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Tamagotch
 
Category: Naming
Reference: 3057
Closed (accepted) by: root.
fuzzball » 2009-01-14 20:44:25

A spelling of "たまごっち" in Japan is "Tamagotch", not "Tamagotchi".
(also 0264, 0507, 0966 & 1471)
xuom2 » 2009-01-14 22:10:26

European commercial title is "Tamagotchi"
http://www.collectiondx.com/gallery2/gallery/d/53480-5/GOLDEN_TAMAGOTCHI_rgb.jpg
fuzzball » 2009-01-14 23:30:17

Yes, but it's "Tamagotch" in Japan.
http://tamagotch.channel.or.jp/tamagotch/yasasi/yasahon/yasahon.htm
kazumi213 » 2009-01-15 04:42:57

I've found this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamagotchi#Meaning_of_.22Tamagotchi.22)

"According to Bandai the name is a portmanteau combining the Japanese word "たまご" (tamago) which means "egg", and the English word "watchamakalit" (as in timepiece)[3]. Consequently, the name is romanized as "Tamagotch" without the "i" in Japan."

I don't know what the heck is a "watchamakalit", what I understand is that

Japanese "tamago" + English "watch" = "tamagotch"

and that's why "cch" is romanized as "tch" here.

Due to writing system limitations, Japanese has to use "cchi" (which is romanized "tchi" for the above reason).

Western titles decided to use "tamagotchi" (maybe it sounds more cute).

However we modify transliteration when Japanese words try to represent a foreign word (usually English) to actualy match the proper foreign spelling.

This case is no different: "tamago" + "watch" (not watchi/watchy), so "Tamagotch" in the Japanese titles is correct.

Edition of remaining japanese titles is suggested.
Auryn » 2009-01-15 16:54:34

I'm from Europe and everybody here name it with the ending "I".
kazumi213 » 2009-01-16 04:07:16

Yes, there is no problem with "Tamagotchi" being used in western titles.

This is about what's the correct transliteration of "たまごっち" in japanese titles. I agree with fuzzball that "Tamagotch" should be used.