LogFAQs > #911049656

Underleveled posted...

Isn't Aerith actually the mistranslation and Aeris is correct?

Actually, neither is a mistranslation. Both are valid translations of - literally E A RI SU. The "su" can be translated as an "s" (as in Faris or Celes) or as a "th" (as in Sephiroth). Basically, "su" can stand for either an "s" sound or a "th" sound (since the "th" sound doesn't exist on its own in Japanese, "su" is used to approximate it).

The original translation team went with one variation and the later translation team went with a different variation.

That being said, an early interview about her name does indicate that her name is originally pulled from a katakana transliteration of the English word "Earth": E -> E, A -> A, R -> RI, TH -> SU. So there is an argument to be made that the "su" should be a "th" - but that same argument also logically says that her name should start with an E rather than an A, and nobody seems too keen to get that "fixed" as well.

As far as I'm concerned, both are valid, and there's no point in starting fights over it. Just call her what you want, and let others do the same, and we can all understand each other.

Of course, if anyone gets all high-and-mighty about how they insist that everyone do it the "correct" way, feel free to argue.
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And though we deserved not his mercy, he has led us to this new Eden, a last chance for redemption.