Octopus, octopi, octoporum

[nlpnt at yahoo.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Jen" <jfaulkne at e...> wrote:
> 
> 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!).
> > 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 :)


Right. And when was the last time you saw a Ford dealer ad 
screaming "GREAT SAVINGS ON ALL FOCI AND TAURI IN STOCK!!!!" 
Actually, proper names and trademarks are a whole area unto 
themselves. Legitimate trademarks, that is; I won't say that "Ford 
Focus" has more right to trademarkyness (?) than "Hogwarts", but it 
does- school names aren't trademarked irl, and JKR didn't bother. 
 
Then again, "baked-in" articles (like "the" in "hoi polloi") (mmm, 
baked hoi polloi....) lead to acronym expressions. Like;

"ATM machine"= Automated Teller Machine machine.
or
"EPS system"= Electronic Payment System system. (Also called a POS 
system, which when it's working means Point Of Sale system.....when 
it's working.)