Octopus, octopi, octoporum

[Jen]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Jim Flanagan" <jamesf at a...> wrote:

> My *American* dictionary gives both octopuses and octopi as plurals 
> for octopus.  Further, it says that octopus is a late coinage based 
> on the *Greek* oktopous, through the Neo-Latin octopod-.  Maybe 
> someone on the list can tell us what the the Greek plural for 
> oktopous would be.

Octopodes (Oktopodes).

I agree with Amy; we speak English, and 'octopuses' is a perfectly 
acceptable English plural.  'Octopi' is purposeless prescriptive 
pedantry (say that five times fast!).

Some things may be worth being pedantic about (*English* grammar, for 
instance), but the formation of correct Latin (Greek) plurals in 
English just isn't one of those things.  

It's as silly as becoming incensed with those who say 'the hoi 
polloi', on the grounds that 'hoi' already means 'the' in Greek. 
'hoi 
polloi' is now a phrase being used in English, and it needs 
an English definite article.  

--jen, who also happily uses data as a singular noun :)