A Prefix For Matoran Of Lightning

[Triggons]

Having read a lot of BS01 lately, I have discovered that Matoran of Lightning don't have a prefix, yet (such as Ta, Ko, Onu, etc.). After deducting a few things, I think I have a suggestion for a prefix.I think Matoran of Lightning should be called Ni-Matoran. Now, I believe that the Matoran word for Lightning is "Nika" or something close to "Nika". This would explain why Jaller and his Toa team called themselves the Toa Inika; they were struck by lightning and chose to call themselves "Inika", which means "energy from a star", which would be synonymous with "lightning". There is also a Toa of Lightning called Nikila, which contains a derivative of "Nika". So, I shortened the word "Nika" to get "Ni", a suitable prefix.So that's basically my theory/suggestion. I'm not asking for this to be canonized, I'm just asking for your opinions. So tell me what you think.

Edited November 6, 2011 by Oni

[Peach 00]

I like it, actually. However, would the pronounciation be 'NEE-ka' or 'NIGH-ka'? Well, either way sounds good, and I actually like the prefix a lot. I'm surprised BS01 didn't hold a poll with a few prefixes for the Lightning Matoran so that way they can decide what will work best.

Edited November 3, 2011 by Peach 00

[Ghosthands]

Like it. Works, has storyline basis, sounds nice. I would say "NEE".

[Taipu1]

I believe the prefix used on the fanon Expanded Multiverse is Et-

[Ids5621]

this is great idea. I usually hate all the new name suggestions, but this is clever and fitting

[Zarohum]

This also fits with "Nikila," the toa of lightning on Lesovikk's team. I'd like to point out that Lesovikk starts with "Le," So this makes sense. A lot of sense.

[Creep Of The Deep]

I support this idea.But the chances of canonization are slim.

[Legolover-361]

When the Bionicle Story Squad reemerges, you should PM them your idea. It makes a lot of sense and seems fitting.I see "Ni" being pronounced as "NEE", personally.

[Triggons]

I like it, actually. However, would the pronunciation be 'NEE-ka' or 'NIGH-ka'? Well, either way sounds good, and I actually like the prefix a lot. I'm surprised BS01 didn't hold a poll with a few prefixes for the Lightning Matoran so that way they can decide what will work best.

I'm surprised, too. And the pronunciation would be "NIY-ka", to sound like Inika and Nikila.

I believe the prefix used on the fanon Expanded Multiverse is Et-

Yeah, but this is simply another prefix that could be used that has canon roots.

This also fits with "Nikila," the toa of lightning on Lesovikk's team. I'd like to point out that Lesovikk starts with "Le," So this makes sense. A lot of sense.

i actually mentioned Nikila in my post, and was going to mention how Lesovikk's name started with "Le", but figured it wasn't important.

I support this idea.But the chances of canonization are slim.

Like I said, I never really expected this to be canonized.

[Voxumo]

I really like this as well i'm glad that it was actually thought through. And in my opinion it would fit in with the other element abreviations ko=kopakale=lewaonu=onuaso ni could also go for nikilaNi=Nikilaso it does make sense and i like it.

[dotcom]

Lightning isn't the only element missing a prefix. Magnetism, Plasma and Plant Matter lack one as well. You probably only noticed lightning because it's the only unnamed Matoran race with a page on BS01.I've actually always used Ni- for lightning, personally.Also Van- for magnetism, but that's another subject entirely.

[Paleo]

Ni (when pronounced NEE) sounds good, but it's hard to imagine calling matoran of lighting NEE-matoran. However, it seems like the most viable. I guess I could get used to it.

[Constonks]

I really like this as well i'm glad that it was actually thought through. And in my opinion it would fit in with the other element abreviationsko=kopakale=lewaonu=onuaso ni could also go for nikilaNi=Nikilaso it does make sense and i like it.

And more importantly, Le = Lesovikk, Nikila's team's Toa of Air. Which is why I've supported "Ni-" since that chapter of Dreams of Destruction came out.

[Exo-Kahgarak]

Inika means 'energy from a star'. Assuming ka=energy/power (not an illogical assumption, considering its presence in Kardas, Kanohi, Kanoka, Ignika, etc.), then ini means 'from a star'. Presumably, -i- is 'from' and either -ni- or -in- is 'star' (or ini is just 'star energy').Either way, Inika has nothing to do with the word for lightning.Also, if Ta-hu means Ta = fire and Le-sovikk/Le-wa means Le = air, does Jo-van mean Jo = magnetism? And Ta-kanuva means Ta = light as well?Not that I dislike the idea of canonizing elemental prefixes, but I would prefer something else.

[dotcom]

The thing about that is that the Mata were named specifically to match with the prefixes.And Lesovikk/Nikila were part of the first Toa team, with Lesovikk as a precedent for matching the air prefix, so it isn't completely unlikely.

[Voxumo]

I really like this as well i'm glad that it was actually thought through. And in my opinion it would fit in with the other element abreviationsko=kopakale=lewaonu=onuaso ni could also go for nikilaNi=Nikilaso it does make sense and i like it.

And more importantly, Le = Lesovikk, Nikila's team's Toa of Air. Which is why I've supported "Ni-" since that chapter of Dreams of Destruction came out.

true i did not think of lesovikk but good point

[Iver]

Exceeeept, Inika means "power from a star".

[Triggons]

Inika means 'energy from a star'. Assuming ka=energy/power (not an illogical assumption, considering its presence in Kardas, Kanohi, Kanoka, Ignika, etc.), then ini means 'from a star'. Presumably, -i- is 'from' and either -ni- or -in- is 'star' (or ini is just 'star energy').Either way, Inika has nothing to do with the word for lightning.Also, if Ta-hu means Ta = fire and Le-sovikk/Le-wa means Le = air, does Jo-van mean Jo = magnetism? And Ta-kanuva means Ta = light as well?Not that I dislike the idea of canonizing elemental prefixes, but I would prefer something else.

You make very valid points. I knew that Inika meant something, and I assumed it was lightning. However, isn't the "power from the star" sent in the form of lightning, making "lightning" and "power from the star" synonymous? As for your point on prefixes, the difference is that some people are created as Toa, and some become Toa. Vakama's names doesn't have the "Ta" prefix because he wasn't created as a Toa, even if it was his destiny. Same thing goes for Takanuva. Just guessing, of course.Great points though, nonetheless. I'm surprised I found a way to work around them. Edited November 4, 2011 by Oni

[Erebus]

Helryx is the first Toa created, a Toa of Water. The prefix for Water is "Ga", so... :PThen there's the fact that many Matoran types were created before Helryx came into being with Ce-Matoran probably being the sole exception.

[Boidoh]

I think all the prefixes are based of off the toa mata names. Onu - Onua, Ta - Tahu, Ko - Kopaka and so forth. Well i guess maybe it would make sensce if ni was it.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Boidoh

[tomdroidser]

If I remember correctly, the Toa Mata were deliberately named after their elemental prefix. With all other Toa it's just coincidence.-Tomdroidser

[BioGio]

Well, "Ni" has been my headcanon for a while now, so I wouldn't say that this isn't a nice idea. However, I don't know that the fact that an early Toa with what could appear to be a prefix is particularly good proof. Your support deriving from "Inika" makes a little more sense, and I find it rather likely that the words in Matoran for "star" and "lightning" could be similar.

I think all the prefixes are based of off the toa mata names. Onu - Onua, Ta - Tahu, Ko - Kopaka and so forth. Well i guess maybe it would make sensce if ni was it.

Nikila was not a member of the Toa Mata. She was a member of the first Toa Team, though.~ BioGio Edited November 4, 2011 by BioGio

[Triggons]

Regarding the purpose of prefixes on Toa, it was just a theory. I was just looking for some patterns, and there are obviously some exceptions. However, some Toa still have elemental prefixes in their names, so it is still a possibility.

[ALVIS]

That really fits! Congrats for finding something that isn't just a made-up prefix, but has basis in the story. I'll use this.

[Toa Lapaka]

Inika means 'energy from a star'. Assuming ka=energy/power (not an illogical assumption, considering its presence in Kardas, Kanohi, Kanoka, Ignika, etc.), then ini means 'from a star'. Presumably, -i- is 'from' and either -ni- or -in- is 'star' (or ini is just 'star energy').

Except you forget that some words are backwards like Metru Nui is Great City, though literly it means City Great.I like the idea though. Ni sounds like a great adjective. We also need some prefix's for other Matoran Edited November 4, 2011 by Toa Lapaka

[Harvali]

I like it, the thought process behind it makes a lot of sense. Most element prefix theories I have seen usually rely on a single character or a word in real life, but this actually uses multiple sources.

[HordikaMode]

Inika means 'energy from a star'. Assuming ka=energy/power (not an illogical assumption, considering its presence in Kardas, Kanohi, Kanoka, Ignika, etc.), then ini means 'from a star'. Presumably, -i- is 'from' and either -ni- or -in- is 'star' (or ini is just 'star energy').Either way, Inika has nothing to do with the word for lightning.Also, if Ta-hu means Ta = fire and Le-sovikk/Le-wa means Le = air, does Jo-van mean Jo = magnetism? And Ta-kanuva means Ta = light as well?Not that I dislike the idea of canonizing elemental prefixes, but I would prefer something else.

Avohkii=Av, Av=light...

[Sumiki]

Lightning, for me, has always been "Vo-" after "voltage" (Or "Volta" if you want to be really precise). Personally, I don't care, and "Ni-" makes a lot of sense story-wise.

[Erebus]

Inika means 'energy from a star'. Assuming ka=energy/power (not an illogical assumption, considering its presence in Kardas, Kanohi, Kanoka, Ignika, etc.), then ini means 'from a star'. Presumably, -i- is 'from' and either -ni- or -in- is 'star' (or ini is just 'star energy').Either way, Inika has nothing to do with the word for lightning.Also, if Ta-hu means Ta = fire and Le-sovikk/Le-wa means Le = air, does Jo-van mean Jo = magnetism? And Ta-kanuva means Ta = light as well?Not that I dislike the idea of canonizing elemental prefixes, but I would prefer something else.

Avohkii=Av, Av=light...

I think he's aware of that; he's just trying to prove a point.

[Taipu1]

Lightning, for me, has always been "Vo-" after "voltage" (Or "Volta" if you want to be really precise). Personally, I don't care, and "Ni-" makes a lot of sense story-wise.

I'd personally prefer Vo-, but thats partly because 'Ni' just makes me think of the Knights who say Ni from Monty Python...

[Makuta Matata]

I like it. We should delegate to Greg.

[Erebus]

Problem is that GregF decided that he wants to deal with the prefixes at an appropriate time, meaning that when he needs to use, he'll create one and use it.

[Triggons]

Problem is that GregF decided that he wants to deal with the prefixes at an appropriate time, meaning that when he needs to use, he'll create one and use it.

True; and I have no intention of bringing this up with GregF any time soon. However, if the Bionicle Story Team is active, I'll shoot them a PM. And thanks for all the support, guys! Edited November 5, 2011 by Oni

[Erebus]

We are active.

[Touko Fukawa]

Wait, just a thought, if 'nika' meant lightning why would the mask off life be called the Ig-nika? It has no relation to lightning as far as I know.

[Triggons]

We are active.

Embarrassing. I guess I'll send you guys a PM, then.

Wait, just a thought, if 'nika' meant lightning why would the mask off life be called the Ig-nika? It has no relation to lightning as far as I know.

It could be a coincidence, because someone else suggested that "ka" could mean "energy", due to it's presence in many words such as Kanohi and Kanoka. So the presence of the word "nika" could just be a coincidence, and "ka" is the only part meant to have meaning.

[Akuna Toa of Sonics]

I like it. Better than anything I can come up with.

[Roablin]

Inika does mean "power from a star," but isn't that power in the form of lightning? If I remember correctly, the word lightning was used several times in the novels, and the Inika's elemental bursts were "laced with lightning."On BS01 it says "their bodies were charged with lightning." I suspect that the "power from a star" translation just says were that lightning came from.

[BioGio]

Inika does mean "power from a star," but isn't that power in the form of lightning? If I remember correctly, the word lightning was used several times in the novels, and the Inika's elemental bursts were "laced with lightning."On BS01 it says "their bodies were charged with lightning." I suspect that the "power from a star" translation just says were that lightning came from.

Despite that, "Inika" does not necessarily have any meaning regarding lightning. For example, the phrase "cold water from the sky" can imply that snow, rain, hail, or plenty of other forms of precipitation here falling from the heavens, just as "power from a star" doesn't tell us anything about the form of the power.Further, I thought that it might be helpful to point out that "ka" does not actually mean "power/energy" but rather "spirit." (Perhaps "ika" or "(i)n(i)" is "power." If "(i)n(i)" means "power," this would actually support the theory better.)~ BioGio

[Ektris]

For the record, guys, the "Et" prefix used in the Expanded Universe here on BZP had no canonical origin. It may have been just a nod to me. I'd like the idea of "Ni" if it didn't make me think if Nikola Tesla. Which, granted, could even be more support for this, but of course I then associate "Tesla" with the SI unit for a magnetic field, not electricity...~|ET|~