Maybe I should start a thread on the other side but I have a question not related to the music. Why did the Japanese say "Godzilla" instead of "Gojira"? Did they say "Godzilla" only for the English Subtitle release or did they actually say Godzilla in the Japanese release as well?
The Japanese actors are saying "Gojira" but the subtitles do read as "Godzilla." The Hepburn of "Gojira" translates to a portmanteau of "Gorilla" and "Whale" in the Japanese language, and was apparently a nickname a worker at Toho had due to his large stature.
But they were clearly saying "Godzilla" in Japanese not Gojira.
Maybe I should start a thread on the other side but I have a question not related to the music. Why did the Japanese say "Godzilla" instead of "Gojira"? Did they say "Godzilla" only for the English Subtitle release or did they actually say Godzilla in the Japanese release as well?
The Japanese actors are saying "Gojira" but the subtitles do read as "Godzilla." The Hepburn of "Gojira" translates to a portmanteau of "Gorilla" and "Whale" in the Japanese language, and was apparently a nickname a worker at Toho had due to his large stature.
But they were clearly saying "Godzilla" in Japanese not Gojira.
But they were clearly saying "Godzilla" in Japanese not Gojira.
Not really something I've caught in my two viewings thus. Phonetically, I think from the Japanese palate we are hearing "Godzilla" but they don't have an "l" in their spoken vocabulary. I can't see any reason why Toho would legitimately only dub over the word "Godzilla" for the US release. That just seems like an absurd proposition when they probably could've spent only a little more money and created a full dub and likely have even more improved their US box office intake. The Hepburn for the Japanese title is "Gojira Mainasu Wan" so it doesn't seem like Toho is shy of the palate differences between their language and the English language. In a syllabic-sense, the Japanese pronounce it as "Go-dzi-ll(r)a" whereas we pronounce "God-zil-ah."
I found this interesting Toho forum thread on discussion of the pronunciation and how Japanese vowels and syllables differ compared to English:
And this is a brief clip where we can hear the character of Noriko exclaiming the name of Godzilla when she sees him stomping through downtown Ginza (spoilers for those who have not seen the film). To my ears, it sounds like she is saying "Go-dzi-ra."
But they were clearly saying "Godzilla" in Japanese not Gojira.
Not really something I've caught in my two viewings thus. Phonetically, I think from the Japanese palate we are hearing "Godzilla" but they don't have an "l" in their spoken vocabulary. I can't see any reason why Toho would legitimately only dub over the word "Godzilla" for the US release. That just seems like an absurd proposition when they probably could've spent only a little more money and created a full dub and likely have even more improved their US box office intake. The Hepburn for the Japanese title is "Gojira Mainasu Wan" so it doesn't seem like Toho is shy of the palate differences between their language and the English language. In a syllabic-sense, the Japanese pronounce it as "Go-dzi-ll(r)a" whereas we pronounce "God-zil-ah."
I found this interesting Toho forum thread on discussion of the pronunciation and how Japanese vowels and syllables differ compared to English:
And this is a brief clip where we can hear the character of Noriko exclaiming the name of Godzilla when she sees him stomping through downtown Ginza (spoilers for those who have not seen the film). To my ears, it sounds like she is saying "Go-dzi-ra."
Well that proves my point. She's clearly saying Godzilla not Gojira. And its pronounced like that every time a character utters his name. We know what it sounds like when the Japanese says Gojira because it sounds like Gojira.
Well that proves my point. She's clearly saying Godzilla not Gojira. And its pronounced like that every time a character utters his name. We know what it sounds like when the Japanese says Gojira because it sounds like Gojira.
Here is another test for you, Sol. What do you hear when this Japanese woman discusses the pronunciation?
When you say the word "Gojira" do you pronounce as "Go-jee-rah" or as "Go-dzi-r(ll)a?" English doesn't have a "dzi" sound naturally in our vocabulary, we would understand more a "ji" or "jee." In this video, this native Japanese woman's pronouncing of "la" hits her hard palate more similarly to a native Spanish speaker's (almost sounding like a "ya") than an English speaker. If you go back to watch the Japanese language version of old Toho films, you can find the same pronunciation. Our culture's have different mouth shapes, palates, etc.
These are good too. This is the actress who plays Noriko in a promotional setting where you can hear her say Godzilla/Gojira. To me, how you yourself say the Hepburn "Gojira" will probably dictate how you think it should be said versus how it is said from a native speaker.
Japanese pronunciation aside, does anyone here think Sato has a real chance at an Oscar nod?
Will the score be passed over because of the Ifukube drops in the eyes/ears of Academy voters? the music branch controls the nominations but all Academy members vote, right?
Well that proves my point. She's clearly saying Godzilla not Gojira. And its pronounced like that every time a character utters his name. We know what it sounds like when the Japanese says Gojira because it sounds like Gojira.
Here is another test for you, Sol. What do you hear when this Japanese woman discusses the pronunciation?
When you say the word "Gojira" do you pronounce as "Go-jee-rah" or as "Go-dzi-r(ll)a?" English doesn't have a "dzi" sound naturally in our vocabulary, we would understand more a "ji" or "jee." In this video, this native Japanese woman's pronouncing of "la" hits her hard palate more similarly to a native Spanish speaker's (almost sounding like a "ya") than an English speaker. If you go back to watch the Japanese language version of old Toho films, you can find the same pronunciation. Our culture's have different mouth shapes, palates, etc.
These are good too. This is the actress who plays Noriko in a promotional setting where you can hear her say Godzilla/Gojira. To me, how you yourself say the Hepburn "Gojira" will probably dictate how you think it should be said versus how it is said from a native speaker.
I really don't understand what the first lady is trying to say, but the actress from the film is saying Go-jee-rah to my ears in the press release video you posted. She says that word very fast thought and the pronunciation fades off at the end. Its very difficult to hear.
Until this film Ive always heard Japanese say Go-Jeer-Rah. In the latest film I'm hearing Godzilla or maybe something closer to God-Zer-A. Its clear as day in the clip I provided. This makes me think the director asked the actors to give Gojira an American pronunciation in the film. Again perhaps it was filmed two ways, one for the Japanese market and one for the English speaking market.
Here's another example. In the American version the Japanese man is saying Go-Jeer-Rah.
