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Rimudo/Limdo debate is answered lovingly in my signature ^^ Viz is full of bull s**t. And honestly, if you pronounce it right Rimudo sounds nothing like Limdo.

That is so true. 3nodding I completely agree. The first time I read Genbu Kaiden, I saw Limdo... the strangest thought came into my mind.... and it was so disgusting that I tried everything in my power to forget what I had just thought at that moment.

No, I can see what you were trying to say 3nodding When in doubt, I usually just say "arigatou" and that's the way an "r" should sound. I also sometimes find it's like saying a cross between a "d" and an "r" (I don't think that made sense).

That makes me wonder though...the least they could've done was write "Rimdo" right? (I think I said "Rimudo" out loud about 50 times now...woops, 51. Thank goodness everyone's downstairs watching Spirited Away)

*pulls out both manga* I had a similar interest in the sudden change from the Japanese pronunciations/spellings of the cities (like I'm used too in the anime of FY) to the Chinese ones in the English manga of FYGK. Watase still refers to the land that is protected by Genbu as Hokkan, which is called Bei-Jia in the Viz translation. Now, typically the Japanese try to mimic Chinese sounds as much as possible, which I noticed slightly with Kutou/Qu-Dong, then there's Kounan/Hong-Nan, aaa~~~nnnnd *grabs one of the Perfect World volumes for her map* then there's Byakko's sovereign nation of Sairou which is supposed to be Xi-Lang. Now, I don't know Chinese, but I'm assuming that's what they're supposed to be called in Chinese.

Now, I don't have the original new editions of the FY manga on hand, but I'm really curious myself as to WHY Viz decided to go with the Chinese names. Part of me is impressed because that's detail that they're usually not so seemingly keen on doing, and to me it would've made sense to use those names in the beginning. I'm hoping to stop by the Viz panel at Otakon and see if I can't get any information, since there's no Translator's notes in FYGK or anything (which, I personally, being a translator-in-training, I'm always interested in these things) and those kinds of notes can explain a lot.

Now... to the name thing. Here's Manda's quick and easy Japanese lesson one regarding the world of Fushigi Yuugi:

Rimudo, is pronounced basically as "reemoodoh". Now, personally, the r/l thing in Japanese is very confusing but to me, its always safest to leave it r unless you know with unreasonable doubt it's an l. Because, yes, the 'l' sound is one that Japanese really don't have a conception of. I wish I could get you all on a Yahoo talk chat or something to really pronounce these for you, but let me see if I can explain this well enough.

To me, in cases like Rimudo or Kirara from Inuyasha, the 'l' sound just doesn't seem to work, nor does it really have to with a name. Typically, when pronouncing 'mu' in names like Chamuka or Chamka, which is Tomite's real name, the 'mu' blends into the 'ka' which basically makes the 'u' sound dissappear. That's not the case in Rimudo's name, which is another reason I think Limdo doesn't work. Now maybe this is another of their attempts to make his name more Chinese I don't know. Watase-sensei rarely uses romaji to specify how she would want the names spelled and usually, unless its actually assigned by the creator I just leave the name as is.

I hope some of that made sense sweatdrop

I remember that Kirara bit...I guess when it comes down to it, they decide to forget correct pronounciations and go "gringo" (which I'm sure I didn't spell right and actually refers to an American unable to pronounce Spanish sounds correctly...but you catch my drift right? sweatdrop )

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