Forum - View topicTestarossa's first name in FMP
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lhernan02
Posts: 196 |
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This is a dumb question, but it sticks in my craw that the translation of her first name is Teletha instead of the obvious Teressa (or if you want the english version Theresa).
I would assume it has something to do with the translation (e.g. even in romanji, my first name looks nothing like its natural spelling and barely sounds the same), but rather than a literal translation, why not go for the logical (I would say obvious) translation. Just hoping somebody "in the know" has the explanation (other than laziness on the part of the translators). |
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abunai
Old Regular
 Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Well, now, this qualifies as one of the most commonly asked questions in connection with FMP -- and unlike most commonly asked questions, there's nothing "dumb" about it.
The character's name in kana is テレサ・テスタロッサ, or literally: Teresa Tesutarossa. However, kana-to-romaji transliteration often has multiple possibilities, and the kana レ, "re", can also be read as "le". Likewise, サ can be read as both "sa" and "tha". <-- PLEASE NOTE: I wrote T H A here , but the anti-moronspeak filters on this forum insist on transforming this to T H E -- this would not be necessary if there weren't so many imbeciles who could not spell. You know who you are. So テレサ can be read as either "Teresa" or "Teletha". No big deal, normally a Western reader would assume that the correct transliteration was the most common one, "Teresa". However, it has been made clear in all the printed material produced in connection with the series that the correct transliteration is, in fact, the less common "Teletha". They ought to know, so Teletha Testarossa it is. The surname, of course, is a nod to Ferrari's most famous model, the ultimate boy toy. Very fitting, I'm sure you'll agree. There seems to be a trend in anime these days of naming female characters for automobile manufacturers, marques and models. I'm not sure whether Tessa Testarossa was the first, and thereby started the trend. Can anyone point to an earlier example? - abunai |
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lhernan02
Posts: 196 |
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Abunai,
Thank you very much for the quick and intelligent response. I guess the translation angle was correct. Also thanks for the car angle, I hadn't thought about that. I always wondered why they named her "red head" when she is silver/gray haired (I know its a last name not a descriptive, but it still seemed odd). |
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biliano
Posts: 956 Location: Cleveland, OH |
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Click here to see an image of the Ferrari Testarossa. I'll have to say that I agree with abunai; it is very fitting. 
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lhernan02
Posts: 196 |
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Trust me, I remember what the Testarossa looks like, any boy from my generation (c/o '87) does (although dreamcar-wise I was partial to the mystical Mercedes C111). On a side note, I agree with the boy toy comment, but only in the bad way, the fact that a woman (or girl depending on your point of view) that accomplished is characterized as such a dumb ditz is one of the things that brings that series down (then I remember its an action/comedy/harem series, turn off my brain, and continue to enjoy the show). |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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The earliest one I could think of right now (without digging into it yet) was Saber Marionette J, in which Faust's girls (well, android girls) were named Panther, Tiger, and Luchs. |
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abunai
Old Regular
Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Belabouring the obvious.
- abunai |
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Zalis116
Moderator
 Posts: 6901 Location: Kazune City |
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frentymon
Forums Superstar
 Posts: 2362 Location: San Francisco |
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Perhaps it's because it sounds much more like "Teletha" than "Teresa" (or at least the American pronouciation of the name, not sure about other countries) in the Japanese version of the anime (with the "te" syllable being stressed), even though it's romanized as "Teresa". I think if they really wanted it to be "Teresa/Theresa," it would be "Teriisa" or at least "Tereesa" instead. Although, in Eureka 7, they pronouced it the exact romanized pronouciation "Eh-ooh-reh-kuh," but it becomes the regular English pronouciation of the word "Eureka" in the dubbed version.
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18460 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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No, it doesn't. See this recent review for more detailed commentary on that. |
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Shiroi Hane
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 7584 Location: Wales |
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Besides, I would pronounce Theresa as Tereeza which would be something like テリーザ in katakana.
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jaybug39
 Posts: 552 Location: Oregon, Is it FOOTBALL yet? |
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Can I open up this topic a little bit to ask about the naming of the Mithril Submarine? Mithril, Tolkein. Tuatha De Danaan, Celtic?
So is the captain Italian? Did she put money on the World Cup? |
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