494 replies to this topic

[Zacharyne]

Can we not just call them Atlas'?

[BertyBargo]

Good lord men. It's time for learning.

Use whatever you want, but gramatically it's Atlases.

Using i to replace the ending is a throwback (MOARLIEK SWAYBACK AMIRITE) to classical latin- Plural forms of words ending in us were switched to i.

So, as a general rule of thumb, if the singular ends in us, switch the plural to i.
Cactus/cacti
Octopus/octopi
College campus/college campi
Magus/magi
Fungus/fungi

[sicky]

i voted for atlases.
but ingame i would just say 3 atlas behind the hill.
(even in german i would not call them Atlanten, even if its correct)

[SakuranoSenshi]

BertyBargo, on 02 August 2012 - 07:42 AM, said:

Good lord men. It's time for learning.

Use whatever you want, but gramatically it's Atlases.

Using i to replace the ending is a throwback (MOARLIEK SWAYBACK AMIRITE) to classical latin- Plural forms of words ending in us were switched to i.

So, as a general rule of thumb, if the singular ends in us, switch the plural to i.
Cactus/cacti
Octopus/octopi
College campus/college campi
Magus/magi
Fungus/fungi

Except that it is not nor ever was 'octopi' (which is not latin, that's why, just as Atlas isn't).

[Bouncin]

Ah, yet another reason for Atlai is that it is the shortened version of Atlaieeeeee, which is the sound I make in my cockpit as my mech is instakilled. Comms didn't survive for the full version of my death scream.

On a slightly less serious note, there would be no Greek plural of this word, as it is a Proper Name of a singular person, just as there are no Athipode, just one Athena. The creation of a mass-produced machine of death bearing the name of an ancient Greek god means the necessary implementation of creative improvisation, so Atas, Atlai, and Atlases are all fine. It is just like spelling (or sex): if you can't think of more than one way to do it, you lack creativity ;P

[SakuranoSenshi]

Timothy MacBrian, on 02 August 2012 - 08:04 AM, said:

Ah, yet another reason for Atlai is that it is the shortened version of Atlaieeeeee, which is the sound I make in my cockpit as my mech is instakilled. Comms didn't survive for the full version of my death scream.

On a slightly less serious note, there would be no Greek plural of this word, as it is a Proper Name of a singular person, just as there are no Athipode, just one Athena. The creation of a mass-produced machine of death bearing the name of an ancient Greek god means the necessary implementation of creative improvisation, so Atas, Atlai, and Atlases are all fine. It is just like spelling (or sex): if you can't think of more than one way to do it, you lack creativity ;P

Sorry, dead wrong. The plural of Athena has no 'pode' in there nor do greek nouns generally, octopus does because its stem is octopod- and we know exactly how to pluralize Athena and plenty of other names. I already pointed this out, actually, so I have to wonder why you're posting this when you clearly don't have a clue. :-)

Edited by SakuranoSenshi, 02 August 2012 - 08:16 AM.

[Aldinvor]

there is no plural to atlas, they are like sheep.

[Shadowfist]

I can see this erupting in chat during matches.. lmao

[Thundercles]

I think "atlai" just conveys more of a 'you're gonna have a bad time' vibe than getting semantic does. If you have time to use punctuation, pluralization, and all that jazz... you've evaluated the threat of multiple assault mechs poorly.

[SakuranoSenshi]

If you need time to correctly use 'punctuation, pluralization, and all that jazz' you've failed to master your chosen language. ;-)

[Karyu]

How can people vote for Atlai? In no sense/translation/version is this correct, it would be Atlaii. But it would not be Atlaii, because that grammatical rule applies to words ending in 'us' not 'as', also because you can not pluaralize a singular (as in unique) proper noun as such. So the debate is between Atlas and Atlases.

Edited by Karyu, 02 August 2012 - 09:08 AM.

[Quietly Crazy]

I'm partially curious as to why so many of the Lyrans don't know how to pronounce this...don't we all get one when we reach age 5?


...I know I did at least...

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

So there is now a vote between proper English and bad English? Whether you like it or not, "atlases" is proper.

But this seems like an argument you should take up with dictionary.com or something. This site, game, and Piranha itself all have no influence on English grammar rules. Even if 99% of people vote Atlai that just means 99% of the voters are wrong.

[Nakuru]

How about we just call it "Oops, I just sh*t myself," then?

[Rychard Starheart]

bah, I cant remember my Greek from college >_<

[Luso Clemens]

To bad nobody thought to just Google it sooner: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atlas

It says the plural of Atlas is Atlases or Atlantes

And shame on you Rychard, you paid all that money to go learn about Greek things and you don't remember the most important part.

Edited by Luso Clemens, 02 August 2012 - 09:20 AM.

[Suskis]

both wrong. It's Latin version of greek god àtlas and it is spelled:

Atlas
Atlantis
Atlanti
Atlantem, Atlanta
Atla
Atlante

and IT HAS NO PLURAL. guess why? it's a GOD and there is only one of them

[Bansheedragon75]

Uhm, whats the point of this thread and the vote?

[The Basilisk]

Both wrong. Atlas is specific name without multiple forms.
Its one Atlas, two Atlas.
If you mean the book Atlas singular and Atlases plural.

[Shadowfist]

Nakuru, on 02 August 2012 - 09:10 AM, said:

How about we just call it "Oops, I just sh*t myself," then?

I second this notion.