Post by michael on Dec 6, 2007 21:41:22 GMT -5
This isn't a correction so much as a query, alternative point of view, call it what you will. It's probably been discussed before, but I don't know what the consensus on the matter is, so I'd be grateful if you could enlighten me.
The page on Thetis says at the end: "Thetis's name is derived from the name of the Greek goddess Thetis who was one of the most well-known Nereids. The Nereids were sea nymphs who were helpful towards sailors."
Now, I know very little about Japanese so all I have to go on is the subtitles, and in the subtitles her name is given as Tetis. You can of course say that that's a Japanesification of Thetis, since Japanese doesn't have the "th" sound, so it would be replaced with "t". However, when I first saw the episode, I assumed the name was based on a different Greek goddess, Tethys. You can see how the argument about "th" becoming "t" applies equally to both names.
Tethys was, apparently, confused with Thetis even in antiquity They are both connected with the sea, so both names would be appropriate for this character, who has power over seawater. There's really very little to go on in choosing which is the "correct" name -- unless you happen to know whether the creators have ever said explicitly which was intended. If you have a source, please just point it out and don't think me ignorant for not knowing about it! I'm new here.
There are two reasons why I, personally, prefer Tethys. One, she was a sea goddess; Thetis was only a sea nymph or minor deity, and one of fifty sisters; the only reason she is remembered is that she has a special role in legend as the mother of Achilles. Two, the "e" in Thetis is long, an "ee" sound, which (from what I know) is written "ii" and never "e" in Japanese.
Of course, the reason I'm being so fussy about this minor point is that she is a major character in the fanfic I'm plotting, and I need to know what to call her! If I use the wrong name, will all the true fans be furious with me?
The page on Thetis says at the end: "Thetis's name is derived from the name of the Greek goddess Thetis who was one of the most well-known Nereids. The Nereids were sea nymphs who were helpful towards sailors."
Now, I know very little about Japanese so all I have to go on is the subtitles, and in the subtitles her name is given as Tetis. You can of course say that that's a Japanesification of Thetis, since Japanese doesn't have the "th" sound, so it would be replaced with "t". However, when I first saw the episode, I assumed the name was based on a different Greek goddess, Tethys. You can see how the argument about "th" becoming "t" applies equally to both names.
Tethys was, apparently, confused with Thetis even in antiquity They are both connected with the sea, so both names would be appropriate for this character, who has power over seawater. There's really very little to go on in choosing which is the "correct" name -- unless you happen to know whether the creators have ever said explicitly which was intended. If you have a source, please just point it out and don't think me ignorant for not knowing about it! I'm new here.
There are two reasons why I, personally, prefer Tethys. One, she was a sea goddess; Thetis was only a sea nymph or minor deity, and one of fifty sisters; the only reason she is remembered is that she has a special role in legend as the mother of Achilles. Two, the "e" in Thetis is long, an "ee" sound, which (from what I know) is written "ii" and never "e" in Japanese.
Of course, the reason I'm being so fussy about this minor point is that she is a major character in the fanfic I'm plotting, and I need to know what to call her! If I use the wrong name, will all the true fans be furious with me?