JulieYBM]

I use 'Blooma' myself, as for the reasons Lance stated. This is the same author who uses 'Yajirove' and 'WELL COME', after all. Not to mention, I do use 'Trunks', rather than a broken English spelling. Had Toriyama written 'Tranks' on Trunks' coat would we all use that instead?

[Saiga]

This is all very confusing to me and I think I'll stick to Bulma out of habit. And also because outside of Kanzenshuu nobody will understand me.

[Gyt Kaliba]

It's weird, I think I'm too used to how I pronounce it normally, when I see the 'Bulma' spelling, to read that any other way. So it comes out like 'Buhl-ma', not really quite 'Bull-ma' but not 'Bowl-ma' either, as was mentioned earlier. I dunno. In my defense, I'm Southern - we make up our own words and pronunciations anyway.

But when I see 'Blooma', I think I am pronouncing that right, so far as I can tell. 'Bloom' like something is blooming, and then an 'ah' sound. Bloom-ah. Right?

[hleV]

I'm leaning more towards following the pronunciation rather than the pun, and to me, Būlma is closer to "Buruma" than Blooma is.

[JulieYBM]

But when I see 'Blooma', I think I am pronouncing that right, so far as I can tell. 'Bloom' like something is blooming, and then an 'ah' sound. Bloom-ah. Right?

Yeah, 'bloomer' with a slurred 'er' into 'ah' instead. It's a reverse of how my dad's mom would call my mom (Eva) 'Ever'. O.o

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

I absolutely hate "Blooma", so I'm gonna stick with "Bulma". It's what's been with the franchise for decades. Blooma is just a new pun that was popped out of nowhere.

[JulieYBM]

I absolutely hate "Blooma", so I'm gonna stick with "Bulma". It's what's been with the franchise for decades. Blooma is just a new pun that was popped out of nowhere.

No, it's been there since the very beginning. The world was round before we learned such.

[Sin]

I always did wonder about the whole Boolma/Bulma sitch. I can't say I like the name Boolma that much, it hasn't really grown on me and I can't see myself using it.

So yeah, if it's still okay to do so on the forum I'll use Bulma.

[Herms]

Not to mention, I do use 'Trunks', rather than a broken English spelling. Had Toriyama written 'Tranks' on Trunks' coat would we all use that instead?

If the character's name was consistently spelled "Tranks" every single time it was written out in the series or on official merchandise, then I don't think there's be anything strange or illogical in saying "the character's name is spelled 'Tranks' and is a pun on the word 'trunks'". Maybe if the character were an actual pair of men's underwear it'd be different, but fantasy character names based on words don't necessarily need to be spelled exactly the same as the words themselves.

Yes, in Trunks' case the katakana spelling of the character's name is exactly the same as that of the word it's based on, but the alphabet spelling doesn't inherently need to follow suit. In fact, it's arguably a good idea to try and "disguise" the character name's origin in cases where it's close to a common English word to keep it seeming exotic, since in katakana that's probably not going to be as big of a problem, and it's more or less impossible to play around with the katakana spelling without also greatly changing the pronunciation. That's not the route they actually took with Trunks, but it's a valid approach with as much logic behind it as the "spell it as close to the source word as possible" method.

[B]

As has been pointed out throughout the thread, "Blooma" is what you are looking for, but everyone I would feasibly talk to about that character is right here on this message board, and you all know who I would be talking about. Have we voted/decided which one we're using for the Wiki?

[Rocketman]

The Burma revolution starts here.

[Gonstead]

Me = Bulma > Blooma

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

Had Toriyama written 'Tranks' on Trunks' coat would we all use that instead?

Probably, because that spelling would've ended up on Japanese merch and stuff, eventually carrying over to future dubs. We wouldn't bat an eyelash at it.

However, he did actually write the name in alphabet as Trunks in "TRUNKS THE STORY," so we're good there.

[Sinestro]

It'll always be Bulma to me, but I won't be fazed if Blooma is used in conversation.

[Insertclevername]

I've kind of taken a liking to Blooma as of recent. I might just stick with that.

[Kaboom]

It'll always be Bulma to me, but I won't be fazed if Blooma is used in conversation.

Same here. I'd be more open to "Blooma" if I hadn't spent and continue to spend my entire fandom reading her name as "Bulma" in just about every single official English adaptation or piece of merchandise out there (and plenty of original Japanese instances, too!). I normally prefer the more pun-preserving spellings of characters' names, too, but in this case, "Blooma" is just plain... outnumbered.

[Sinestro]

It'll always be Bulma to me, but I won't be fazed if Blooma is used in conversation.

Same here. I'd be more open to "Blooma" if I hadn't spent and continue to spend my entire fandom reading her name as "Bulma" in just about every single official English adaptation or piece of merchandise out there (and plenty of original Japanese instances, too!). I normally prefer the more pun-preserving spellings of characters' names, too, but in this case, "Blooma" is just plain... outnumbered.

I hear that.

But you guys are still going to have to beat F-r-i-e-z-a- out of me, though. I'm still a bit slow to that one. Thank Kami for the filter.

[Rocketman]

More seriously, "Blooma" is too...and I really hesitate to use this word, "hipster".

"Bulma" isn't a wrong transliteration, has huge official backing on both sides of the Pacific, and is the name of a main character who as far as I know has never had any alternative spellings that gained any ground (unlike Goku/Gokuu/Gokuh or Krillin/Kuririn/Kulilin).

It's to bring out the pronunciation, but English pronunciation cares little for spelling.

It's to bring out the pun, but Americans need it explained anyway because what the hell are bloomers, and once explained, Bulma already carries the pun as well or better than, for example, "Saiyan" carries "yasai".

So what good is it besides some otaku cred?