"Kakarotto" vs Other Spellings

[Jerseymilk]

This isn't just for the sake of the pun either, this is also done often when romanizing normal japanese words like the ending 'desu' in which the s is pretty much silent, therefore 'dess'.

I'm assuming you meant to type "u" instead of "s" in that statement.

[Mr. Announcer]

You got it.

[MisterFlashdude]

Besides, American's generally butcher foreign words... if they started saying it as 'Kakarrotto', it'd probably get twisted around and have a sound close to 'eldorado'... (Kakarraddo...)

Could you deal with that?

[Kaboom]

All in all, I think it just boils down to a "To-may-to"/"To-mah-to" kind of ordeal. It's just a matter of preference.

Personally, I think it should be "Kakarrot," since it's an obvious play on "Carrot." But whateva.

[desirecampbell]

I thought we went over this before? It's "Kakarrot". It's pronounced 'Kakarrotto" because that's what the Japanese do - they just add vowels on the end of things.

[Adamant]

Anyway, on a personal note to Mr. Simmons (a.k.a. Daimao): tell me, if Goku's Saiyan name really is Kakarrot, then how come they don't call Vegetto "Veget" (or something like that)?

"Veget" is "Vegeta" without the a, which doesn't make for a very good fusion name.

[veshira]

Is anyone here aware that the Japanese have "preference documents" that state how the Japanese language should be translated/transliterated from Japanese into other languages. I know what I'm going to say is fishy, but I read that in a book two years ago, and I don't have a source to verify that. But it's true! It includes that all "su" sounds must be just "s" sounds, like Sasuke becoming Saske, and Sanosuke becoming Sanoske (although the dub of the Samurai X movie is dubbed with his name being "Sanosuke" sounding, but then again, I hate the dub of that movie. )

Actually in the Italian dub Goku's Saiyan name is Karot (with a long "a").

Actually, no, in the Italian version, Kakarrot is "Kakaroth," which I know from watching the Italian versions of DBZ and DBGT, as well as going to Italian Dragonball sites. Also, Vegetto is "Vegeth" in the Italian version. (I've always liked that spelling. )

Oh yes, and Piccolo is "Junior."

And now time for Veshira's "Why Bejitto became Vegito while Kakarotto became Kakarot."

Kakarotto was too long a name, and come on, we know it's a pun on a carrot anyway, so why not make it "Kakarot" when that's probably what Toriyama was aiming for anyway, right? I mean, Bejiita is definately named after the word "vegetable," so why shouldn't we make these puns noticable for the English speaking public?

Well, too bad for you, Funimation, ect., because Toriyama never took into consideration when he named Bejitto that some countries might transliterate the name differently, because the name to him, the Japanese creator of Dragonball, always said and wrote Kakarotto, as well as all the Japanese people reading his manga in his country, which was Japan as it remains today. So, yeah, basically it was doomed to be flawed since Funimation decided to call Goku "Kakarot," which is as perfectly a logical transliteration of the name as Bejiita --> Vegeta is, mind you!

So yeah, basically it's Funimation screwing up again, but you've got to admit: Toriyama could have done better that Bejitto anyway. That name is definately Vegeta dominating.

[Sebastian (SB)]

I still prefer "Kakarrot" with the two Rs, better than the translation "Kakarot" because of the given reasons by VegettoEX. Heck it's even used by Viz's translation of the tankobons & Daimao's translation as stated in previous posts. In the end, "Kakarrot" seems more acceptable than "Kakarot". Although, I like saying "Kakarotto" as well.

[Casual Matt]

I usually stick with the Kakarotto spelling, if for no other reason, than to make the origins of Vegetto's name more obvious.

That and the "o" and the end of Kakarotto seems more audible than some of the ending vowels like the ones on Raditz or Oob. Particularly when Broli says it in Movie 10.

[El_Diablo]

I've never heard of these "preference documents". Just the Japanese government's official romanisation systems (Nihon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki), and they both leave the unpronounced sounds in.

[Deus ex Machina]

*bangs head continuously against computer desk*

What's left to discuss?! It's not a matter of preference, of translation, or faith. There's a correct way to say it, and an incorrect way. Just like how you wouldn't say Bejita, you shouldn't say Kakarrotto. The Japanese throw in odd sounding vowels at the end of every word, even English ones. It's not the way it's meant to be written or pronounced for anyone who doesn't speak at least semi fluent Japanese.

I don't care if anyone chooses to use those particular spellings, but don't try to convince yourself you're using anything but romanized Kanji, which is not anymore authentic than regular english spellings.

[Casual Matt]

I've never heard of these "preference documents". Just the Japanese government's official romanisation systems (Nihon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki), and they both leave the unpronounced sounds in.

I think we're talking more about name adaptations/translations than romanizations.

[veshira]

I've never heard of these "preference documents". Just the Japanese government's official romanisation systems (Nihon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki), and they both leave the unpronounced sounds in.

Ah ha! Yes! I think that's what I meant. So sorry. What I do know is that it's been changed a number of times over the years...

[Castor Troy]

Refer to my sig.

[Daimao]

So to sum up:

The "carrot" thing: If you absolutely, positively, desperately must have the "o" on the end, I believe you get thrown a bone during Broli's ravings in movie 8.

The Vegetto thing: Because Veget by itself looks like a typo.

That being said, how about we also try to standardize spellings for the capital of Iran, the name of the leader of Libya, the name of bin Laden's terrorist organization (and for that matter, bin Laden's own full name), or the name of Islam's holy book? Those are also proper nouns that have to be transliterated into English from a foreign system of writing, and whose English spellings nobody can seem to agree upon.

[Blitzen]

Refer to my sig.

I seriously hope you didn't write that.

[MajinVejitaXV]

Eh, the romanization thing is always gonna cause some arguements. Look at Aeris/Aerith from Final Fantasy VII. エアリス is a Japanese transliteration of 'Earth', so some choose 'Aerith' as it is closer to the original meaning whereas some choose 'Aeris' because they consider 'th' to be an antiquated romanization of ス. I personally choose Aeris just because it sounds better. Both are typically seen as valid though, with the main arguement being that 'Aerith' is the official name (despite the original translation being different, though FFVII had a...unique translation job).

That fun detour taken, I choose Kakarotto. Why? I take it as a foreign name. Do you call a Spanish person named Juan "John"? I don't.

Also:

So to sum up:

The "carrot" thing: If you absolutely, positively, desperately must have the "o" on the end, I believe you get thrown a bone during Broli's ravings in movie 8.

Eh, I understand why you did it (you did the translation for Movie 8, right?), but it was kinda...strange. Kakarot is fine, Kakarotto is my prefered method, but mixing the two...eh...

It's especially confusing when you're showing it to your girlfriend ;p

-Corey

[desirecampbell]

Well, Broli's (or is it Broly? I can never remember) screams of "Kakarrottoooooooooooo" show us that the 'o' may be important. Could he just as easily said "Kakarroooooootto" (as I remember dub Vegeta saying "Kakarrooooot"). If so, Broli's stressing of the last 'o' would show that it is indeed part of the name instead of just that weird Japanese vowel-speech.

But I'm not an expert on Japanese.

[Blitzen]

Do you call a Spanish person named Juan "John"? I don't.

Big difference between common names and made up ones, but much the same as I wouldn't call a Juan John, it doesnt apply the same to Kakarrot and Kakarotto, given the different nature of Katakana and how words are formed in it, and that neither Spanish nor English have anything remotely similar.

All in all, though, I don't mind either. Personally I say and write Kakarot(sp) because I think its easier to say and more people know it that way (but I've barely ever used the word in conversation ever). What peeves me is "bejita" and "pikoro" and such.

[Nyoibo]

Actually, no, in the Italian version, Kakarrot is "Kakaroth," which I know from watching the Italian versions of DBZ and DBGT, as well as going to Italian Dragonball sites. Also, Vegetto is "Vegeth" in the Italian version.

Err... nope. I lived in Italy where I've watched all the Dragon Ball trilogy... and I'm pretty sure those were the names: Karot and Vegeku. Actually those were the first names I knew (long before any English adaptations or the original Japanese ones). In fact the episode where Vegetto appears and battles Buu is called: "Vegeku contro Majin Bu". Many websites like Dragon Ball Arena corrected the name, while others like: http://www.otakuland.it kept the original Italian dub names.