Why is the "FRIEZA" spelling wrong?

[Cipher]

Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. I COULD quit school to try and play video games professionally, but It is a lot more logical to no do so. Just as it is more logical to just follow the pun, rather than spend time justifying white "ie" is equivalent to "ee", solely because Funimation has used it. I doubt that if Funimation didn't spell it that way, you would be trying to convince people that F-R-I-E-Z-A is ok.

Um ... I'm not? I'm just trying to avoid that kneejerk "OMG BAD SPELLING IS BAD" reaction. Like I said, no one questions "Hildegarn," but change one vowel in "Freeza" and everyone automatically flips a shit. The spelling sucks, but come on. It hardly rates 1 on the problem scale.

I thought Coola's slight name change was someone elses idea?

I remember reading in the "Name Pun Round-Up" thread that it was Toriyama's idea, which was taken from a Daizenshuu quote. But I could be wrong.

[Amigo Ten]

That quote says it was the producer's idea I believe.

[Chuquita]

I prefer spelling it Freeza with "ee" because it's easier to remember and I like the way it looks more than the spelling with the "ie".

[desirecampbell]

Here's Herm's explaination, again.

Freeza
I’m going to quote two Toriyama explanations this time, since I think one kind of clarifies the other, and they help explain the underlying logic for name puns in general: as a way of making Toriyama’s job easier.
Toriyama Explanation:

[DBF]
“I took his name from ‘freezer’, since that went along with vegetables (Saiyans) and milk (Ginyu). Actually, it would have been more correct to use refrigerator, but that wouldn’t have gotten the joke across so I used freezer.”

[SEG]
“It’s a real pain to decide on the names for lots of characters. If you unify the names into a series, it makes it easy to think them up. For instance, there’s Freeza, who directed the Saiyans and the other evil aliens. Strictly speaking, a ‘freezer’ is a reitouko, but I named him with the image of a refrigerator [reizouko] in mind. So, the names would be unified as food items that one puts inside [a refrigerator]. The Saiyans are vegetables, the Ginyu Special-Squad are dairy products, that kind of thing.
Source Spelling:: フリーザー/furiizaa
Name Spelling: フリーザ/Furiiza

The key thing here is that the English word 'freezer' when transliterated into Japanese would be written as フリーザー(furiizaa) but the character's name is written with a short 'a' sound instead: フリーザ(furiiza). So, how should this name be romanized? It's 'freezer' with a short 'a' sound instead of a long 'a' sound. Freezer becomes 'Freeza'.

That's it. To suggest that there should be any other change to the name is baseless. There's no reason to try to shoehorn an 'i' into the name.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Well, simply, that's not his name.

フリーザ = Freeza

Viz has always gone with Freeza, but I will NEVER understand why FUNimation decided to go with Freeza. Same with Ti en. Or Chaozu, or the Ginyu Tokusentai.

Do you even know Japanese? フリーザ is "Furiiza" which can be transliterated to "Freeza" or "Frieza".

The key thing here is that the English word 'freezer' when transliterated into Japanese would be written as フリーザー(furiizaa) but the character's name is written with a short 'a' sound instead: フリーザ(furiiza). So, how should this name be romanized? It's 'freezer' with a short 'a' sound instead of a long 'a' sound. Freezer becomes 'Freeza'.

That's it. To suggest that there should be any other change to the name is baseless. There's no reason to try to shoehorn an 'i' into the name.

Okay yes, "Freeza" is more correct. I know it and everyone else knows it, but your arguement as to why ""Frieza" is incorrect is weak.

You're assuming that the "ii" in his Japanese name can only be adapted as "ee". Well yes, it would fit the pun better if you adapted it like that, but it isn't necessary. So there's nothing wrong with adapting "ii" as "ie" or even just leaving as "ii" because they all make the same sound.

[Hujio]

Well, simply, that's not his name.

フリーザ = Freeza

Viz has always gone with Freeza, but I will NEVER understand why FUNimation decided to go with Freeza. Same with Ti en. Or Chaozu, or the Ginyu Tokusentai.

Do you even know Japanese?

Based on most of your previous posts related to this subject, I think the question is, do you know Japanese?

フリーザ is "Furiiza" which can be transliterated to "Freeza" or "Frieza".

If anyone out there thinks they know Japanese and would honestly transliterate 「フリーザ」 as "Frieza"... well, they're a moron! There, I said it. This is just getting absurd. If you know Japanese, and you know English, you'd know what is right and what is wrong in this case. I mean, that's the honest answer. If you don't believe me, go find someone that knows Japanese and doesn't know jack about DragonBall, and ask them to translate the name for you? In fact, I'd love to see someone do that. I'd bet that 10 out of 10 people would come up with "ee", instead of "ie".

NEWS FLASH PEOPLE: The name is based on an English word! Freezer. How is that word spelled? NOT WITH AN "I"!

Just because FUNimation went out of their way to create their own spelling of the name, doesn't mean it's correct. And while we're on the subject, what makes this spelling of the name so cool? Is it the "i"? Does that just make it look that much cooler? Why is it such a big deal that the name be written, you know, correctly?

You're assuming that the "ii" in his Japanese name can only be adapted as "ee". Well yes, it would fit the pun better if you adapted it like that, but it isn't necessary. So there's nothing wrong with adapting "ii" as "ie" or even just leaving as "ii" because they all make the same sound.

And you're assuming what you said makes sense... Let's address the part I underlined, shall we, and then you can tell me if it really isn't necessary.

Here's a quick example I like to use:
One character name that follows suit with Freeza (フリーザ; Furiiza), is Brief (ブリーフ; Buriifu). You'll notice I've highlighted the part of the names that seems to be causing all the confusion. Hey look at that, when you use the same naming conventions, one of them has an "ee", and the other has an "ie". Could it be that they're both being spelled based on their name pun? *gasp*

So I say, if you spell it as "Frieza", then based on that same logic, you must now use "Breef". It's only fair, right?

Even take the title of the popular anime "Bleach" (ブリーチ; Buriichi). It has an "ea", because that's how you spell it in English, which is what the name is based on. So while I see why people think you can translate "ii" as anything that makes that sound, like "ie", you have to use judgment to know which spelling to use. I mean, wouldn't people be pretty pissed off if Viz just started spelling it "Bliech"? And I don't want to hear that we see it written as "Bleach" everywhere in Japan so that's not correct, because that's just hypocritical. "Freeza" is used everywhere in Japan, so what's the difference? Why can't I spell it "Bliech"? I'm just transliterating it phonetically, right? Or what about "One Peece" (ワンピース; Wan Piisu)? I mean, where do you draw the line? It's called logic. Try using it sometime. It's that simple. (That was directed at everyone, not anyone in particular.)

[Silver Sinspawn]

Thanks for saying that. I was trying to figure how to put this, but you did it for me.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Thanks Hujio, you really cleared that up.


As I said before, if someone can tell me why the "Frieza" spelling is wrong without resorting to "OMG ITZ PRONONCED FRYZA" then I'll calmy back off and admit that I'm wrong.

[Hujio]

Thanks Herms, you really cleared that up.

Ouch... I mean, why thank you...

[Silver Sinspawn]

Thanks Herms, you really cleared that up.


As I said before, if someone can tell me why the "Frieza" spelling is wrong without resorting to "OMG ITZ PRONONCED FRYZA" then I'll calmy back off and admit that I'm wrong.

I didn't know how to put it. I was just giving a brief explanation because nobody else was. And dude. That's not herms

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Sorry, I edited by other post.

[Cipher]

So I say, if you spell it as "Frieza", then based on that same logic, you must now use "Breef". It's only fair, right?

I'm going to go ahead and (very calmly, and only for the sake of debate) say that you could choose either "Breef" or "Brief," because once you step outside of "Buriifu," it's open to interpretation. And each one maintains the pun perfectly well unless you're the most literal person on the planet.

So which do I prefer out of "Brief" vs "Breef" and "Frieza" vs "Freeza"? Brief and Freeza. But it's not as if the alternate spellings don't maintain the pun perfectly well. I mean, I get it either way; his name's derived from "freezer." A vowel change doesn't really take away from that.

Can I redirect the subject of debate to Blooma? I'm really up in arms about her always being called "Bulma," because it totally misrepresents the pun and I'm like super angry about that.

Also, for the love of God, can someone please address why exactly "Hildegarn" gained the fanbase's favor over the marginally more correct "Hirudegarn"? Is it possible that name romanization is scraping the very bottom of relevant issues concerning the international treatment of the series? I just don't know!

I mean, wouldn't people be pretty pissed off if Viz just started spelling it "Bliech"? And I don't want to hear that we see it written as "Bleach" everywhere in Japan so that's not correct, because that's just hypocritical. "Freeza" is used everywhere in Japan, so what's the difference? Why can't I spell it "Bliech"? I'm just transliterating it phonetically, right? Or what about "One Peece" (ワンピース; Wan Piisu)? I mean, where do you draw the line? It's called logic. Try using it sometime. It's that simple. (That was directed at everyone, not anyone in particular.)

I call bull on this one. There's a clear difference between actual series titles, existing English words, and a character name which was both primarily written in katakana and already a bastardization for the sake of a pun.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Can I redirect the subject of debate to Blooma? I'm really up in arms about her always being called "Bulma," because it totally misrepresents the pun and I'm like super angry about that.

You're right in saying that "Blooma" conveys the pun better but one of the reasons why I and so many other DB fans use "Bulma" is because it's the spelling used by Toriyama and pretty much every single piece of merchendise, both in the US and Japan.

[Cipher]

You're right in saying that "Blooma" conveys the pun better but one of the reasons why I and so many other DB fans use "Bulma" is because it's the spelling used by Toriyama and pretty much every single piece of merchendise, both in the US and Japan.

I was kidding. If fans are going to get so up in arms about one vowel ruining Freeza's pun, they might as well come at "Bulma" as well. But they don't, because that would be ridiculous. Ergo.

Also, Klylyn. And I still refuse to discuss Freeza's lack or use of an "i" until someone gives me a clear answer about Hildegarn's "l." The people have a right to know. It's super important.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Also, Klylyn. And I still refuse to discuss Freeza's lack or use of an "i" until someone gives me a clear answer about Hildegarn's "l." The people have a right to know. It's super important.

The reason why ヒルデガーン (Hirudegaan) becomes Hildegarn is because "r"s can be swapped out for "l"s when transliterating.

[Cipher]

The reason why ヒルデガーン (Hirudegaan) becomes Hildegarn is because "r"s can be swapped out for "l"s when transliterating.

But you totally lose the pun of Hirudegarn's name being based on Toei staff member Hiruta! I mean, just because you can swap an "l" for an "r," doesn't mean you should.

Unless you'd transliterate that man's last name as "Hilta."

Also, hold on a second, because we're actually arguing the exact same point. Translating names is sticky business, and while Freeza is the better spelling, "Frieza" is neither offensively wrong nor does it lose the pun. I meant to debate Hujio, and somehow ended up debating you.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

The reason why ヒルデガーン (Hirudegaan) becomes Hildegarn is because "r"s can be swapped out for "l"s when transliterating.

But you totally lose the pun of Hirudegarn's name being based on Toei staff member Hiruta! I mean, just because you can swap an "l" for an "r," doesn't mean you should.

Unless you'd transliterate that man's last name as "Hilta."

Well, I've always used Hirudegarn way before I knew about Japanese transliteration and all that jazz, simply because that's what FUNi used. I dunno, I guess it doesn't matter as much because the pun is of Japanese origin.

[Silver Sinspawn]

The reason why ヒルデガーン (Hirudegaan) becomes Hildegarn is because "r"s can be swapped out for "l"s when transliterating.

But you totally lose the pun of Hirudegarn's name being based on Toei staff member Hiruta! I mean, just because you can swap an "l" for an "r," doesn't mean you should.

Unless you'd transliterate that man's last name as "Hilta."

Also, hold on a second, because we're actually arguing the exact same point. Translating names is sticky business, and while Freeza is the better spelling, "Frieza" is neither offensively wrong nor does it lose the pun. I meant to debate Herms, and somehow ended up debating you.

GUYS. THAT IS NOT HERMS. HERMS HASN'T EVEN POSTED HERE YET. I bet Hujio is felling pretty bad.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

GUYS. THAT IS NOT HERMS. HERMS HASN'T EVEN POSTED HERE YET. I bet Hujio is felling pretty bad.

Okay relax, he didn't mean to say it.

[Silver Sinspawn]

Well, i can't see why you're getting this wrong though.