"And You Have Godzilla, Which Is Reality."

[woodwardiocom]

-I'm going to be seeing the original uncut undubbed Godzilla tonight at the Brattle, so I won't be at OPN until after 9:30, if at all.

-Also, I've frequently had people ask me how the name "Gojira" in the Japanese became "Godzilla" in the English. Frankly, it's because they sound a lot more alike than you'd think. The Japanese sound that is usually translated as "R" is actually halfway between "R" and "L". And, the "J" sound is more like the "dge" in "smudge" than a typical English "J". So, it's almost as legitimate to write his Japanese name as "Godge-illa", and from there it's a very short hop to "Godzilla".

Comments

[maedbh7.livejournal.com]

Linguistics has labels for all these sounds, incidentally. The English 'j' (Jerry Jordan's jelly jar and jam begin that way) is a voiced palatal affricate, while the French 'j' (jeux sans frontières, of Peter Gabriel's Games Without Frontiers fame; most commonly heard in English words like 'measure') is a voiced palata fricative. Linguistics notates these two sounds with completely different symbols; would be interesting if all languagees did the same. Meanwhile, 'l' and 'r' are both alveolar liquids, 'l' being a lateral liquid and 'r' being a retroflex liquid. Probably a fuller study of linguistics than I've done could give you the precise articulation place and manner and state of the glottis for the Japanese 'r'.

This linguistic geek moment brought to you by the letters P and B, because all things are better bilabial. -H...

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-Ooo, baby, tell me more about fricatives...

[buxom-bey.livejournal.com]

Linguistics must be in the air. The study I volunteered to lab rat for at MIT, on linguistics. They're specifically looking for right handed, native english speakers. Anyone want to join me? They're offering cookies. =)

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-Details? Where-n-when?

There are no 'short hops' when you're Godzilla!

[(Anonymous)]

There are no 'short hops' when you're Godzilla! --Nathaniel

Re: There are no 'short hops' when you're Godzilla!

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-No, Nat, I'm the crazy Godzilla fan, remember?

Re: There are no 'short hops' when you're Godzilla!

[(Anonymous)]

I think you need a bumper sticker in the same vein as "What Would Jesus Do?" stickers- however, *yours* would say "What Would Godzilla Do? (He'd roar, then stomp on something)"

Re: There are no 'short hops' when you're Godzilla!

[fotofile2002.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the fire breath !

Aha.

[crazybone.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh. Always wondered about that. Now I know, and knowing is half the battled.
BTW, since you asked me once or twice what my LJ was, I Friended
you so you don't have to ask again. Hope you don't mind.