Takanuva's Name.

[Makuta Matata]

Where did Takanuva's name come from? It seems like Takua just made it up on the spot, so why did he not just name himself Takua Nuva or just Takuanuva? It seems like it would fit better.Now that I typed this, it doesn't seem as significant as it sounded in my head.

[Makuta_of_Oz]

I once asked Greg that, but he didn't give a storyline reason. All he said was that it was so the fans wouldn't know who the 7th Toa was without reading the story.

[Makuta Matata]

I once asked Greg that, but he didn't give a storyline reason. All he said was that it was so the fans wouldn't know who the 7th Toa was without reading the story.

I suppose that makes sense. But does that just mean that he made up a name on the spot? (Takua, I mean, not Greg F. )

[Erebus]

He's not a Toa Nuva either, so calling himself Takua Nuva would be odd. Takua renamed himself to Takanuva to honor the Toa Nuva.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Erebus

[iPenguin]

Plus, takanuva rolls off the tongue easier than takua nuva.

[Phantoka Kopaka Nuva]

Easier to read than Takuanuva. Plus, it wouldn't give away Takua's identity as the 7th Toa too early.

[BenLuke]

I always assumed that "Nuva" means "new" in the Matoran language. So 'Toa Nuva' means 'new Toa'and Takunuva means that he is a new version of Takua. That's my theory, at least.

[Baron Von Nebula]

Knowing Takua, he may have daydreamed about being a Toa before this. He could have already thought of what his name would be if he became a Toa.

[Malevolence]

^Except we don't know whether or not the tohunga/matoran KNEW that they could become Toa while on Mata-Nui.

[bonesiii]

I always assumed that "Nuva" means "new" in the Matoran language. So 'Toa Nuva' means 'new Toa'and Takunuva means that he is a new version of Takua. That's my theory, at least.

The Nuva part is confirmed, actually. He put that in his name to signify that he has a new form. In a sense, he was a new person.As for the dropped u, I think we should look to real-world grammar, and various fictional grammars like in elven speech of Tolkien. Look at conjugations in German and various similar languages, for example. To say, "I work, he works, they work," in German, they modify the ending of the base word arbeit, so it comes out as, "Ich arbeite, er arbeitet, sie arbeiten." (If I recall correctly lols.)Lots of languages also have shortened versions of names, such as Rob for Robert, and modified versions, such as Bob for either of those.So it's very likely IMO that the language normally has a rule that if you combine two words together, certain shorter versions of the components are to be used, for practical considerations. It doesn't have to be Takua just making that up on the spot, although that's sensible too. It could be that Taka is simply a well-known shorter version of the name Takua. He may have been called Taka as a nickname, for example, even while a Matoran.

[Peach 00]

Easier to read than Takuanuva. Plus, it wouldn't give away Takua's identity as the 7th Toa too early.

Basically this. However, it is easier to say than 'Takuanuva', also.

[FrozenFlash]

The name is Takanuva because it sounds a lot like "Takuanuva."

[Makuta Matata]

I always assumed that "Nuva" means "new" in the Matoran language. So 'Toa Nuva' means 'new Toa'and Takunuva means that he is a new version of Takua. That's my theory, at least.

The Nuva part is confirmed, actually. He put that in his name to signify that he has a new form. In a sense, he was a new person.As for the dropped u, I think we should look to real-world grammar, and various fictional grammars like in elven speech of Tolkien. Look at conjugations in German and various similar languages, for example. To say, "I work, he works, they work," in German, they modify the ending of the base word arbeit, so it comes out as, "Ich arbeite, er arbeitet, sie arbeiten." (If I recall correctly lols.)Lots of languages also have shortened versions of names, such as Rob for Robert, and modified versions, such as Bob for either of those.So it's very likely IMO that the language normally has a rule that if you combine two words together, certain shorter versions of the components are to be used, for practical considerations. It doesn't have to be Takua just making that up on the spot, although that's sensible too. It could be that Taka is simply a well-known shorter version of the name Takua. He may have been called Taka as a nickname, for example, even while a Matoran.

That makes the most sense out of all the replies here.

[P962]

My guess as to why Takua changed his name once he became a toa is because in some cultures, young men change things about themselves as sort of a rite of passage. i.e. a guy with long hair might cut it short when he reaches a certain age.

[Kenji-Nitari]

I just wonder why he didn't take his old name again after they returned to Metru Nui.

[Guest]

My guess as to why Takua changed his name once he became a toa is because in some cultures, young men change things about themselves as sort of a rite of passage. i.e. a guy with long hair might cut it short when he reaches a certain age.

Well, it sorta had something to do with the Naming Day tradition, so you're right to that extent. I can't find it on BS01, but I remember reading somewhere that Vakama didn't change Takua's name because he knew it would be changed when Takua became a Toa. Now that I think about that it doesn't really make much sense, I find it hard to believe that Vakama somehow predicted that Takua would change his name upon becoming Toa, but I think it's safe to say that Naming Day did have something to do with it. After all, Takua was frustrated that his name wasn't changed, so it's not weird to think he'd grab any opportunity to set things right.Only I don't think it's specifically a tradition for Matoran to change their names upon becoming Toa, since the culture of the Metruans after the Great Cataclysm had never seen a Matoran change into a Toa before, and it can't be a cultural tradition the Turaga salvaged from before the GC since they themselves didn't change their name upon becoming a Toa. Plus, I don't think the Metruans were aware Matoran could change into Toa during their time on Mata Nui.'Cutting hair', nicely worded .

I just wonder why he didn't take his old name again after they returned to Metru Nui.

Why should he? Nuhrii, Orkahm and Tehutti did it because their names were, probably unbeknownst to them, changed after the Great Cataclysm and they wanted to honor the time before that, but that wasn't an issue for Takanuva. It wasn't like the name 'Takua' represented the past he had just found out about, because he had been called that throughout the Dark Time as well. He had consciously changed his name because he had become a Toa, and that wasn't reversed or anything.

[Erebus]

I just wonder why he didn't take his old name again after they returned to Metru Nui.

Why abandon a new name so quickly, though? He didn't have the name for very long before heading to Metru Nui.

[Toa of Nerds]

Because he's like Takua MK II. But in Bionicle-speak, MK II is signified by "nuva". He has a new form, but he's still Takua at heart, and Takuanuva is harder to say. Plus, he's got the same build in set version as the Toa Nuva.-don't touch my pocket protector

[Simulacrum]

I think that, as stated before, lego did not want people to have to go and figure out who Takua is.Oh wait. If they watched MOL, (Which most people did) they'd know. XD

[bonesiii]

I can't find it on BS01, but I remember reading somewhere that Vakama didn't change Takua's name because he knew it would be changed when Takua became a Toa. Now that I think about that it doesn't really make much sense, I find it hard to believe that Vakama somehow predicted that Takua would change his name upon becoming Toa

I don't recall hearing that, but it's quite believable -- it's been well established that Vakama often receives visions of the future. At least one instance was shown in the movies, and at least another in the books. So good point.

[Ids5621]

um so when the set was announced it wouldn't give away that it was takua. Doesn't it seem obvious? not to ruin the movie

[Shadow Kurahk]

The name could have just come to him, similar to the urge to put on the mask.-SK

[Guest TahuOmega]

He thought the name sounded cool or something.

[Black Six]

Question answered.Thread closed.