Disputatio:Samus Aran

Name convention

Note that Samus's first name is in the 4th declention (-us: f.), which matches her gender. Her last name, I think, ought to be left indeclinable. I can't think of or find an equivelant to "bounty hunter" in either word or concept in ancient Roman society, so I just literaly translated the words into "hunter (f) of rewards). This is most likely the most accurate Latinisation. As for the word "Metroid". The Japanese, if I remember correctly is broken up into the syllables me-to-ro-i-do, obviously aproximating an English word "metroid". Although the suffix (or infix) -oid exists in taxonomy, I think it denotes "similar to" (i.e. "human-oid" means "similar in shape or apperance to a human being"). Also, the most recent reason given by the series for the name "metroid" is that it is a Chozo word for "ultimate warrior". (see Metroid Fusion manual and, I think, the opening scene of the game). With those things in mind, I decided to make the stem monomorphemic (metroed), pronounced pretty much the same as "metroid" in English. Its declention is 3rd neuter (metroed, metroedis), so the plural would be "metroedia". Since it's been almost two years since I've had any Latin classes, someone more proficient than I should expand this. Hay, if people are willing to post a Latin Pokemon article, than someone ought to be willing to write about Samus!

Do we have a source for Samus -us f.? I suggest Samus -i f. because a) Samus was originally introduced as a he in the original Metroid instruction booklet, so there was an intent to obscure the sex of the character by making it masculine-sounding (as if Samus -i m.), b) second-declension feminine names are not usual, but that is hardly a problem because second-declension feminine words do exist (e.g. alvus) so that a feminine name would be treated the same way (as their masculine counterparts are), c) names of the fourth declension (or appear to be of that declension) -- either masculine or feminine -- are extremely rare (Iesus -u m. is unusual and from Greek's second declension, Dido -us f. is from Greek's third declension, Lacus [Gundam SEED character] is just the word lacus used as a name), so it seems unnecessary, d) Samus -i f. suggests a cute pun involving Samos/Samus the Island and the Aran Islands, e) it would not be too hard to distinguish Samos (the island) and Samus (the character). - Diaphanus 156.34.216.79 15:17, 8 Augusti 2008 (UTC)

It's normal in Linnean taxonomy to treat a non-Greek or non-Latin word (regardless of its actual etymology) as a Latin word, with appropriate terminations, if it suggests a possible derivation from Latin or Greek. Linneus used Datura, as if from perhaps dare, even though it is from Hindi. The non-Latin/non-Greek word metroid suggests a possible derivation from a Latinized Greek word metroides. Although Linneus hated the use of the -oides suffix for the use of generic names in Botany, it is used today in Zoology, where it is masculine (e.g. Picoides fumigatus). Metroides should then be declined like asteroids -is m. Metroides seems Zoologically appropriate. - Diaphanus 156.34.216.79 15:09, 8 Augusti 2008 (UTC)

Definitely was one of my alltime favorite games. I will look into expanding this article, having taken yourcomments into consideration.--Ioshus Rocchio 16:15, 1 Augusti 2006 (UTC)

I have been declining Samus's name as "Samus -i f." (second declension) on the analogy of the "Samus -i f." that refers to the island Samos. Samus's surname Aran makes me think of the Aran Islands. So, there is a conceived island theme (which probably was not really intended by Nintendo). "Metroides -is m." is what I have been using for "Metroid." The "Metroides" is based on the similarity of the "-oides" ending as well as based on the folk etymology of "Metro-" and "-oides" (denoting the metroid clones produced when one is exposed to beta rays) even though the Metroid Fusion manual has "ultimate warrior." The "metroed -is" declension seems unnecessarily because of the change of spelling, and it's based on (I assume) "David -is," which is itself not a particularly common declination pattern (as far as I can tell). - Diaphanus.

I don't have any preference in the matter of which declension Samus is. Please change it if you think another better suits.--Rafaelgarcia 16:04, 8 Augusti 2008 (UTC)

Linking with other languages

I don't know how to link this atricle with the other language wikis on Samus.

But it is linked ...? --Roland (disp.) 18:36, 3 Augusti 2006 (UTC)